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For those in the DC area on 8 May, check out the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Capitol Flyover. Will likely be the largest collection of flying WWII era aircraft you’ll ever see in the air. Google it for details.
I have some VHS footage of the only Lancaster bomber I’ve ever seen...Recorded with time and date showing at the 1990 air show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, MI. Digitized in 2009, it is now part of the digital media archive at the Selfridge Military Air Museum at SANGB.
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The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: “ Frankfurt , Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.”
Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.”
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”
Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.”
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience):
“Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?”
Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, — and I didn’t land.”
I read somewhere where RAF bomber crews chances of surviving the war was below 50%.
(A really fine aviation museum - if you're in Ontario a "must see")
The Lancaster was a good bomber, but it should have gotten 0.50 caliber machine guns for defensive armament and should have used the Bristol Hercules radial engines instead of the more vulnerable Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. If the Lancaster had been built like that it’s likely a lot more RAF bomber crews would have returned, in my humble opinion.
I get to see it flying overhead regularly, as the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum is only a few miles from my home. What a great sound it makes, too.
BTW, this year’s Oshkosh gathering in late July should be historic. In addition to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, there should be *two* flying B-29s on display.
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