Hello,
We have an interesting project coming up that I think you might want to get involved with.
We are going to recreate a WWII bomber mission with the only Consolidated B-24J Liberator still flying.
This “Mission” will depart from Stockton Field (SCK) in Northern California and will fly a bombing run to Eagle Field near Dos Palos, California.
We need three different groups or re enactors for the Mission. The first two will be based at Stockton Field (Stockton Metropolitan Airport). One of these groups will be the ground crew that will be servicing the B-24 (with fuel, maintenance, bombs and guns) for the flight and the other will be the flight crew to represent the crew for the Mission. The third group will be at Eagle Field and we hope to have a small ground battle between the Americans and the Germans as the B-24 comes in on the bomb run.
The Collings Foundation will be coming to Stockton Field from May 28th through the 30th with their full complement of bombers; the B-17G Flying Fortress, B-24J Liberator and the B-25 Mitchell. We are going to fly the Mission around 1600 (4pm) on Thursday the 29th.
The Stockton Field contingent of living History folks are welcome to stay throughout the entire time the Collings aircraft are at Stockton. The group at Eagle Field is welcome to set up on the 29th or possible the day before.
Here is a brief outline of the “Mission”:
The “Mission” is the combination of several individual projects previously put together Vintage Aircraft and the Stockton Field Aviation Museum where the technology of WWII has been brought back to life, in living history form, for historical documentaries.
In the past we have put a working Norden Bombsight back in the nose of a 1944 B-25 and let original aircrew members try their skills once again. Dropping practice bombs from the B-25 with the Norden was very interesting and presented a challenge to the Bombardiers.
We have also brought out back to life the gun turrets, including the famous Ball Turret from the belly of the B-17 and the B-24, and let the WWII gunners fired the guns once again.
Our latest project has been to get the old radios operational and to get the WWII radio operators back behind the Morse code key one more time.
With the “Mission” we plan on bringing all of these individual projects together in one bomber to let the WWII crewmen show us what it was like for these heroes to defend our country over 60 years ago.
The “Mission” will be a shortened version of an actual combat mission flown from Stockton Metropolitan Airport, which used to be Stockton Army Air Field, to bomb targets at Eagle Field, Dos Palos, California, also a WWII airfield.
The last flying B-24J in the world will be the platform for the “Mission” as she is very stock and original and is complete with gun turrets and radio gear. The B-24 will be loaded with bombs and crew in period clothing using original equipment. The Armorers will prepare the guns just as they did before a mission in 1944. The radio operator in the Liberator will communicate with the Command Jeep using the same radio equipment that was used back then, to obtain permission for takeoff. The bomber will takeoff and fly on its mission. The bomber will be joined by two P-51D Mustangs who will provide air cover for the mission. The B-24 might just be attacked while she is heading in to the target and it will be up to the gunners and the Mustangs to ward off the attacking aircraft.
As the B-24 gets closer to the target area they will make contact with the forward air controllers who will advise the bomber of the latest target information. The bomber will make a reconnaissance run to evaluate the target which will be followed by an actual bomb run. The bomber will drop 250 and or 500 pound practice bombs on two different runs to try and hit the target. On the second run pyrotechnics will indicate that the target has been hit. The B-24 will make a low pass over the target area and will then head for home base.
As the Liberator returns home a close eye will be kept out for more attacking fighters as the waist gunners and the ball turret gunners scan the skies.
As the Bomber nears the base she will make contact with the command Jeep for landing instructions and will come in for a low pass followed by a landing. Flares from the B-24 indicate that wounded are onboard which will alert the waiting ambulance. The ground crews will attend to the aircrew and the aircraft following the “Mission”.
Look for more information soon on
http://www.twinbeech.com/themission.htm
If you would like to get involved or know someone who would, please contact me as soon as possible. Period correct uniforms, vehicles and equipment would sure add greatly to this event. We hope that it will be so successful that we can repeat it year after year.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Taigh Ramey
7432 C.E. DIXON STREET
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA 95206
(209) 982-0273
(209) 982-4832 FAX
TAIGH@TWINBEECH.COM
http://www.twinbeech.com/
KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!
_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here
http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htmWe brought her from:
to this in 3 months:
Help us get her all the way back
All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.
Thank you!
Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'
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