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Saturday, July
19, 2014:
Mark attended
an air show near Minneapolis.
Lots of aircraft including these T-6
Texan trainers in a flyover. |
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| There were rides in vintage
aircraft like this biplane, which many took advantage of.
Others were on display including a Cessna T-50
Bobcat (above).
You might be old enough to remember the T-50
from the 1950s television series
Sky
King.
The show starred Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters,
and the plane, "Song Bird." |
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| The
Red Bull
Historical Military Vehicle Association was there with jeeps
from World War II. The
history of this vehicle goes back to the late 1930s. Our
government gave manufacturers just 49 days to come up with a the
design of a four-wheel drive design which could be quickly put into
production just before World War II. The Bantam car company
won the competition and a contract for the initial version of the
Jeep using a 65 horsepower Studebaker Champion engine. That
design, modified many times over, is still on the road today. |
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| A P-51 Mustang, as flown by the
Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, was on display. Tuskegees
were the first black military pilots during a time of segregation in
this country. These men, including Harold Brown shown above,
distinguished themselves as air aces in the war. Mr. Brown was
at the air show. He told of his experiences in fighting the
enemy and segregation in those trying times. A very
interesting and good-humored man. |
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| This
B-17 Bomber, "Aluminum Overcast", was there to show and to give
rides. The crew was in their 60s or 70s. Nicely done
with stars and stripes hats. Back in World War II, the crew
would have been about 19 or 20 years of age. |
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Miss Mitchell, a B-25J Bomber from WWII was there too. You
might remember the B-25s from the movie
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. starring Spencer Tracy as Colonel
Jimmy Doolittle telling the story of the Doolittle Raid in April
1942, just after the start of WWII. |
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Elizabeth "Betty" Strohfus at age 94 was there telling here story about being a
WASP (Women
Airforce Service Pilot) during World War II.
She flew many types of military aircraft to and
from bases when there were not enough men available to do the job.
Betty is a fascinating woman to talk to.
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| Wayne G. "Whitey" Johnson was
there signing copies of his book, "Whitey
- From Farm Kid to Flying Tiger to Attorney."
He is from Minnesota and has a remarkable story to
tell about his life including flying P-40 and P-51 planes in WWII.
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Great meeting honest to gosh WWII heroes. Mark
