Isn’t it amazing that we went from the Wright Flyer to that aircraft in 40 years?
Too bad that one they lost, up in Alaska.
:(
Very cool. Love old aircraft
Always good to see. Thanks!
One of Japan’s worst nightmares takes to the sky again.
Very cool.
AWESOME!
My father was BAR rifleman with the 1st Marine Division during the invasion of Okinawa. Once the island and the airfield was secured, he told me of the day that he saw the first B-29 land there. He said he just stood there in awe at that sheer size of that airplane. He had never seen anything like it before in his life.
Through the years, he often express gratitude for the B-29 as he and his fellow marines knew that gearing up for the invasion of Japan was not far off. The B-29s dropping the nukes spared thousands of our servicemen’s lives, probably including my father’s at the time. He would often talk about that day he saw the first one right up until a few days before he passed away. The plane left a life-long impression on that man.
My former neighbor, Col. Newt Tyndall, died recently at age 98.
From his obituary:
“His distinguished 30-year Air Force career spanned World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was one of the first master navigators in the world (celestial and radar). During World War II, he was assigned to the 58th Bomb Wing, which was the first unit to take B-29s into the war against Japan. He flew 25 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, along with other citations. He witnessed the end of World War II Sept. 2, 1945, when his crew led a formation of B-29s over the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony on its deck.”
cool!
Wright Brothers + 40 yrs....B29...
Wowed.
Such sleek machines those B-29s. It’s interesting how much bomber design changed just over the course of the war. Really sweet how they included Connie the riveter lady in the ceremony. She cried when the plane she put rivets in 70 years ago lifted off. Cool video.
Ping
Folks, the video is a little over 7 minutes...don't miss it. The restored bomber is so huge, so sleek, so historic....don't miss the opportunity...and show it to your kids, also.
I especially loved seeing one of the 40's original "Rosie the Riveter" gals, still alive and kickin'...these tireless women helped win the war with their skills, their patriotism and their spunk! God love this lady...and I hope she gets a wonderful ride in the "Doc" !
My late uncle was stationed in an airfield outside of London during the war. He was in charge of all the mechanics and tradespeople who worked at the base and in the hangars round the clock 24/7 keeping the big bombers in shape, repaired and fueled as the planes took off and landed non-stop in their raiding missions over Nazi Germany. Many a wounded plane landed on a wing and a prayer or crash-landed.....and our guys were there on the spot to make them whole again quickly.
Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky
To a friend we send the message
Of his brother men who fly
We drink to those who gave their all of old
Then down we roar
To score the rainbow's pot of gold
A toast to the host of men we boast
The Army Air Corps !
Leni
Thank you for this post.
I have a fascination, as many do, with aircraft. I also have spent countless hours pulling out my hair over my son, who since about age 8 has done little else besides play video games.
My wife and me paid for him to take a discovery flight at a local airport flight school. He had fun but a year passed with video games still remaining his favorite pastime.
That all changed finally at age 25, last fall, when he started taking flying lessons. He is ready for his first solo and the best part of the whole thing is he, while he is still living with us, is paying for his lessons. Thank God.
Thank you for taking time to post this. Great video.
As a boy, I explored all over the inside of B-29s. From the pilots seat to crawling through the tube over the bomb bay to get to the rear gunner position.
To this day, I can identify the sound of a B-29 on the very rare occasion I get to hear a B-29 in the air. The last time was several years ago at a Manassas, VA air show.
As a boy, we told that there were two words all Japanese knew, Babe Ruth and B-29.
I rarely hear of the B-50, which was a post WW2 version of the B-29.
Wow. That was incredible.
