(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

O.T. When U.S.A. was U.S.A. - Liberty Belle sighting

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
A real step back in time, was going to see her up close, but the rain this morning put a damper on that, but that is ok, just heard that distinct rumble, look up and there is a B-17, Liberty Belle, what a sight and sound, watched her head off into the distance, and make the right bank towards the airport, one can only imagine the sound of the sky filled with those, still in awe, it flew directly over my house !
 
Know how it feels Billy. We"re on the flightpath of the only Lancaster Bomber flying in North America. The sound of those four Merlins is music to one"s ears.
 
She just made another pass, dissappeared in some low clouds, made a hard right bank right towards me, all the while that sound getting louder, I took a half-@ss video, just had to have something to remember this, silver with a yellow tail, you could see the gunners turrets plain as day, just an awesome sight when she came out of the clouds, was like an unveiling. I'm going to be listening the rest of the afternoon, not sure whether to go over there and watch her take off/land, she'll be here tomorrow too, have got to get a closer look at this, reminds one of a different time in this country and honors all those in uniform.
http://www.libertyfoundation.org/
 
There's one that visits Bar Harbor Airport every year, about 20 miles from me. I wanna say it's the Memphis Belle, but don't quote me on that.

I happened by the airport just as it was taking off a couple of summers ago. They were on the runway threshold running the engines up. I slid to a stop on the side of the road and hopped out just to listen to that beautiful sound.

I sometimes think I was born 50 years too late...
 
I've often thought the same thing, but well I also appreciate our time, I just about climbed onto the roof to stand at attention and salute as it went into that right bank, she looks awesome and I'll bet what they have done has made a few vets proud, we have one in the family that flew in bombers, sharp as a tack and still very active, I let him know it was there, I hope he gets a chance to stop in.

The best part about the short video I got was the sound, you could not ask for a better sample, just coming out of the clouds and into that bank, made my day I'll tell you.
 
Even though I am a Canadian, The Memphis Belle is one of my favourite movies (please note the correct spelling of favourite). We had two survivors of WW2 Bomber crews on our little town. One was a tail gunner, the other I'm not sure, but he flew in the belly. The second guy had to bail out and finished the war as a POW. He's still alive today and occasionally mentions that the last aircraft he flew in he had to jump out of.
 
My all time favorite wartime movie is 12 O'Clock High. Really tells it like it was with a great deal of actual combat footage.
 
Right.............the Memphis Belle is non-flying. Sat out in the weather for about 40 years in a couple of different locations in Memphis. THE "Memphis Belle" was the girl-friend/fiancee (Margaret Polk, as I recall) of the pilot, Robert Morgan. They never married and he later flew B-29s in the Pacific. The "Belle" was later put on display under a canopy on Mud Island in the Memphis harbor, but still exposed to birds and the elements. 'They' were given time to construct a suitable home, but couldn't meet the dead-line. The Air Force took her back and she's now at the Museum in Dayton, OH. My wife's boss was a B-17 pilot during the war..............
 
Dad's cousin died recently, he left the farm to become a Lancaster pilot in WWII. Was shot down 7 times over enemy territory and only captured once, and that for a short while.
 
I wondered that too- maybe a troop ship (boat) after the War? Just guessing.
Couple other items, please:
"Catch 22" ought to be mentioned.
Accounts of missions like the Schweinfuhrt ball bearings plant bombing leave one in awe of U.S. aircrew courage. I don't mean to glorify war.
My late mother was a "Rosie the Riveter" in Denver during WWII. They had to work 7 days a week. War is costly.
 
Just east of Troy. There has been a few visits in recent years, last summer I believe a B-29 was out there lurking in the skies. This one has been here 2x since '06. I'm going to head over there and see it up close, they spend $1 million/year to keep her airworthy. There have always been airshows here, usually over at Schenectady where those C-136 Hercules are based, they constantly fly over here and our place 30 miles north of here, nothing can replace the sound of that B17 though.
 
I have attended the WW2 commemorative weekend at Reading, Pa. which is about an hour from my home. The giant warbirds that they have there are awesome. About ten years ago, maybe longer, The National Warplane Museum in Gennesio, NY, had an R4D Naval Air Transport there and the wife and I and our daughter had the privilege of going for a ride in it. It was an experience I will never forget. I also heard Capt. Morgan talk about his experiences in the war. By the way, that ride only cost me $35 a head. I love to hear the sounds of those engines, too.
Paul
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe the "Memphis Belle" is a B-24, not a B-17. More B-24s were used in WWII than any other bomber (especially in the ETO)
 
You're right, I stand corrected. (It my age, it seems like brain farts come with increasing regularity).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top