Jerry Thompson
05-23-2022, 7:16 PM
My eldest son informed me a couple of weeks ago that he had tickets to take a ride in a WWII B-29 bomber.
There are only two of these left that fly.
Yesterday we went to Brunswick, GA to do this.
These type of planes are cared for by the Commemorative Air Force.
Soon after getting checked in we were instructed about boarding, safety and the aircraft's history.
I was first on. It was a tight squeeze for my 79 yo body but I had a lot of help.
The flight was about 20 mins long and very scenic.
Many thought ran through my mind of the hero's who once were once in this type of craft and where we would be without them.
We had a smooth landing and I wandered over to a P-51 Mustang sitting oh so beautiful on the tarmac.
I said to my Son, Doug, I wonder if the man getting out of the plane has any connection with the Mustang?
I was ready to head back home and Doug said, "Your the next one in line to go."
Talk about being gobsmacked. We both hugged and shed tears.
The flight was delayed due to low ceiling for the longest hour of my life.
The pilot got me stuffed in the back seat. Remember this was a single seat aircraft. I learned all the safety things and how o talk with the pilot.
We taxied down to the end of the runway. The pilot had to make small zig zags to see ahead. This is a tail dragger with huge V-12 engine and the view is not good.
We took off and boy did we take off.
The one part I will always remember is the pilot saying,"I'm going to get to 300 mph and make little climb." Up we went and he said, "The Little Angle wants back in Heaven.
I will, no doubt, recall this every day with the time I have left.
There was a WWII Vet present that day. There was a B-24 there also giving rides. The Vet had been a B-24 gunner and he was taking one more ride.
What a day.
There are only two of these left that fly.
Yesterday we went to Brunswick, GA to do this.
These type of planes are cared for by the Commemorative Air Force.
Soon after getting checked in we were instructed about boarding, safety and the aircraft's history.
I was first on. It was a tight squeeze for my 79 yo body but I had a lot of help.
The flight was about 20 mins long and very scenic.
Many thought ran through my mind of the hero's who once were once in this type of craft and where we would be without them.
We had a smooth landing and I wandered over to a P-51 Mustang sitting oh so beautiful on the tarmac.
I said to my Son, Doug, I wonder if the man getting out of the plane has any connection with the Mustang?
I was ready to head back home and Doug said, "Your the next one in line to go."
Talk about being gobsmacked. We both hugged and shed tears.
The flight was delayed due to low ceiling for the longest hour of my life.
The pilot got me stuffed in the back seat. Remember this was a single seat aircraft. I learned all the safety things and how o talk with the pilot.
We taxied down to the end of the runway. The pilot had to make small zig zags to see ahead. This is a tail dragger with huge V-12 engine and the view is not good.
We took off and boy did we take off.
The one part I will always remember is the pilot saying,"I'm going to get to 300 mph and make little climb." Up we went and he said, "The Little Angle wants back in Heaven.
I will, no doubt, recall this every day with the time I have left.
There was a WWII Vet present that day. There was a B-24 there also giving rides. The Vet had been a B-24 gunner and he was taking one more ride.
What a day.