 | My B24 ride| Aircraft Pictures Discuss My B24 ride in the World War II - Aviation forums; Back in May 1995, I had the opportunity to ride the Collings Foundation B24 on Armed Forces day.
The plane ... |
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11-25-2005, 05:13 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
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| My B24 ride
Back in May 1995, I had the opportunity to ride the Collings Foundation B24 on Armed Forces day.
The plane was visiting the Torrance, California municiple airport (this is located about 5 miles south of LAX) with its stable mate, the B17G.
I signed up for a slot that by fate took me on the flight that was going to do a flyby down the city of Torrance during their annual armed forces day parade. After takeoff, I made my way forward and watched from the cockpit as the pilots got into formation with the B17. Our formation point was over Carson, right over the Goodyear blimp base.
After we were ready, we went down to 500 ft and 200 knots down Torrance Blvd. After we cleared the parade area, we continued west to pass over the Redondo Beach pier. From there, we gained altitude and after a bit, we set course for Catalina Island, some 50 miles due south.
We passed over the center of the island and then dropped down on the deck for the return leg home. Best part of that was the pilots spotted a yacht along the way, and we buzzed him at 50-100 feet, 200+ knots!!!!!. The people on the boat must have been wondering if they wer ein a time warp, hahahahahahhaha.
We gained altitude after that, and then got into the approach pattern for Torrance airport, above the Port of Los Angeles.
It was one heck of a ride!!!!!!!!!!!
Best part, was there was an old gentleman along for the ride. He looked somber and most of the time he had a "1000 yard stare" on him. After the flight I asked him if anything was wrong. His reply was something like this...."In 1942, I entered the navy as a young man, not far from here. I served as a gunner on a PB4Y during the war years. It dawned on me when we took off, that my last flight in one of them was in May 1945. Its like I feel my life has come around in a full circle today". That sent goosebumps up my spine!!!!!!!
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11-25-2005, 05:19 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
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| Pics of the B17 in formation with us
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11-25-2005, 05:24 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
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| Heres some more
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11-25-2005, 05:26 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK (atm Pretoria, South Africa)
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Country:  | Nice pics syscom! Looks like you had a great time (You lucky bastard!  )
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11-25-2005, 05:28 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
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| Some more
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11-25-2005, 05:32 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
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| Final shots of the plane and aircrew.
And yes, thats me when I was 10 years younger.
By the way, did you know that Schlitz beer is mighty fine?
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11-25-2005, 06:09 PM
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#7 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
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Country:  | Very cool! I remember when they were making their tour. I seen both aircraft at Fox Field - nice shots of the B-17!
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11-25-2005, 06:24 PM
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#8 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 12,369
Country: | Nice shots but I think its gay as hell that u put ur name all over those pics... Ruined some perfectly good shots....
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11-25-2005, 06:29 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
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| I did it because I suspected some "guests" would steal my pics for their own uses.
If anyone wants a pix without the copywrite, let me know. I would be happy to send what you want.
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11-25-2005, 06:37 PM
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#10 | | Your ad here. ;)
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 11,885
Country: | Nice shots. The B-24 shadow from above was really neat.
FYI, it's Copyright not copywrite.
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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11-25-2005, 06:38 PM
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#11 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | I agree with Gnomey. You're a bastard.
But a lucky one indeed. Great pics.  | |
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11-25-2005, 06:43 PM
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#12 | | Your ad here. ;)
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 11,885
Country: | I have never had a problem with people stealing images from me here on this site, but I have from others. In a lot of cases though, at 640x480, they may bag them for their personal use, but it won't do much for anything other than viewing.
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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11-25-2005, 06:59 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
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| Copyright????
DOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! 
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11-25-2005, 07:02 PM
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#14 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | I'm really not trying to be smart here (God forbid ), but couldn't misspelling "copyright" actually be considered a loophole? | |
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11-25-2005, 07:33 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
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Youre supposed to comment on the pics, not my spelling! Like how the best bomber of WW2 (B29 excepted) is also named after a fine beer from Wisconsin.
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