Comments on: Behind the B-25 photo shoot http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416 Online perspective from the editors of "AOPA Pilot". Wed, 22 May 2013 00:22:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Glyn Laird, MSgt, USAF (Retired) http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-144104 Glyn Laird, MSgt, USAF (Retired) Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:14:04 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-144104 Fifty-five years ago, I served as a Flight Mechanic on B-25s at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Working and flying on the old Baker Two-Bits was one of the most enjoyable times in my life. On occasion, the Aircraft Commander would let me fly the bird – what a thrill that was! Those experiences lead me to earn an Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor certificates.

Later on in my Air Force career, I had the honor of flying with Colonel Bill Bower, who was the pilot-in-command of one of the B-25s off the Hornet – number twelve I think. Colonel Bower is/was one of the finest officers with whom I served in my twenty-three-years in the Air Force.

Thank you for this story. It caused me to recall fond memories of when I was much younger.

We owe these American Patriots a great debt. One which can never be paid!

]]> By: Jon B http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143759 Jon B Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:38:07 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143759 The B-25 has been my favorite aircraft ever since I saw the movie “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” at a California drive-in theater as a kid in 1944 (I think it was, the war was still on).
It was the looks of the thing that got me…as an 8 year old, nothing else mattered and that impression has stuck with me.
The sound of those engines is unique, but was unaware that cockpit crews suffered hearing damage because of engine noise. Too bad today’s noise-cancelling headsets wern’t available in WWII. Might have avoided some cases of tinitis. Know how annoying that can be as I have it from my days as an Army radio operator!
In 1982 when I was working at a major airport in Maryland there was a gathering of B-25s and a fly-over of Wash. D.C. to commerate the 40th anniversary of the Tokyo mission. I believe several of the same acft here participated. Got to meet Jimmy Doolittle. Great thrill. But was shocked to learn how short he was…well I’m 6’4″ so everyone seems short to me, but he was. I even tried to squeeze into the cockpit of one of the 25s. I had a helluve time. Seemed to back my head on everything…but have to admit that I loved doing it!!! Later on in looking at wartime photos of B-25 crews standing next to the acft I noticed that many of them weren’t all that tall. They sure looked bigger than life when I saw the same pictures as a kid! That’s what boyhood hero worship will do for you I guess!
Aircraft design has evolved tremendously since 1937 when the B-25 was concieved on the drawing board, but look of this airplane still has a strong appeal. Old-fashoned….yes, but it still is beautiful, especially to this overgrown 8 year-old!
Since I was born about the same time as the B-25 and DC-3, I hope they (we) are around for many more years. I’ve certainly aged and changed, but those two remain as beautiful as the day they were born!
Just had to rant on…hope you won’t mind!
Jon B

]]> By: Alyssa http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143660 Alyssa Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:39:34 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143660 Jamie, “Heavenly Body” did not attend the gathering.

]]> By: Eric Lorentzen AOPA 160643 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143633 Eric Lorentzen AOPA 160643 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:52:05 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143633 1976 I and a dozen other fools flew five Mitchells from States to UK via the Azores to film Hanover Street with a young Harrison ford in the U.K. I’ll testify to the noise hazard but Bose noise canceling headset did alleviate the worst. Still have had tenitis ever since!
There is a BBC documentary filmed of the ferry flight: Mitchells Do Fly in IMC if anyone cares.

]]> By: Elaine Bennett Lininger http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143433 Elaine Bennett Lininger Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:23:36 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143433 What a great event and honor that Grimes Field could be host to such an honorable event. As the daughter of one of the previous airport managers, I am proud of our great community for coming out and sharing and supporting this once in a life-time event. Everyone involved in organizing and participating deserve a huge thank you, and a job well done!

]]> By: Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143260 Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:58:21 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143260 Twenty-plus years ago, as a TV news reporter flying on a B-25 for a TV news feature, we took off out of Burbank, CA, for a cruise up the California coast. Two airline pilots (Continental, I believe) flew us up the coast, skimming the water in true Doolittle style. Sitting up front in the nose, We were so low I’d have sworn we were getting the prop tips wet.

The plane definitely lived up to the pilots’ description: the B-25 was simply a machine designed to convert fuel into noise. Wow were they right, so loud I couldn’t hear anything except ROAR! The pilots moved me back to the tail gunner’s spot, the only place where you could hear even a little bit of your headset!

For our “inflight live shot” for the news, I had to shout my commentary to be even marginally audible. All together, what a great ride! And a confession: during my time up front in the nose skimming the water, I eventually panicked for fear of cartwheeling into the water, and begged to be transfered back to the tail. Had I been flying the Doolittle mission, they’d have tossed me out for lack of guts!

And I would have deserved it. But what a ride! BILL SMITH (And yes, I’ve been an AOPA member for 40-plus years.) Apologies for repeat filing,had trouble with password.

]]> By: Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143259 Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:55:21 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143259 Twenty-plus years ago, as a TV news reporter flying on a B-25 for a TV news feature, we took off out of Burbank, CA, for a cruise up the California coast. Two airline pilots (Continental, I believe) flew us up the coast, skimming the water in true Doolittle style. Sitting up front in the nose, We were so low I’d have sworn we were getting the prop tips wet.

The plane definitely lived up to the pilots’ description: the B-25 was simply a machine designed to convert fuel into noise. Wow were they right, so loud I couldn’t hear anything except ROAR! The pilots moved me back to the tail gunner’s spot, the only place where you could hear even a little bit of your headset!

For our “inflight live shot” for the news, I had to shout my commentary to be even marginally audible. All together, what a great ride! And a confession: during my time up front in the nose skimming the water, I eventually panicked for fear of cartwheeling into the water, and begged to be transfered back to the tail. Had I been flying the Doolittle mission, they’d have tossed me out for lack of guts!

And I would have deserved it. But what a ride! BILL SMITH (And yes, I’ve been an AOPA member for 40-plus years.)

]]> By: Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143257 Bill Smith P.O. Box 516 Malibu CA 90265 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:53:28 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143257 Twenty-plus years ago, as a TV news reporter flying on a B-25 for a TV news feature, we took off out of Burbank, CA, for a cruise up the California coast. Two airline pilots (Continental, I believe) flew us up the coast, skimming the water in true Doolittle style. Sitting up front in the nose, We were so low I’d have sworn we were getting the prop tips wet.

The plane definitely lived up to the pilots’ description: the B-25 was simply a machine designed to convert fuel into noise. Wow were they right, so loud I couldn’t hear anything except ROAR! The pilots moved me back to the tail gunner’s spot, the only place where you could hear even a little bit of your headset!

For our “inflight live shot” for the news, I had to shout my commentary to be even marginally audible. All together, what a great ride! And a confession: during my time up front in the nose skimming the water, I eventually panicked for fear of cartwheeling into the water, and begged to be transfered back to the tail. Had I been flying the Doolittle mission, they’d have tossed me out for lack of guts!

And I would have deserved it. But what a ride! BILL SMITH

]]> By: Fred T. Franz http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143253 Fred T. Franz Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:53:14 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143253 What a great show and thanks to all who worked so hard to make it happen.

]]> By: Gary Curtis http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416&cpage=1#comment-143248 Gary Curtis Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:36:17 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=3416#comment-143248 My late father worked on B-25′s in Kansas City during the war, and watched many of them fly away after gun tests at the end of the field and a final run-up. I think they also were used to tow gliders; at least I saw the glider, the rope and a roaring airplane as best a five year old could see thru the elm trees on our street.

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