The CB1100 Community Forum

DGS,

That's an awesome picture! Top 2 modes of transportation ever devised by man, IMHO.

What airport was that at?

(03-30-2015, 07:52 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I think most of us are fans of the old war birds, that's why we love vintage style bikes. Great photo by the way, love that P-40 and the AVG colors. I love all of them but my favorite is the Spit Fire and the P-38 Lightning. The Confederate Air Force used to put on a great show every year of WWII aircraft at Tico airport in Florida.

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!

(03-31-2015, 11:05 PM)DGShannon_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-30-2015, 07:52 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I think most of us are fans of the old war birds, that's why we love vintage style bikes. Great photo by the way, love that P-40 and the AVG colors. I love all of them but my favorite is the Spit Fire and the P-38 Lightning. The Confederate Air Force used to put on a great show every year of WWII aircraft at Tico airport in Florida.

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!
The CAF is a fantastic organization.
I enjoyed hearing about your experiences there

(03-31-2015, 11:05 PM)DGShannon_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-30-2015, 07:52 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I think most of us are fans of the old war birds, that's why we love vintage style bikes. Great photo by the way, love that P-40 and the AVG colors. I love all of them but my favorite is the Spit Fire and the P-38 Lightning. The Confederate Air Force used to put on a great show every year of WWII aircraft at Tico airport in Florida.

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!
That must have been a memorable experience. Having a flight in the "Flying Fortress" would make one appreciate the valor of the crews that flew into the walls of flak, Messerschmitts, and Fockers and all the while battling fatigue and cold. My neighbor, recently deceased, was a belly gunner on a B17. He told me he was among the "lucky" crews that had fighter escorts on their missions.

(04-01-2015, 05:38 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-31-2015, 11:05 PM)DGShannon_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-30-2015, 07:52 AM)redbirds_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I think most of us are fans of the old war birds, that's why we love vintage style bikes. Great photo by the way, love that P-40 and the AVG colors. I love all of them but my favorite is the Spit Fire and the P-38 Lightning. The Confederate Air Force used to put on a great show every year of WWII aircraft at Tico airport in Florida.

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!

I was a member of the CAF for a few years. Our wing maintained and flew the B17 named "Texas Raider". I was fortunate enough to have 3 flights in it, and spend untold hours working on it. In Houston, the big CAF airshow is "Wings Over Houston". Some of the best experiences I have had were after hours at that airshow. Another wing, in the Houston area, maintains the planes left over from the Tora, Tora, Tora movie. AT6 Texans done up like Zeros, Kates, and Zekes. One evening after the airshow, we flew the B17 out over Galveston bay, with the Japanese, a P-51 & P-47 in tow. Nothing quite like sticking your head out of the top of a B17 and watching Zeros chase you! Over the crowds on the shore below, they were turning on smoke and rolling out as if they had been chased by the fighters and shot down by the B17.

Guess you just had to be there!
That must have been a memorable experience. Having a flight in the "Flying Fortress" would make one appreciate the valor of the crews that flew into the walls of flak, Messerschmitts, and Fockers and all the while battling fatigue and cold. My neighbor, recently deceased, was a belly gunner on a B17. He told me he was among the "lucky" crews that had fighter escorts on their missions.

I tried my best to squeeze into the ball turret one day. I am 6' 2" and it was hopeless. I have extra respect for the guys that got that position. Sealed up totally alone in there. Tail gunner next. You have to get down on your belly and wiggle past the tail wheel mechanicals to get back there. You wouldn't want to be in a hurry to get out of either of those two spots.

I absolutely treasured the time I got to spend with the WWII vets that were involved in the CAF. Their stories were great. Odd situation as they still had a love, and passion, for the planes themselves intermixed with the pain and memories of the war. They were always thrilled that another generation cared enough to preserve the legacy.

The tools of freedom! Nothing greater than to have served and made a contribution to making a difference.


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