|
It's said
that airplanes don't win wars, it's the people that fly them. During
the dark days of World War Two, thousands of young Americans put
themselves in harms way in the skies over Europe to set the whole
world free.
I grew up in England listening to
stories about what is was like to see an airborne armada of hundreds
of airplanes heading out on a mission and what it was like to see
the survivors return, many carrying the scars of battle.
The price they paid was high, of the
291,508 missions flown by B-17's alone ~ a total of 4,688 aircraft
fell in combat. Each airplane carried a crew of 10 men and an
operational tour with the Eighth Air Force lasted 25 missions, which
meant that a lot of men would never get to go home, they would make
the ultimate sacrifice .......
Present day warbird operators keep the memories of the past alive.
By keeping the last few B-17's airworthy, new generations can learn
about the Flying Fortress and the men that flew them.
And
sometimes today's aviators let people like me ride along .......
The Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast
Wing are a great bunch of people and it was a honour to spend some
time with them.
It was also a great privilege to fly
with them in Texas Raiders. |
