Look What Flew into Town!!

wayoflife

wayoflife

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Staff member
So yesterday, I was outside working on the yard when I hear a rumble in the sky that really could be nothing other than four radial engines pushing a World War II style bomber through the air. And, as soon as I took a look up, I was pleasantly surprised to see a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress flying overhead. Of course, that alone would have been awesome enough to see especially over my house but following it came a North American B-25 Mitchell, a Consolidated B-24J Liberator and North American TP-51C Mustang!! After picking my jaw off the ground, Cindy informed me that she read about them coming to town and that they would be on display for a couple of days at the Minden-Tahoe Airport down the road. Needless to say, that's exactly where we went today and where we spent the better part of the morning. Here are a few of the pics that we took of magnificent old war birds on display. :cool:

The first bomber we came across as soon as we got to the airport was a beautifully restored North American B-25 Mitchell.
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Here's a quick peek up the bomb bay.
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Next up was this amazing Consolidated B-24J Liberator called "Witchcraft". From what I understand, it's literally the ONLY one still flying today.
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A close up look at the Norden bombsight.
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Another full shot of the Liberator with a friendly in the sky.
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As luck would have it, they were allowing visitors to take a tour of the inside.
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View from the waist gunners.
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Looks like it'd be real tough to climb into the ball turret.
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Walking across the narrow cat walk in the bomb bay with the doors open.
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Shot of the payload.
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Well look at what we've got here - fuse in place and ready to go!
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Next up was this most impressive Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress named "Nine-O-Nine".
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As luck would have it, there was a mechanic working on one of the four massive Wright R-1820 engines so we could get a closer look.
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Close up shots of the nose.
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Time to climb inside.
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Shot looking forward toward the nose.
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View of the cockpit.
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Looking up toward the top turret.
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View from the top turret looking forward.
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Checking our six.
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Getting ready to walk across the bomb bay. You can see Trail Bud on the other side with a look saying - that would be nuts to cross over in flight and with the bomb bay doors open.
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Tough to get around the ball turret.
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View from the waist gunners.
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Last but not least was this gorgeous North American TP-51C Mustang called "Betty Jane"
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Turns out they were giving rides and even stick time to people who could afford the $2000 fare. Here's the pilot giving some instructions to the rider.
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Getting ready to go.
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Contact!
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Taking to the skies.
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And, that's pretty much how we spent our Tuesday and man, did I ever feel like a kid on Christmas day! I hope you enjoyed the pics :cool:
 
Man those are some nice planes!! That small catwalk is insane I can't imagine walking it during flight! Thanks for the pics.
 
Ok, I don't know much about American war planes, so maybe you can edumacate....are these american planes? If so, what's the story with the Japanese flags and the swastikas? Just curious. They are obviously restored museum examples, but curious what it all means.....also, those tiny little painted bombs...lots and lots of them...is that a tribute to how many bombs the plane has dropped in it's career? Thanks for the pics, very very cool. Reminds me of being a kid and going to the Smithsonian museum in DC.
 
SO COOL! By far my favorite era planes. It amazes me how these planes can make it home riddled with bullet holes. Definitely a modern marvel.
 
NFRs2000NYC said:
Ok, I don't know much about American war planes, so maybe you can edumacate....are these american planes? If so, what's the story with the Japanese flags and the swastikas? Just curious. They are obviously restored museum examples, but curious what it all means.....also, those tiny little painted bombs...lots and lots of them...is that a tribute to how many bombs the plane has dropped in it's career? Thanks for the pics, very very cool. Reminds me of being a kid and going to the Smithsonian museum in DC.
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Yes these are American planes of WWII. The little bombs are 1 for each bombing mission, not just each bomb. The Japanese flag is 1 for each Japanese plane shot down by the gun crews, same for the swastikas with regards to German planes.
 
MICP3309 said:
Yes these are American planes of WWII. The little bombs are 1 for each bombing mission, not just each bomb. The Japanese flag is 1 for each Japanese plane shot down by the gun crews, same for the swastikas with regards to German planes.
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Very cool, and thanks for the explanation.:thumb:
 
Eddie thank you for the aircraft porn! This are beautiful birds in amazing well kept shape! Great pics of all the details! THANK YOU! :thumb::thumb::beer::rock:
 
So awesome. Perhaps next time you are down here we can head over to the Planes of Fame Museum. Lots of cool antique planes.
 
Skid_Kid said:
Eddie thank you for the aircraft porn! This are beautiful birds in amazing well kept shape! Great pics of all the details! THANK YOU! :thumb::thumb::beer::rock:
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Did you fly planes when you were in the Air Force or just work on them? Sorry can't remember.
 
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