[Milsurplus] Bomber Fantasy Camp, OK by me.

[Joe Connor via Milsurplus]

What really impresses me is that the guys flying and navigating these long, dangerous missions over Europe and in the Pacific were young guys who, a year or two before, had been soda jerks, students, factor workers etc. The Army Air Force must have really had a top-notch training program to be able to turn these civilians into competent pilots and navigators in such a short time. 
Joe Connor 


     On Saturday, September 19, 2015 9:33 AM, Jack Antonio <scr287 at att.net> wrote:
   
 

 When it comes to seeing and hearing big heavy airplanes, I've been lucky.

I am an official Air Force brat, having grown up near and on Air Force 
Bases.

Seen and heard B-36s in and out of Lowry AFB,  (with one prop feathered, 
which
from what I've heard was SOP for the -36), B-52s at Mather, just about 
everything
the Air force had in the inventory at McClellan, and F-89s, C-123s and 
C-124s at Ladd AFB.

Remembering night take offs of F-89s, all you could see were the two 
streaks of flame
from the afterburners.

McClellan was home to WB-50s and EC-121s. We lived in Capehart housing north
of the base, just off the approach path. The WB-50s  reminded me of old 
tired horses
heading to the barn. The EC-121s had their noses high, looking proud.

My dads last duty assignment was a SAC RBS site in Nevada. For a period 
of time
circa 1965 or 66, F-105s were making low level passes over the site. 
Impressive, and loud.

Great memories.

As far as flying inside the airplanes, even as  a dependent, I have good 
and not so good
memories of flights in C-54s, C-119s, C-47s and one long flight in a 
C-121. The C-54 was a Reeves Aleutian
ex-USAF C-54, but no attempt had been made to make the interior into an 
airliner.

Now live near Warner Robins AFB, we get JSTARS C-135s over our house
about 3 or 4 times a week, although still neat, just not the same.

Jack Antonio WA7DIA/4







Jack
______________________________________________________________
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