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Juan Freizwidatt
Associate
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 20834
Location: Hanging out at In-n-Out
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Posted:
Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:09 pm |
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Okay, so yesterday was my birthday. (It doesn't matter which one, age is just a number. But mine's unlisted. However I can say that I'm starting to think about retirement.....) Anyway, I decided to give myself a birthday treat today -- a flight over San Francisco Bay in a restored WWII B-17 bomber. It was extravagant but it truly was a once in a lifetime experience, enhanced considerably by a couple of hours of conversation with three veteran B-17 crewmembers who showed up to see the grand old bird again. It certainly gives a different perspective. For me this was a glorious little jaunt. But I wasn't worried about being shot down...
During the war B-17 crews were committed to 25 missions before rotating out. This was lengthened to 30 as the war progressed. The odds of surviving 25 missions were 1 in 5 -- 20%. Each of the vets I spoke with today went through harrowing experiences -- two went through crash landings, one was shot down over Munich, parachuted safely but was captured and held in a POW camp for a year.
Anyway, it's amazing airplane and it was a thrill to go up in one. Here are a few pictures:
Firing up the engines:
Taxiing:
The view standing up through the observation port -- open air, at 150mph!
From the bombadier's perch in the nose of the plane, under the cockpit:
We flew over the Golden Gate Bridge, then banked and flew back over on the return:
Oakland Bay Bridge, from the waist gunner's perch:
San Francisco Bay, I couldn't find anything to shoot at:
I'd do that trip again in a heartbeat! |
_________________ "SATAN WILL KILL YOU . BECAUSE YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF MERMAID"
"HOW DOES IT SOUND TO YOU THAT ANOTHER PERSON IS DEALING WITH YOU AND ASK YOU TO CONTACT ANOTHER PERSON AND NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER PERSON WITHOUT THE KNOWING OF THE PERSON THAT ASK YOU TO CONTACT THE OTHER PERSON"
I apologize again that I will lick the dust from your sandals - Shorty
x4: Shorty
x 16:
US lad w/Capone: ( )
- ATL>DC>ATL>Vegas>Seattle>ATL>San Diego>LA>ATL>Seattle>ATL>WY>ATL>Aspen>ATL (21K+ miles, $11K+ expenses)
Shorty w/bohigal:
- Lagos>Abidjan
Random lads:
- Douala>Korup; Lagos>Cotonou>Parakou; Cotonou>Niger border; Cotonou>Pendjari>jail in Tanguietta; Asaba>Abuja; Accra>Tamale
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Standard Procedure
Master of Master Baiters
Joined: 21 Nov 2004
Posts: 845
Location: Physically at school, mentally at the Grand Prix
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Posted:
Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:16 pm |
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Wow
Happy <insert number here> st/nd/rd/th birthday!
That truly was a once in a lifetime experience! I wish all commercial flights could have that view! |
_________________ Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur. - Anything said in Latin sounds profound
The following statement is true
The above statement is false |
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JoeTam
** REMEMBERED **
Joined: 16 Nov 2005
Posts: 2153
Location: Pulling foil arrows out of my head.
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Posted:
Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm |
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Very nice! You could have laid down some lead at the junction of West MacArthur and San Pablo in Oakland. Or E 14th Street. Glad you had a fine day! |
_________________
Your moms pu$$! smokes ciggarettes, she whistles in the stadium with your Papa's D!@K.
Nwokeke.
I went to bank. they call police, why you do this to me? I canntsend you anything now.
