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Ferocious Frankie flying in for World War II re-enactment at Bournemouth Air Festival

in Press Releases / by Jack / on August 8, 2012 at 09:24 /

Ferocious Frankie, a Mustang P51 which will be performing in a World War II rescue re-enactment at the 2012 Bournemouth Air Festival

WITH three weeks to go until this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival, organisers have announced a new event for 2012.

Display director Ian Sheeley is staging a World War II re-enactment, featuring a downed airman, Me109, Spitfire and P-51 and, the star of the show, a Catalina flying boat, to commemorate a dramatic rescue from 1944. During the war, 44-33915 ‘Miss Pick Up’ was an American OA-10A Catalina aircraft of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, whose sole purpose was the preservation of life, friend or foe.

It featured nose art inspired by femme fatale ‘Miss Lace’, created by renowned American wartime cartoonist Milton Caniff. The re-enactment is staged loosely on the events of March 30, 1944, when 1st Lt John V Lapenas and his crew on Catalina ‘Miss Pick Up’ were dispatched to the aid of a young P-51 Mustang Pilot 1st Lt Dan Meyers whose engine had seized, leaving him stranded in the North Sea.

After landing on the rough seas, the Catalina lost an engine and was unable to take off. For six days the 5th ERS crew were adrift at sea – attacked by two enemy Me262s, their aircraft sank and they were stranded in liferafts, enduring unforgiving storm conditions. They were eventually rescued on April 5. The re-enactment will pay homage to the nose art on the Catalina and will feature enhanced commentary from Air Festival commentator George Bacon, with footage shown on TV screens.

Director Jon Weaver said: “This is certainly a first – history will be told and made.” Rachel Morris, bookings manager for the Catalina, added: “We are delighted to perform this year and even more so to be involved in a historic re-enactment. “It’s important we commemorate the selfless and brave men of the original ‘Miss Pick Up’ who risked their own lives to save others.” Plane Sailing Air Displays Ltd, operator of the Catalina starring, have painted the aircraft in the same scheme to commemorate the crews.

Visit our Air Festival section at bournemouthecho.co.uk/airfestival

HOW TO GET YOUR TICKETS

The ballot for the fantastic Night Air At the Piers music line-up opens at 7am tomorrow.

Presented by Wave105, there are only 5,000 tickets available for each night which cost £3.50 each. The ballot closes at midnight on Sunday.

Friday night sees headline act Newton Faulkner take to the stage with Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Ben Montague and Honey Ryder and Saturday get set for Scouting for Girls and Rizzle Kicks – more additions to the Saturday night line-up are to be announced.

Apply online at bhlivetickets.co.uk.

For Festival information visit bournemouthair.co.uk or follow Bournemouth Air Festival on Twitter #bmthairfest and Facebook bournemouthairfestival

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/press-r ... tival.html