The Raiders

[kham]

Another 70th Anniversary today, one that almost slipped my mind.

Thanks, boys : From the Castle Argghhh!

[jimbomite]

So as fate would have it, I was in Dayton the last few days for a trip to WPAFB. Tuesday morning I was getting myself ready when I heard this noise...a noise I couldn't quite explain but it was loud and continuous. Sounded almost like a vacuum cleaner in the hallway of the hotel. Not thinking too much more I got ready to head to my meeting and saw a traffic jam outside...with many cars pulled over at the old airfield by the Museum. As I drove closer I started to see something, no somethings taxiing on the runway...and then..I almost caused a wreck: there were 4 B-25 taxiing in echelon down the runway....then no..an entire squadron!! At least a dozen to 15 (later confirmed at 17). When I got to my meeting, I found out the planes were there to celebrate the 70th anniversary. What I missed was the formation fly in, with a real Zero escort! But wait, this gets better.

Today, there was a fly over. At 1245 all 17 took off one at a time. It was an amazing sight seeing that many and then again that many thousands of people there to witness this. The 17 flew out and gathered, and then flew in bomber formation over the crowd at various altitudes. I was on base for one of the fly-overs facing 17 B-25s flying at about 2,000 ft altitude. I got chills and two ok photos with my I-phone of a couple of the 3 ship elements.

Anyway, what a surprise for a trip. The entire base was buzzing (no pun intended) but I will tell you this. There is no sound like a big rotary engine. Toss in 34 of them and it rivals the sound of a modern fighter in afterburner.

Jim

[jadokast98]

That really must have been a treat! I saw a three ship of B-17, B-24 and B-25 back in the summer of '96 and it made me slack jawed for the entire minute they approached. I saw the -17 and thought of her coming back from a mission over Europe. I saw the -24 and I was a German flak gunner as the bomber was on IP at Ploesti, and on the ground in Tokyo watching a -25. I never found out where they were going; OKC , Tulsa, or Dallas. I miss Air Force open houses.
Thanks brother.