Goat dog |
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Mr Fishe
Baiting Guru
Joined: 22 Nov 2003
Posts: 2242
Location: PL_Goldrush
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:05 am |
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Mugatu
** Retired **
Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 3773
Location: The star of India
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:40 am |
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Wonderful. Thanks for sharing it! |
_________________ - because you deserve them! x19
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Wright B Hindyou
Elite Baiter
Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 1795
Location: Bangkok
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:23 am |
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I was going to ask what the citizens of SF might think to see this ancient bomber above them, US being invaded by Guatemalan forces, perhaps, but I gather the inhabitants of SF are pretty much immured to weird sights and sounds.... |
_________________ "YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY" - Douglas Minning
"bastard like you, I will kill you with my hand, son of nobody. May your soul rust in help." - Titi Andrew
"I trusted you very much without knowing that you are a drug addit person" - Emma Bambara
"THIS YOUR BEHAVIOR IS IRELEVANT AND CROSPOLOS CARACTER" - Madam Clarrise Keita.
"you must speak beter because we dont train mad people in this company." - Incredible Self-Baiting Pastor Joe |
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CowboyBuck
Elite Baiter
Joined: 04 Aug 2007
Posts: 1077
Location: Riding the Western Union Trail
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:05 am |
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Picture below caption:
"From the bombadier's perch in the nose of the plane, under the cockpit"
looks like Treasure Island.
My mom was stationed there from 1944-1946 while in the Navy. |
_________________ Accra to Abuja to Lagos
Mr. King - May 2008 to May 2009
A few more
Right now I am getting pissed with your responses
And still you later claimed there are snakes on the road to the Western Union
Please for the sake of humanity help Mr. Felix and I to get this money |
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dr stephen williams
Baiting Guru
Joined: 06 Aug 2007
Posts: 16749
Location: Dreadful Hater-ville
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:38 am |
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Nice one! Looks like fun!
I worked in SF in 1984 as a pede-cab driver down at fishermans warf... could'ja drop a bomb on the owner of the other pede cab company? We pushed his brother in laws motorcycle into the bay.... |
_________________ x10 Acra-Ctnu Tgo-Pnjari Lgos-Ctnu Lgos-Ynde Lgos-Mndmba Lgs-Prku PrtHrcrt-Abche Lgos-Nttngu Bmko-Ctnu (wDQ) Frnce-Dbln (wPadme)
x2 x7 x7 x6 Team Turd Lgs-Dla Bnn-Lbra Acra-Dkar Dkr-Bnjul- Dkr-Tmbktu-Abche-Adre-N'djmna Lgos-Cairo-Aswn-Jail Ctnu-Lgos Ctnu-acra Lgos-Jbrg-Drbn-Prt-Elzbth-CT-Sprngbk-CT-Drbn-CT-Hrre-Lska-DsSlm-Mmbsa-Nirbi-Kmpla 28,510 Miles
x2 x6 x4 Team Woody Acra-Sngpre Acra-Dkr-Rsso-Bmko Acra-Ctnu
Lgos-Dkr-Rsso (wKLG)
x22 SS x3 x303 :
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Connie L. Gus
Moderator
Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 7243
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:56 am |
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I worked with a great guy that was a flight engineer on one. When the crew assembled in England, they were given the opportunity to fly only 20 missions as "Lead". The whole crew voted and agreed. It was not for a while that they found out that no lead bomber ever made 20 missions. |
_________________ x8
LISTEN TO ME WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR ONE OF THOSE CHEAP CROOK OR WHAT -tobi donito
-a few,
LISTEN I CAN NOT TAKE YOUR SHIT ANY LONGER WE HAVE WHROTE A PETITION AGAINST YOU TO THE FBI WITH ALL OUR EVIDENCE YOU ARE INTO PROSTITUTION,DRUG DEALING, FORGERY, CREDIT CARDS FORGRY WESTEN UNION FALSIFICATION,DRUGING MEN,COMMETING MURDER, STEALING, DRUNCARD, ALL THIS WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO PROOF OUR CASE AGAINST YOU.-Johnson Hill
I am not finding it any funny...Henry A., Lagos, Nigeria to Cotonou, Benin, WIMPed
I am stranderd. Henry A. Lagos to Accra, WIMPed for 67 days.
