Wwii Warbird Video

Triumph Motorcycle Forum - TriumphTalk

Help Support Triumph Motorcycle Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Enjoyed the history lesson and the photos. One of these days I want to find a model of the plane a distant cousin was killed in, a DouglasTBD Devastator at Midway. Lt. Commander Lance E. Massey "For his heroism in pursuing the attack on the Soryu, Massey was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross."

The TBD Devastator, not LEM's
tmp_17972-300px-Douglas_TBD-1_VT-6_in_flight_c1938708801385.jpeg




"In memory of his valiant actions at the Battle of Midway, the U.S. Navy christened the destroyer USS Massey (DD-778) on August 19, 1944."
tmp_17972-300px-USS_Massey_(DD-778)_in_Med_19711682580892.jpg


If you've watch the movie "Midway" then you have heard of Lance.
 
Great video! Love the sound of those engines!
I've been to that airfield in upstate New York several times, but there was no airshow going on.
It's an all grass runway and resembles a WWII airfield. It's like a step back to 1945.
It was the home of an airworthy B-17 called Fuddy Duddy and I got to go inside and sit in the cockpit.
Most of the planes were airworthy with some under restoration.
 
I'm not meaning to hijack this subject, but seeing the video taken at Geneseo in upstate New York, brought back some great memories.
Back then I had a daughter studying in Toronto and each summer we would drive up to see her.
On the way home we came across at Niagara Falls into NY state. The drive across the state was near Geneseo so I always made a side trip to see the planes.
These are some pics from my visits.

When you enter the field you feel as if you were back in 1945 which is the intention and theme of the place.
Most of the planes are in flying condition and some are under restoration.

This is the field and a beautiful P-40 Warhawk in Flying Tiger colours.

Geneseo 2.jpg


This is me and Fuddy Duddy, a beautiful B-17 in perfect flying condition. I was wearing my Canadian Warplane Heritage jacket and showed them my membership card.
They agreed to let me go inside the bomber by myself and sit in the cockpit.
What struck me was how small it is inside there and how difficult it must have been for the crew to get out if the plane was going down.

Geneseo 1.jpg


This is a spitfire undergoing restoration. The Merlin engine is ready and the body is almost finished with an all new skin. The wings were in jigs waiting for a new skin too.
The Me 109G waiting for restoration.

Geneseo 3.jpg
 
That would be great if they get another Lanc into airworthy condition.
It's hugely expensive and time consuming to bring these old planes back.
Once that's done, then there is the cost of flying it and regular maintenance.

I belong to the CWHM and could go for a ride in VeRA, but I think the cost is $2,500.00 CDN :y26:
My father liked to say with a smirk, "You can do and have anything you want, all it takes is money!"

A number of years ago VeRA flew into our local airport on a tour and the public were allowed to go inside so I did.
Lots more room in there than a B-17.
 
Rocky said:
That would be great if they get another Lanc into airworthy condition.
It's hugely expensive and time consuming to bring these old planes back.
Once that's done, then there is the cost of flying it and regular maintenance.
Click to expand...

Here in the States we have the Collings Foundation, They also restore warbirds and fly them around on tours. They regularly have a B-17, a B-24 Lancaster, a B-25 Mitchell, and a P-51D (two-seater). People can pay for rides in any of them, the P-51 being the most expensive, partly beause the cost is not split among several passengers. I've talked to the folks running the show, and, yes, the cost of fuel and miscellany is a good chunk of the cost, but not the largest chunk. Any guesses what makes up the largest chunk of the cost to fly these old beauties?


INSURANCE!!! Replacement insurance is quite high, but so is liability insurance because people have become sue-happy.
 
Rocky said:
What struck me was how small it is inside there and how difficult it must have been for the crew to get out if the plane was going down.
Click to expand...

That struck me, too, when I walked from the waist gunner position, through the bomb bay on that NARROW walkway (without bombs in position; must have been worse when loaded), to the cockpit/navigator's area. There's a reason why "kids" are best suited for that.
 
I'm not at all surprised at insurance being a very high cost.
Paying for insurance can almost bankrupt some worthy ventures that don't have buckets of money.

I enjoyed your post TUP TUP but there is a minor error.
A B-24 is called Liberator.
 
Greyfell said:
That struck me, too, when I walked from the waist gunner position, through the bomb bay on that NARROW walkway (without bombs in position; must have been worse when loaded), to the cockpit/navigator's area. There's a reason why "kids" are best suited for that.
Click to expand...
Exactly right!
I'm not a big guy, but had to turn sideways to wiggle through the narrow bomb bay.
I was thinking about the crew wearing those big sheepskin suits to keep warm and how bulky they were.
But I suppose, once in position, they didn't move around that much until or if they had to bail out.

And yes, the crew were usually very young and slimmer men doing an unimaginable job.
Flying back over Germany time and time again blows my mind. The losses were beyond horrible.
 
Since we're on the subject of planes and "stuff", I want to share with you something I lucked onto 30 years ago.
I was at a flea market and came upon a fellow who had deactivated ammo; no powder or primers.
I was thrilled when I spotted these 20mm cannon bullets marked 1944 and 1945.
British fighter planes were later fitted with a Hispano cannons that fired these projectiles.
Hispano was a Spanish/Swiss company that built luxury cars and engines before the war.
I placed a Bic pen in the picture for perspective.

IMG_1999.JPG
 
Rocky it's a shame that you don't live nearer to The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, with your personal knowledge and enthusiasm for these planes, and the rightful respect that you always show to these guys, just imagine if you could get a part time job taking people around, you'd be like a kid in a sweet shop. If you were ever lucky enough to get this side of the pond again. The BBMF at RAF Coningsby as you know, must be at the top of your list. You and the tour guides would be fantastic to listen in on.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top