syscom3
Pacific Historian
Back in May 1995, I had the opportunity to ride the Collings Foundation B24 on Armed Forces day.
The plane was visiting the Torrance, California municiple airport (this is located about 5 miles south of LAX) with its stable mate, the B17G.
I signed up for a slot that by fate took me on the flight that was going to do a flyby down the city of Torrance during their annual armed forces day parade. After takeoff, I made my way forward and watched from the cockpit as the pilots got into formation with the B17. Our formation point was over Carson, right over the Goodyear blimp base.
After we were ready, we went down to 500 ft and 200 knots down Torrance Blvd. After we cleared the parade area, we continued west to pass over the Redondo Beach pier. From there, we gained altitude and after a bit, we set course for Catalina Island, some 50 miles due south.
We passed over the center of the island and then dropped down on the deck for the return leg home. Best part of that was the pilots spotted a yacht along the way, and we buzzed him at 50-100 feet, 200+ knots!!!!!. The people on the boat must have been wondering if they wer ein a time warp, hahahahahahhaha.
We gained altitude after that, and then got into the approach pattern for Torrance airport, above the Port of Los Angeles.
It was one heck of a ride!!!!!!!!!!!
Best part, was there was an old gentleman along for the ride. He looked somber and most of the time he had a "1000 yard stare" on him. After the flight I asked him if anything was wrong. His reply was something like this...."In 1942, I entered the navy as a young man, not far from here. I served as a gunner on a PB4Y during the war years. It dawned on me when we took off, that my last flight in one of them was in May 1945. Its like I feel my life has come around in a full circle today". That sent goosebumps up my spine!!!!!!!
The plane was visiting the Torrance, California municiple airport (this is located about 5 miles south of LAX) with its stable mate, the B17G.
I signed up for a slot that by fate took me on the flight that was going to do a flyby down the city of Torrance during their annual armed forces day parade. After takeoff, I made my way forward and watched from the cockpit as the pilots got into formation with the B17. Our formation point was over Carson, right over the Goodyear blimp base.
After we were ready, we went down to 500 ft and 200 knots down Torrance Blvd. After we cleared the parade area, we continued west to pass over the Redondo Beach pier. From there, we gained altitude and after a bit, we set course for Catalina Island, some 50 miles due south.
We passed over the center of the island and then dropped down on the deck for the return leg home. Best part of that was the pilots spotted a yacht along the way, and we buzzed him at 50-100 feet, 200+ knots!!!!!. The people on the boat must have been wondering if they wer ein a time warp, hahahahahahhaha.
We gained altitude after that, and then got into the approach pattern for Torrance airport, above the Port of Los Angeles.
It was one heck of a ride!!!!!!!!!!!
Best part, was there was an old gentleman along for the ride. He looked somber and most of the time he had a "1000 yard stare" on him. After the flight I asked him if anything was wrong. His reply was something like this...."In 1942, I entered the navy as a young man, not far from here. I served as a gunner on a PB4Y during the war years. It dawned on me when we took off, that my last flight in one of them was in May 1945. Its like I feel my life has come around in a full circle today". That sent goosebumps up my spine!!!!!!!