* Help Keep Eater Running - Click here to donate |
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angusmactavish
419Eater is my life
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 252
Location: Oglethorpe's colony Atlantic (GMT-5)
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:54 am |
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Juan Freizwidatt wrote: |
It was extravagant but it truly was a once in a lifetime experience... |
At the risk of being impolite, may one ask how extravagant? Just out of personal curiosity. |
_________________ U BE MAGA U ARE VERY WICKED I MUST TELL AND STUPID - Charles Blaise
Listen, my contact with you in this transaction does not warrant you to insult my personality for any reason. - Godwin Luis
x18 |
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Juan Freizwidatt
Associate
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 20834
Location: Hanging out at In-n-Out
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:20 am |
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^^^
Not impolite since it's published public knowledge -- $430.
San Francisco Chronicle article
Liberty Foundation website
I could have flown to New York on a 737 for that, but frankly I'd much rather fly 30 minutes over San Francisco in a WWII bomber than 5 hours to NY in coach on a cramped jet............... |
_________________ "SATAN WILL KILL YOU . BECAUSE YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF MERMAID"
"HOW DOES IT SOUND TO YOU THAT ANOTHER PERSON IS DEALING WITH YOU AND ASK YOU TO CONTACT ANOTHER PERSON AND NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER PERSON WITHOUT THE KNOWING OF THE PERSON THAT ASK YOU TO CONTACT THE OTHER PERSON"
I apologize again that I will lick the dust from your sandals - Shorty
x4: Shorty
x 16:
US lad w/Capone: ( )
- ATL>DC>ATL>Vegas>Seattle>ATL>San Diego>LA>ATL>Seattle>ATL>WY>ATL>Aspen>ATL (21K+ miles, $11K+ expenses)
Shorty w/bohigal:
- Lagos>Abidjan
Random lads:
- Douala>Korup; Lagos>Cotonou>Parakou; Cotonou>Niger border; Cotonou>Pendjari>jail in Tanguietta; Asaba>Abuja; Accra>Tamale
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iMike
Elite Baiter
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 1371
Location: Ministry of Serendipity
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:38 am |
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Wow.. I'd love to have a go at that. Sadly, as far as I know there's no-one doing that sort of thing over here. Must admit, this would be my weapon of choice...
there's an IKEA near here which would benefit from it's attention.... |
_________________ --
x2
"you have luke worm in your brain" - Ekaetta Bello
"invite me to your country and let me clearify your legitimacy asshole" - Mose5 Uzem3
"the transfer was not authorized due to my persistent double mind" - Clement Wank
"this is not the time to play planks" - Mack Anthony
WIFI PDA - post while you dump
SAY 'NO' TO GAS STORAGE!
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Frederick Fokker
** ACCOUNT CLOSED **
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 262
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:12 am |
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haaaaa the old ladies, amazing things they were, and i do pay my respects to all those who flew them.
Seen Pics of that one before, and flown in one myself in 1989 in Farnborough.
Happy birthday to you then
That is me flying an "Old Lady" in 1998 for the Expo 98
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Shiver Metimbers
419Eater Admin
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 7469
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:14 am |
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That's pretty damn cool JF! |
_________________ Roland Koffi: "Please my name is not Ahoy Matey. thakyou..."
Wilson Madu: "I will condom you to a painful death..."
----------------------------------
Shiver's scammer trophies.
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Frederick Fokker
** ACCOUNT CLOSED **
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 262
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:15 am |
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@!Mike, If you mean England , YES there is, got the contact somewhere, let me know if you want it
hmmmm...well they were still doing it a few years back, so i presume they still are. |
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Fo'andles
Elite Baiter
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1654
Location: busy doing nothing, somewhere
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:17 am |
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Juan
Nice photographs, hope our son working in S.A., managed to see it.
The B17 in Britian is at Duxford airfield museum, Cambrigeshire, which is just down the road from us, they also have a memoral, dedicated to every American airman, who flew from Britian, during WWII.
iMike
Afraid if you want to get a flight in a Lancaster, then you need to go to Canada, according to my brother.
