And now......The People! I spoke to Captain David Ott. (very professional, serious looking) He's the Witchcraft's co-pilot on the upcoming Hop. ($400.00. Hey! less than last time!) His day job is skipper of an Airbus jet airliner, for a prominent airline, based in the Windy City.
He comments that the B-24J is a much more muscular airplane to fly, than the fly-by-wire Airbus.
Nine-O-Nine's right-seater is an affable, enthusiastic, Cessna 172 flight instructor, by the name of Nick Coutches (no, not furniture!) You can sense the pride he feels to fly the B-17G on this passenger flight. ($400.00) FAA reg's forbid flying in formation while carrying passengers (no interlocking field of fire then?) Chances are slim Nazi fighters will jump either Bomber, while over central Iowa. Thank you IANG!!
No one is allowed to throw anything out of either Aircraft. (no bombing then either?
I tried to find Oscar Brand's "Glorifying Regulations" song to insert here. No soap.)
I talk to new people. Everyone knows I do it. I spied an aging Gent, wearing a USN Privateer Veterans ball cap. He was accompanied by his Son (?) and Daughter-in-Law (?) His name was Ray Prior.
When he was 19 years old, he served in the United States Navy, Flying Privateers with VPB-121 as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. He made emergency repairs, while airborne for up to 16 hours aboard his PB4Y-2 Privateer over hostile Pacific waters. His US Navy Privateer was similar to the USAAC Liberator. (Well, a little!) He was also his Aircraft's tail turret gunner. He was checking out the VPB's on Witchcraft, so I asked Ray about his unit, and his experience. he told me a story about a crash on Iwo Jima in 1945. It seems the pilot thought the co-pilot had control, and vice-versa, and the ol PB4Y-2 pranged herself onto the field, and bent both wings. "So, the Navy gave us another airplane, and we went back to work." He's lived in Ames, Iowa since 1949.
THIS is where the treasure of this kind of event can truly be unearthed. Ray shook my hand. I was honored to meet this Navy Vet, who, not so unlike many other youngsters of that era, gave his innocence, and his childhood, did his duty, and kept the Whole World safe from the forces of Tyranny. :salute
ldguy
This is why I can build, and give away my Models. It's the very least I can do for being able to repose under the blanket of Liberty that Ray Prior, and his peers sacrificed so very much to provide.
Mr. Prior does not believe he did anything special. He's as sweet a Man as you could possibly wish to meet.
Thanks for looking in!!