Post #160456 by Tiki-bot on Fri, May 20, 2005 4:12 PM

Planes of Fame is a great museum, or it was the last time I visited many years ago. Last I read they are trying to raise money to expand and upgrade their facility. I have many great memories of weekends spent washing warbirds (to "pay" for our rides), plus getting to see the first ever all-original Japanese Zero fly since the war. But my favorite memory, other than flying, was when my pal thought he'd surprise us by climbing into the (empty & engine-less) fuselage of an F-106 jet and poking his head out the intake. It was funny til he got stuck in the intake and we, having cleaning utinsils and water hoses in hand, well, I think you know what happened next.

As for the B-17, an old friend of mine's dad kept a diary of his many tours as a navigator stationed in England and later, France. It was amazing to read something so personal. He chronicled life on the bases, the social issues facing servicemen (racism, violence, alcoholism, "battle fatigue" and such) and of course, the harrowing missions. The most frightening part was when he got his orders to go home, but still had to fly 3 more missions. I don't think I could handle that kind of pressure, not with fellow squadron members dying almost every week. It's impossible nowadays to comprehend the level of fear and bravery those guys functioned at on a daily basis. It was an amazing read, to say the least.