I have flown in both the Collings Foundation B-17 and B-24. I highly recommend their programs to any military history buff!
Here I am in the bombadier's position in the B-17 about 10 years ago.
We flew out of Livermore Airport, in the SF Bay Area. This is the view just after take-off, from the top gunner's turret.
On that flight we did a fly-by over the USS Iowa, which was then berthed with the "Mothball Fleet" near Benicia, California.
I flew in the B-24 more recently … just 2 years ago.
On that flight, our guest-of-honor was the widow of a WW2 vet B-24 pilot. It was her first time seeing (and flying in) the type of plane her husband had flown so many years before. She was a spry ol' gal!
The Collings Foundation does a great job getting local vets involved in their events -- I've seen, met, and spoken with WW2 vets at every one of their events I have attended. Sometimes they have local vets set up at tables with their photo albums, just to talk to interested visitors about their experiences. It is an amazing experience.
They are a high class organization! Check out the Wings of Freedom tour if/when it rolls into your town -- you won't regret it!
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)
gets his hands on some fields and fences.
