The plan was to have the [B-17] Liberty Belle fly to a Publicity Meet at the former USAFE airbase at RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk. There would be a static display of several WWII aircraft and then Liberty Belle would depart in formation with some of the fighters and a chase plane (modified Beech Baron or perhaps a Beagle Basset - I don't recall now, though it was a piston twin) for an air-to-air photo-shoot of the bomber and escort over the East Anglian landscape.And guess who rode home in a B-17, not a VW? If you like old planes, this is a great story, well told.
My job was to drive the minivan down there to allow some of those who'd be flying down to give up their places for some "paying passengers" on the return leg.
Me, I didn't have A-10s buzz my house when we lived in Blighty. I did live within earshot of the Royal Firing Range in Bisley, which was pretty cool. In a distinctly non-flying sense.
5 comments:
Not that I want to rain on anyone's parade but I think Liberty Belle was the B-17 that burned up last year in an Illinois corn field . . .
Brad is correct, and that will be a tale that gent will NEVER forget! :-)
I got to see Liberty Belle when she stopped in Dallas back in....2010ish. I thought it was pretty darn impressive, standing next to the taxiway as she rumbled by. And not to diminish the B17 at all, but seeing Fifi, CAF's B-29 up close and personal (and watching her take off) was...well...awesome!
Still, we need to get some P-38's or Spitfires in here in the Dallas area.
Got to see the Liberty Belle in the 90's at an air show in Arkansas, along with the last flying German Heinkel bomber.
Half way through the show they had to stop because a dozen helocopters were flying in from a base in Louisiana, because the pilots there heard about the old bombers and wanted to come see them. The helos landed, the age 20-something pilots all took a seat, and the show went on. Afterward they all drooled over the old planes.
All,
I forget to chime in for one of my fav groups based right here in MA -- The Collings Foundation. They are currently on tour with a B17, a B24 and a TP-51c Mustang. Use your favorite browser and search engine and search for "Wings of Freedom" tour. Good stuff.
Brad
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