On this day, 75 years ago, a representative of the major combatants in the Pacific stepped on the decks of the U.S.S. Missouri which was anchored in Tokyo Bay. They signed the formal documents of surrender and thus ending World War II. If I remember correctly, World War II formally started on September 2nd after Britain and France declared war on Germany after the German and Soviet invasion of Poland. The United States would not enter the war for another two years.
Anyway, to commemorate the end of World War II, the Yankee Air Force flew three World War II aircraft across the state of Michigan. They would take a route that would end over Grand Rapids and then return. I decided to catch the planes as they returned.
First up was the Yankee Warrior, which is the B-25 belonging to the Yankee Air Force.
The B-25 was a workhorse bomber during World War II. It is most famous for being the bomber that was used in the Tokyo Raid in 1942.
If I remember correctly, it was also the bomber that was used in Catch 22.
It was mostly used in missions that were too large for fighters but not large enough for the bigger bombers.
Next up was the Yankee Lady.
The Yankee Lady is the B-17 Flying Fortress that belongs to the Yankee Air Force.
It is probably the most famous of the bombers even though it wasn't really a work horse.
But still a pretty nice looking bomber.
And the last plane was the C-47.
The C-47 is the military version of the DC-3 and was a cargo workhorse in the war.
It was also the plane used for many of the parachute assaults.
It is affectionately known as the Gooney Bird.
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