Commemorative Air Force

[BeeKool]

Went to the Commemorative Air Force in Mesa AZ yesterday. Just want to post a few pics to raise awareness to this wonderful place. Staffed by volunteers. Several planes (and there are lots) are in working condition and rides are available. Admission is 15$ well worth it, should be 25$.

B-17 functional. I walked through it. Was amazed. In awe, the crew for this thing were men among boys. Can't even begin to explain or understand what they went through everytime they flew a mission. Truly heroic! The fellow who gave me a tour was a 91 year old Vet who was a tailgunner on an identical plane. His friend a 104 year old Vet was a gunner on a ball turret on this very B-17. Very cool

B-24 functional

I forget what this one was. Perhaps Ski or Blade would know. It's been converted to a private plane though. Has a couch a bar and a toilet inside. Pretty cool. It offers the least expensive rides. 300$ per seat

I forget this plane as well. Its an American make with RAF markings. It also had side doors and looks similar to planes used to drop paratroopers. It was also for sale. Perhaps if I sell the farm....

Look familar?.?.? This is the exact some chopper used for the intro to M.A.S.H.
I spotted it as soon as I walked in, I knew it was going to be a good day.


The place is full of personnel, and they told me it is operated primarily on a volunteer basis. WOW! I told them if I ever moved to Mesa I would volunteer my services for swabbing the deck. They replied that any volunteer services would be welcomed.
Very cool place. Dozen of other birds to look at. Great way to spend a few hours for not much $

Lastly.... I want one of these...

 

[super-bee_ski]

Great pics "BeeKool"
Great place

 

[Bladecutter]

The B-24 is North American
B-25......figure a typo. The camo'd bird is the venerable
Douglas C-47/DC-3.
I grew up up watching CAF air races in South Texas.....it was incarnated as the Confederate Air Force & that is what I will always call it. Damn PC.

 

[snakeyes]

Thanks bee

 

[BeeKool]

Next time I'm down here I'm going to make sure I have Saturday free. That's when they offer rides. I'm thinking ball turret on the Belly Turret on the B-17 may be a rush

 

[Bladecutter]

Next time I'm down here I'm going to make sure I have Saturday free. That's when they offer rides. I'm thinking ball turret on the Belly Turret on the B-17 may be a rush

Ingress & egress was possible from out side & inside of plane. To do so from inside of plane, the turret had to rotate to point where guns aimed straight down. Some Gunners wore chest chutes, but the space was so confined, the chute restricted movement, so most went chute less. If the airplane lost electrical, then rotating turret to get gunner out was not possible.....if the bird could not get landing gear down, or even a flat main or tail wheel pretty much sealed the deal on the belly turret gunner's Life.
Yeah.....a Big Rush of apprehensiveness. I'd do it.

 

[oldbee]

Where's 'ski's' chime in?? Soon as I saw the title of thread I knew 'blade' would be on here..

 

[moparnutcase]

WWII birds are THE nicest looking planes ever built in my opinion. My two favorites are the F4-U Corsair and the P-38 Lightning.

 

[BeeKool]

I've always wanted to see a Messerschmitt bf 109. Not many survived.

 

[idrivemopar]

Got to see this beauty just this past summer! This is the B-29 known as FiFi.

The wait to go inside was over two hours, so we didn't stay, but man, what an impressive aircraft!

Saw these a few years ago as part of the tour that comes here every year. The B-25, P-51 and B-17

I don't live to far from the air port, so its always a treat seeing them fly over.

 

[VANDAN]

WitchCraft is a B-24, also known as the "Flying Coffin". My Dad, God Bless Him, flew 24 missions over Europe, in WWII, was shot down, and marched from camp to camp, until being liberated by Patton's 3RD Army. They truly were "The Greatest Generation", and we all owe them the Respect, and Admiration for what we have today... I am sure most of them would not be happy with the BS that is running rampant in Our USA at this time, but maybe the recent change will take us back to the path They put Us on...

 

[BeeKool]

God bless your father. Sad to see it went hero's to zeros in 3 generations. our "little snowflakes" could ever get into one of those.

 

[Budnicks]

Thanks for sharing

Looks like a great place...

 

[Photon440]

Where's 'ski's' chime in?? Soon as I saw the title of thread I knew 'blade' would be on here..

'ski' actually beat 'blade' to post on this thread

Nice to have such a group of aviation enthusiasts here.

 

[Bladecutter]

Got to see this beauty just this past summer! This is the B-29 known as FiFi.View attachment 392695 View attachment 392696
The wait to go inside was over two hours, so we didn't stay, but man, what an impressive aircraft!

Saw these a few years ago as part of the tour that comes here every year. The B-25, P-51 and B-17
View attachment 392699

View attachment 392700
View attachment 392701

I don't live to far from the air port, so its always a treat seeing them fly over.

P-51 B is my favorite over the bubble canopy D's. Think the razorback is that much prettier. I know, I know, no rearward visibility......but still, just better looking.

 

[Bruzilla]

The RAF-marked bird is a Lockheed Ventura. These were the workhorse of the Patrol (VP) Navy before everyone migrated over to the PBY Catalina. The Ventura worked great from shore bases in CONUS, but sucked for long hauls around the Pacific so it got replaced and many of them went to England and other allies.

 

[idrivemopar]

WitchCraft is a B-24, also known as the "Flying Coffin". My Dad, God Bless Him, flew 24 missions over Europe, in WWII, was shot down, and marched from camp to camp, until being liberated by Patton's 3RD Army. They truly were "The Greatest Generation", and we all owe them the Respect, and Admiration for what we have today... I am sure most of them would not be happy with the BS that is running rampant in Our USA at this time, but maybe the recent change will take us back to the path They put Us on...

Must have fat fingered the keyboard, yes, B-24! Cool plane none the less and cool story. I just wanted to show some of the other Commemorative Air Force planes that travel!

 

[Bladecutter]

The RAF-marked bird is a Lockheed Ventura. These were the workhorse of the Patrol (VP) Navy before everyone migrated over to the PBY Catalina. The Ventura worked great from shore bases in CONUS, but sucked for long hauls around the Pacific so it got replaced and many of them went to England and other allies.

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon.....tail feathers are more squared at lower edges.....more exaggerated cleft in lower rearward fuselage

 

[Bladecutter]

The RAF-marked bird is a Lockheed Ventura. These were the workhorse of the Patrol (VP) Navy before everyone migrated over to the PBY Catalina. The Ventura worked great from shore bases in CONUS, but sucked for long hauls around the Pacific so it got replaced and many of them went to England and other allies.

1st pic is a PV-2....notice also that vertical fins & rudders are smooth without stabilizer stubs.
Pic 2 is a PV-1 Ventura......notice the stabilizer stubs. PV-1 verticals are more ovular than
PV-2.
Pic 3 is a Howard 350 Super Ventura conversion. Dee & Ed stretched fuse 4 feet & rearranged the lower cleft.

 

[miller]

As far as I know, B-24s are pretty rare these days.

Irritated, one day, over 25 years ago, while I was a long haul driver. Going through Tulsa, by the airport, eyed a big flash of aluminum...a bomber. So, pulled in to look. It was a B-24j, sitting in an open field near some old hangars. Right by the hangars were four sealed engine cans.
The 24's engines were off the airplane, airplane pretty much gutted, and shot full of holes.
Story I got was, one of the big airlines had it, pulled the motors and over-hauled them. Those were the four engine cans. Bullet holes in the 24? Local PD used to use it for target practice!