[Milsurplus] Bomber Crew Fantasy Camp

[Joe Connor via Milsurplus]

The tours of the old bombers are very useful if you like to study WWII history. I always pictured the interiors of the B-17 and B-24 as very roomy. I guess the old movies made them appear that way. When I finally got inside them, I was surprised at how cramped they were. For example, in a B-17, I stood on the catwalk over the bomb bays and was simultaneously able to touch both side of the fuselage. Also, with all the hydraulic lines, oxygen lines and electrical lines running down the side of the fuselage, it was difficult to see how they could sustain much battle damage without these lines being ruptured. Knowing about the interior of the bombers makes it a lot easier to understand the accounts that appear in the books (e.g. why so many crew members were unable to bail out of disabled ships).
Joe Connor 


     On Friday, September 18, 2015 6:46 PM, Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com> wrote:
   
 

 Hi,

Before I looked at the images and text I had similar thoughts. WWII 
Bomber Camp? I wondered how they would simulate being shot at, being 
trapped in a burning bomber, freezing at altitude. But I see it gave 
some people a taste of hwat their training like and they got a ride in 
vintage aircraft. Something probably worthwhile.

I have some command receivers in use here and *every* time I look at 
them I reflect on the god awful terror so many of those men went through 
and yet another prayer goes up for them. I wouldn't want a 'life-like' 
simulation. I wonder if they have to pass through the airp[ort security 
to board the flight..

73,

Bill  KU8H



On 09/18/2015 04:56 PM, Joe Connor via Milsurplus wrote:
> Thanks for the link. That is interesting.
> 1. How does the concept of a fantasy camp strike everyone? Frankly, it makes me a little uneasy. I know that we have fantasy camps for baseball fans (e.g., Mantle and Whitey Ford used to run one for Yankee fans) and for fans of certain bands (e.g., the Kingston Trio runs one every year), but I've never been interested. To me, it's like re-enacting. I love to study history and I love to work on the old radios, but I think it's crossing the line to try to pretend to be in the service in WWII.
> 2. The age thing is funny. Weight is also an issue. The book "Confederates in the Attic" discusses both vis-a-vis the re-enactors. In the Civil War, the soldiers were young and, from all the exertion and the lousy food, skinny. Most of the re-enactors are middle-aged and many are plump. The irony is that the re-enactors, who strive for historical accuracy in everything, are inaccurate on their basic physical appearance.
>
> Joe Connor
>

______________________________________________________________
Milsurplus mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html