Whatever

Yeah

 

I just now received a couple pics from my sister:

This is my Father during pilot training.
The plane is a Boeing Stearman Model 75 primary trainer biplane.




I'm awaiting confirmation as to whether this is my Father's B-24.
The Model looks correct for 1943 (later models had the distinctive "chin turret").




Of course "His Plane" is something of a stretch anyway.
If a plane "belonged" to anyone, it was the Crew Chief who oversaw maintenance.
Though as a courtesy, any nose art generally had to be okayed by the pilot.

In the European Theater, crews usually flew the same plane when possible.
This was far from the rule in the 5th Air Force in the SWPA, as they had lower priority than the 8th Air Force in England.
Maintenance was more difficult and parts sometimes scarce.
Which meant that heavily damaged or old beaten up planes sometimes got cannibalized for parts.
If a crew was slated for a mission, they flew whatever plane was available if "Their" plane was down for servicing.

My Mother once told me a story about going to a reunion of the 43rd Heavy Bombardment Group.

Another pilot told her that the other pilots hated to fly my Dad's plane...
... because various controls such as engine throttles were often bent.
The B-24 was notoriously difficult to fly (unlike the B-17).
My Dad was the kind of guy to beat a piece of machinery into submission.
B-24 crews often referred to their plane as the "Pregnant Cow.

 

Nice pics and cool story

 

Hey Squirt!

 

How are ya?

 

Smart Kid.
Stay far far away from gambling.

 

Watching On Patrol Live. 2 guys in a black 2nd Gen in VA got busted for hot boxing in a park

 

Okay, my sister says that's one of the planes my Dad flew in for several missions after the original crew finished their tour.
Looks a bit worse for wear.

"His" first plane was dubbed "Satan's Sister".
I asked her to dig a little more and see if there's a picture of that one.

 

Bustin out the sticks!

 

Doing good, just hanging with the cats Walter and Bella. The wifey’s been in Madison the last few days babysitting.

 

Nice. That's pretty far away from you guys!

 

A little over 5 hours.

 

Not too bad but still a good drive

 

Nite Whats

 

I'll post this one more time.

Good Night.


https://youtu.be/hDlkITpe5ys

 

The one time I'm really up late and all the late nighters are gone!

 

What am I missing here?