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Posted on 05/12/2012 9:15:01 AM PDT by EveningStar
The roar of the propellers cutting the air is what sparks memories for WWII veteran Howard Mann.
"The sound is the same," he said. "The sound brings it all back."
Mann, 92, was a passenger in the B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" that took flight from Long Beach to John Wayne Airport on Friday as part of the Wings of Freedom exhibition at the Lyon Air Museum...
The last time Mann was in a B-24 was Jan. 3, 1945, flying over the Pacific...
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
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Have you seen this? Cool story
I have a little sea time, but I cant even imagine that.
This guy was in from 1938 - 1945 AND flew in Korea and Vietnam.
Just freaking amazing.
May he live to see flying automobiles over his head........
(....on the other hand......)
Leni
It tells you something about the men who flew in them in combat. I'm amazed they could take off with all those 'brass ones' on board.
Neat story, happy the ol guy got another chance to fell the memory.
Had the good fortune to fly on one of Collin’s B-25s as I have been a Dolittle fan since Grade School. The “feel of the sound” made you immediately think of the bravery of all those young guys. I know not one of them felt a second’s fear when taking off the deck and heading for Tokyo!!!!
I saw the plane fly back into JWA yesterday. Great sight.
Thank you for the post. The nose turret was my father’s “office” on the Liberator during WWII.
This girl I know father was a ball turret gunner on a B24. He was picked because he was small.
It took a lot of guts to fly into enemy guns in one of those and more guts to sit exposed under the airplane while every gun in Germany is aimed at you.
Bravo to both the USAAF and the RAF....
Liberator bump
I coach high school baseball, and saw this and a B-17 fly over our field last week. The other coach’s couldn’t have cared less, but the kids were very enthused when I pointed out what they were, and scrambled to get a look as long as they could. They said they had been studying WWII in their history classes and were glad to be able to see some of its symbols still in the air.
Beautiful photo, A.A. Thanks for posting it.
Two excellent books to ready about B-24’s in the Pacific. There is a chance that the veteran was in the group in “Finish Forty [missions] and Home” by Phil Scearce; his own story of his time as a B-24 crew chief and gunner during WWII.
The second is “Unbroken - the story of Louis Zamperini” by Laura Hillenbrand
Probably the best way I have ever seen that put. Well said.
I have seen a static display Mitchell, but never been on board.
Theirs was indeed a great generation. May we live to see another, and may they not have to bleed as much to show it.
I'd take exception to the headline's term.."veteran takes FINAL flight.."
Hopefully the guy lives until he's 100, and he gets to go up in the bomber a few more times..
Here is my uncle (top left), his crew, and his B-25 during WWII. He was the pilot
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