Posted on 01/25/2007 7:56:21 PM PST by holymoly
FORT MYERS: Two historic World War II bombers will be landing in Fort Myers Monday. The planes will be open for public tours and even flights.
A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy Bomber and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber will be at Page Field from January 29th – 31st.
The B-17 Flying Fortress, one of the most recognizable bomber aircraft of WWII, is one of only nine in the nation that are still airworthy. The B-24, the most produced aircraft during WWII, is the only restored B-24 still in flying operation.
The bombers are owned by the Collings Foundation, a group that focuses on bring living history into communities. The "Wings of Freedom" tour is in its 18th year and will travel to 130 cites all over the country.
The public will be able to tour the planes for a donation of $10. Kids are only $5. You can also take flight in one of the historic planes for $425 – a tax deductible donation.
For flight reservations and tour times call 1-800-568-8924 of click here for more information.
Page Field (Ft. Meyers, FL)
... forgot to add it (the B24) flew further ....
One of Sunday School students flew the B-24 over Germany near the end of WWII. Oh the stories he tells about flying the bird!
B-24 = Flying Coffin (crew nickname).
As I type this, I'm sitting in the lodge built by the man who built the nose cones for the B-17.
Right! I remember reading that too but forgot to mention it. The plane was a real comfortable flying machine but the gas fumes were pretty bad sometimes.
During WWII, my late Father was an Instructor for B-24s. Later on he became an Instructor for B-29s in New Mexico.
Did you ever read, "Everything But The Flack?" I have a tattered, dogeared copy in paperback, yellowed and held together by a rubber band. I believe it was written by Martin Caidin, and tells the story of the trials and tribulations of rehabilitating the B-17's they needed to film the movie, "The War Lover."
I tried to find it! It's out of print ... so too is "God Is My Copilot" ... I enjoyed "Always" since it was a remake of "A Guy Named Mike" .... starring Spencer Tracy .... a WWII movie ....
Quote: "Great plane (the B17) but highly overrated ..."
I would not call it over-rated at all, and I'm not just being sentimental.
On the day Pearl Harbor was bombed, just how many top-of-the-line combat aircraft designs did the USA have in production? The P38 and B17 are the only 2 that come to mind, unless you want to call the P40 also top-of-the-line or the F4F.
That the B-24 is superior to the B-17 is indisputable, like saying the B-29 is superior to the Liberator. But at least the B-17 was a proven entity when production ramped up for the war effort. The B-24 was so new, it is understandable why the US military leaned on the Flying Fortresses for so long.
No argument there ... it's just that being from Seattle and near the Boeing plant and its history sometimes things get a bit glossed over or overrated .... but ... each to their own ... all this was in MHO .....I am an aviator and love planes ....
The Spencer Tracy film was titled "A Guy Named Joe".
Van Johnson and I think Ward Bond were in it also.
Mike
Something of interest.
Right you are ... my mind is tapioca since it's almost midnight here and I fried my brain studying .. thanks for clearing that up .... I shall sleep better .... >grin<
/r/jane
In my younger days, I had the privilege of knowing a gentleman you piloted both types. He hated the B24.
Thank you for the schedule. I will try to see them when they come to Louisiana or Mississippi.
BTW good luck on your ATP ticket. I have a Commercial license with ME Land and CFII, Glider and several type ratings.
If you choose a career flying for the airlines, avoid the Airbus. You can do something with the A-300's flight controls that pilots have been doing since the beginning of time, and the vertical stabilizer will simply fall off. Airbus says: no worries, it's normal. NTSB says: they're right.
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