I think it is still the goal of the group that puts on Thunder Over Michigan to get their hands on a B-24 since that is the bomber that was produced in Willow Run but I think as the years go on that goal will get tougher and touger to realize. If it's not already too late.
This is the B-24 with a pair of P-51's flying escort. The Willow Run plant was able to produce 10,000 of these planes which I believe was more than any other plant. When Ford was asked to build the B-24, they were given a tour of the plant currently building them. When asked, Ford said they would produce 1 bomber per hour which was amazing given that the original manufacturer was making 1 per day. Ford was able to hit that target.
After the war, the Willow Run plant was converted to various peace time activities. It will be closing either later this year or next.
This is the B-17 named Thunderbird.
This is the Yankee Air Force's Yankee Lady. It lives at Willow Run and I get to see it every so often.
This is the B-17 Sentimental Journey.
This is the Memphis Belle they used for the movie of the same name. The original is currently being restored by the Air Force Museum.
This is the Liberty Belle.
This is Aluminum Overcast. During the war, there were so many B-17's flying over some cities in German that it was called Aluminum Overcast. After seeing a formation of 8 B-17's last year, I would hate to think of what it would be like to be under that situation.
Another shot of the B-24.
This one is called Nine O Nine.
Another shot of the Yankee Lady as she peels away.
I'm not sure which one this is, but it was as it was flying overhead.
This was really neat. They did a formation of 4 B-17's.
And then they did a missing man formation with it.
The coolest part of the B-17 is hearing the engines as it passes overhead. It makes a very distinctive sound and there is no mistaking what just passed overhead.
No comments:
Post a Comment