A B-24 and Book Recommendation

In September we heard that some World War II planes were coming to the local airport on a tour of sorts.  A year ago if someone had mentioned to me, Beth and my mom that a B-24 would be on display, I don't think we would have given it a second thought.  In fact, I know we wouldn't have.  However, several months ago Beth read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and recommended it strongly/forced it upon my mom and me.  It was an amazing story of redemption (in more ways than one) and a B-24 featured prominently in it.  (Featured even more prominently was Louie Zamperini whose life is the stuff movies are made of...and in fact there is a movie being made.  Unfortunately we've heard rumors that an actor I consider less than stellar is in talks to play him.)  My dad, Edward and Andy came along, as did the kids, and we all enjoyed seeing a bit of history.

 

 

Can you imagine sitting there, alone in the back of the plane while you stared down another pilot chasing you and tried to shoot it down?  Or can you imagine getting close enough in another plane to see someone concentrating as he aimed those barrels at you? I get a funny feeling down my spine just thinking about it.

Seeing the inside of the planes was not for the feeble.  Actually, though, there were many WWII veterans there who were rather old and were sporting canes or scars from what I imagine were replaced knees, yet many managed to navigate the planes.  You had to climb up a ladder into a small opening and then walk across what was basically a narrow catwalk.  I was surprised Maddie did it and didn't chicken out.

 

 

 

  

I thought about bringing Avonlea in the first plane with us but thank goodness I didn't!  I never would have been able to safely carry her through, or at least not without a lot of stress and distraction from actually seeing the plane.  My dad kindly skipped coming in and walked around with her.

 Unfortunately the plane and not us is in focus, but I still love having a few pictures of me with my Avvie-girl who was in a hugging and kissing mood.

Do you see me?

How about now?

This is inside the second plane, a B-17.

There's PopPop, now watching both girls since Maddie wasn't up for another plane walk through.

Eeek!

In case you're wondering where the pictures of Beth, Nate and Edward are, they went a little earlier than us so Beth had already seen one plane and was in line for the second by the time we got there.  Maybe if she ever starts blogging again (hint, hint) she'll share some of her pictures.