We've got a few guys on the board here that share pictures of WWII Aircraft when the various shows visit the area, and I think it's safe to say that a lot of those who visit here also have an appreciation for WWII (those who served, and for the equipment/airplanes from that era.)  

Good friend (long, long time friend of The Vault) Roy Schreffler told me a few weeks ago that he was going to take a ride in a B29 (he is a retired engineer and felt that this was a once in a lifetime chance) and did so last weekend. 

Roy was able to "upgrade" to the Bombardier seat, and here is the video as he experienced it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnyd1sYebxE

Thank you Roy.  Amazing to think about that "seat" during wartime, and the brave men that served.

1997 my Uncle passed away. He was certainly a character (a polite way to put it). Long time postmaster of a town in Monmouth County. In WW II, he was a top turret gunner in a B17. The guy was BIG, and with his leather flight jacket on, the crew had to get under him and stuff him up in that turret. Anyway, plane gets shot down and all are killed......with the exception of my uncle. That’s because he couldn’t bounce around, sort of like a “containment seat”. Did lose his leg however.

Fast forward to 1997. There used to be a historical society that every summer flew some old war planes to Monmouth County Airport. You could sign up and pay them for a ride. So I figure my cousin would appreciate going up in a real B17, just like his Dad did many years ago. Bought the tickets and we both went up for a one hour flight. Went out over Belmar beach, banked left, flew up the coast, again banked left at Sandy Hook, made a circle around the Statue of Liberty, then followed the same route home. All at about 2000 feet and maybe 100mph. They allowed you to wander around the plane while in flight, with the exception of the tail gunner position. Needless to say, we took full advantage and played waist gunner to navigator. The biggest take home from the flight is how much the thing rattled and how loud it was inside! You really had to have some big brass ones to be up 35,000 feet at 300 mph, all the while taking flak and dodging German fighters.

Last Sunday I was outside doing yard work and heard something loud getting closer.  I watched this bomber fly over my house probably no more than a couple thousand feet. I swear I could see the pilots in the cockpit.  There was an event at LVIA that weekend that featured this beautiful plane.  Only bad thing, I didn't have my cell on me to take pictures.  Opportunity lost.

Great stories!

This is why our higher learning institutions should teach a little more about history instead how bad certain groups of skin color are. Every time I take my seat at a race, wade into a trout stream, or spend time in the pool with the grand kids I thank God I was born in the USA. All those folks through the years who served and made sacrifices to give me the privilege to enjoy myself. I apologize for the slant but I built those models of the WWII planes and read the horror stories of the missions that went wrong (or even the ones that were considered well).

Mid Atlantic Air Museum's WWII Weekend June 7,8,9, I'll be there.

Same. Will be there sat with my Corsair hat and Super Dirt Big Block shirt, my Horton shirt seen better days.

You guys gotta visit the Air Force Museum in Cincinnati. That place is insane. 

Actually it's in Dayton Ohio and I'll be there within the next hour., my 3rd visit there.  I've also been to Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.

I also made it out to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, somewhere around 1994.  I had to spend two weeks straight through for Mac Tools Technical Training which was in Washington Courthouse OH.  One of the other guys going through training with us recommended we get a group together and go to Wright Patterson on the Saturday that we were all there. Glad we went... It was the highlight of the two weeks!

As mentioned somewhere in the thread, one day was not enough as there is so much to see, and to read about.  Hope to get out there again.

Joe, spent all day Monday there and only saw half of it.  I know it's a racing site, but, are you OK if I post a couple photos, no more than that, from there wheen I get home this weekend?  If not, that's OK too.

Definitely post as many as you want Bob - There's plenty of guys on the board here that would like to make the visit out there and your pictures will be the next best thing. 

When you go to post them Bob, start a brand new thread so that they don't get lost in the middle of this post.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks Joe, I'm still in Ohio, I'll get some together this weekend.

This same World War II-era bomber plane will return to Lehigh Valley International Airport for three public flights this week.

The plane, known as B-29 Doc, will arrive at LVIA on Monday, May 20, following its appearance at the Dover Air Force Base Show.

Two flights are scheduled for Monday night — one at 5 p.m. and one at 6:30 p.m. A third flight is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 21.

More information in story posted on WFMZ.com.

I probably am as interested in Military history as I am with racing History. This gentleman pictured here with me is Fred Olivi. He was the co-pilot of the B29 Bomber (Bockscar) that dropped the Atomic bomb ( Fatboy) on Nagasaki Japan.

I have stood in the bomb bay of that 29 , it is in the air force museum at Right Paterson in Ohio. It is an amazing place to visit,you can spend the day there and not see it all. I was lucky enough to meet the retired commander there who gave me a tour of the place not open to the public. I got to stand on the spot where LBJ was sworn in on air force one the day Kennedy was killed. Talk about chills it was a day I will never forget. I also flew in the B17 the 909 that crashed a few years ago , another day for the memory bank . And I guess Iam like you when it come to airplanes.

The National Museum of the USAF is a national treasure.  It is at Wright-Patterson AFB.  The name comes from the Wright Brothers (Dayton natives) and Lt. Frank S. Patterson who died in a plane accident in 1918.  Patterson was the son of John Patterson, founder of National Cash Register Co. (NCR), also a Dayton based company for many years.  The base was originally two separate bases, Wright Field and Patterson Field.  "The Base" as it is called locally is the largest employer in Ohio.