Historic war planes landing at Page Field

NBC2 ^ | 1/25/2007 | NBC2

[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.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

That is the nickname of the Martin B-26 Marauder.

http://www.warbirdalley.com/b26.htm

[Inyo-Mono]

My late Father flew 50 missions in the Pacific Theater in WWII as a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator.

[vintage patriot]

I would like to salute all of the American warbirds, and especially all pilots on freerepublic....Used to love flying ultralights roughly 2000 hours worth....And hope to learn 'hang gliding' someday....But...As a kid dreamed of a commerical aviation career, or maybe even fighter pilot...Just never panned out...Enjoy the flying!...VP

[FastCoyote]

My dad was a tailgunner in B24s out of Spinizola Italy. He lied about there not being any action while he was there, I now have the groups records. Which he hadn't passed away, those boys must have been damn scared flying in those crates.

[FastCoyote]

WISH he hadn't passed away, those boys must have been damn scared flying in those crates.

I hate my mental typos. The tour comes to Vegas, I think it will be must see for me and my brothers.

[ozzymandus]

A friend of mine's father was a tailgunner in a B-24. They tried to land in Switzerland and be interned, but mistakenly landed in Austria and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.

[ozzymandus]

I read that the B-26 was known as "the widowmaker". I also read that the unofficial motto of a B-26 training squadron in Florida was "a plane a day in Tampa Bay".

[FastCoyote]

"They tried to land in Switzerland and be interned, but mistakenly landed in Austria and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp."

I'll have to look up my dad's group stats, they did fly at the end of the war but if I recall it was about 1 in 7 of the crews either dies or ended up prisoners - my dad neveer said a word about that.

[DMZFrank]

The Fort was also far easier to handle in formation at altitude, a particularly important charecteristic when the air is battered by the propwash of thousands of propellers and survival is largely contingent upon maintaining tight formation to exploit the interlocking fields of protective MG fire from the bomber's defensive armament.

And don't disregasrd that factor of ruggedness. I have seen hundreds of photos of heavily battle damaged B-17's whose successful return is nearly impossible to fathom. The broad wing's chord had much to do with this. The B-24's Davis airfoil was an advance cotributing to the higer performance, but did not allow it to sustain as much damage as the Fortress.

[SkyDancer]

I've read both sides ... some loved the plane other's hated it ....

[SkyDancer]

Thanks! I receive the NTSB Reporter and read various incidents regarding Airbus ... it's a side-stick where Boeing kept the yoke ....

The B24's did quite well in the Pacific ... in Europe, they flew the same formations the 17's did ... it was the Polesti(sp) raid that knocked a bunch of them down .... but then they flew in low and slow ....

I have my MEL/I and am working on the CFII portion too .... I have a glider rating as well ... that's how I started out .... aerobatic gliders ....

Regards, Jane

Keep the dirty side down .......

[SkyDancer]

Right, they were kind of weak in that area .... but the Davis airfoil lives today where the 17 does not ... Boeing's B29 became the Stratocruiser built on that airframe and wing ....

[Boiler Plate]

The B26 was known as the "Widow Maker". Your link even confirms that. It got it's name from it's tendency to crash on takeoff.

The B24 was nicknamed the "Flying Coffin" because of it's looks and it's inability to sustain the battle damage that made the B17 famous.

There was a similar thing going on with the P51 and P47. The P51 outclassed the P47 in just about everything but toughness. Pilots often said you wanted your picture taken in front of a Mustang but you wanted to go up in a Jug.