[Milsurplus] Bomber Crew Fantasy Camp

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 4:56 PM, Joe Connor via Milsurplus <
milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> 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.
>

Well, it's just a phrase. 'Bucket List' might have a more relate-able feel
for many of us. Fantasy-anything tends to conjure up more of a make-believe
scenario. Of course, Bucket List implies impending doom/death. So pick your
poison. (o:

As to the actual camp and experience, I'd be there in a heartbeat if
possible. The opportunity to see, feel, experience so much, while learning
even more from those who actually know what they're talking about -
technically and otherwise. Not the type of thing you can get or do easily,
like attending the Richard Petty Driving Experience if you're into racing.

I got to fly with the Collings Foundation in the Nine-O-Nine back in the
early 90s and will cherish the experience for the rest of my life. Nothing
compares, and very little aside from family moments like the birth of our
daughter can top it. Their B-24 had just recently been completed and was
called the All American then, mostly bare aluminum with donor names
stenciled on it. Got some great video flying in tandem with it.

I wore AF ODs, an authentic WWII shearling bomber coat, leather A-11 flight
helmet, goggles, oxygen mask, and so on. I didn't do it to pretend, but as
Bill said - to get at least some idea of what the experience must've been
like for those who went through it. There's no way to really experience it,
of course, without being a scared kid having someone trying to kill you
through half the flight. But I recall how difficult it was just to move
around inside, walking across the catwalk in the bomb bay while looking
through the gap in the bomb bay doors, or getting into position in the nose
to shoot video. I remember standing at the side window .50 cal positions
and feeling pretty....exposed. And the noise? Incredible. Vibration, too.
Forget those movies with crew members talking to each other without aid of
an intercom. Not happening. Standing close to each other shouting, maybe.
We used a lot of hand signals and pointing.

So a flight in and of itself is an incredible experience I'd recommend to
everyone who feels so inclined. Taigh's camp experience looks almost
overwhelming with all it has to offer beyond 'just' the flight experience.
Hard to grasp, really. Maybe someday....

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4