Why stick to one bomber, would like to see a few hundred, have a free hand, quite a few places in this country could do with a facelift. |
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iMike
Elite Baiter
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 1371
Location: Ministry of Serendipity
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:20 am |
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^^ AFAIK, there's only 2 Lancasters left in flying condition - the BBMF's got the other. Doubt it would have the range from Canada to hit IKEA. @Fred - any info would be welcome - wife's always looking for birthday present ideas for me |
_________________ --
x2
"you have luke worm in your brain" - Ekaetta Bello
"invite me to your country and let me clearify your legitimacy asshole" - Mose5 Uzem3
"the transfer was not authorized due to my persistent double mind" - Clement Wank
"this is not the time to play planks" - Mack Anthony
WIFI PDA - post while you dump
SAY 'NO' TO GAS STORAGE!
<a href="/forum/donate.php">[FREE LAPHROAIG]</a> |
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Corona
Baiting Guru
Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 8809
Location: On ya left!
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:12 pm |
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Connie L. Gus
Moderator
Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 7243
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:18 pm |
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Great posting and very nice photos. I forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday Juan.
Talking to the flight crews is something else. All the ones that I have come across have been very intelligent and filled with amazing stories. I would have loved to have been there when three of them got together. I've seen them pull out their short snorters and talk about old times.
One waist gunner told me about the time he started talking bennies before his missions. One mission was canceled due to weather over the target and he ended up cleaning and tuning every bicycle in the squadron. He pointed a finger at me and told me to not take my Benzedrine until I saw the English Channel. |
_________________ x8
LISTEN TO ME WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR ONE OF THOSE CHEAP CROOK OR WHAT -tobi donito
-a few,
LISTEN I CAN NOT TAKE YOUR SHIT ANY LONGER WE HAVE WHROTE A PETITION AGAINST YOU TO THE FBI WITH ALL OUR EVIDENCE YOU ARE INTO PROSTITUTION,DRUG DEALING, FORGERY, CREDIT CARDS FORGRY WESTEN UNION FALSIFICATION,DRUGING MEN,COMMETING MURDER, STEALING, DRUNCARD, ALL THIS WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO PROOF OUR CASE AGAINST YOU.-Johnson Hill
I am not finding it any funny...Henry A., Lagos, Nigeria to Cotonou, Benin, WIMPed
I am stranderd. Henry A. Lagos to Accra, WIMPed for 67 days.
* Help Keep Eater Running - Click here to donate |
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Juan Freizwidatt
Associate
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 20834
Location: Hanging out at In-n-Out
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Posted:
Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:57 pm |
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Here are three vets sharing stories and pictures:
The fellow in the center is the one who was shot down and captured. He was a font of stories and detailed information, I learned more about the design of the plane itself by talking to him than in all the reading and Googling I've done. |
_________________ "SATAN WILL KILL YOU . BECAUSE YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF MERMAID"
"HOW DOES IT SOUND TO YOU THAT ANOTHER PERSON IS DEALING WITH YOU AND ASK YOU TO CONTACT ANOTHER PERSON AND NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER PERSON WITHOUT THE KNOWING OF THE PERSON THAT ASK YOU TO CONTACT THE OTHER PERSON"
I apologize again that I will lick the dust from your sandals - Shorty
x4: Shorty
x 16:
US lad w/Capone: ( )
- ATL>DC>ATL>Vegas>Seattle>ATL>San Diego>LA>ATL>Seattle>ATL>WY>ATL>Aspen>ATL (21K+ miles, $11K+ expenses)
Shorty w/bohigal:
- Lagos>Abidjan
Random lads:
- Douala>Korup; Lagos>Cotonou>Parakou; Cotonou>Niger border; Cotonou>Pendjari>jail in Tanguietta; Asaba>Abuja; Accra>Tamale
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