I had the pleasure to fly in this plane a few years ago, just saw it fly over my house today, near Georgetown Texas. Amazing crew and everyone involved in the maintenance and upkeep of this old bird.. Thank You
Excellent video. Well done!!! This is my favorite Warbird. Been a member of the unit for over 20 years and even got married (in flight) on it 4 years ago. Love the Devil Dog!
I get to watch the Devildog fly over on a regular basis here in Georgetown Tx. Such an awesome sound to hear off in the distance as it's coming in on it's final approach.
I love this! The last you few years I've been looking after my elderly father; he just turned 92 in April. He was a B-25 instructor pilot at Reese AFB at Lubbock, Texas when I was born. Dad has been sharing a lot of old memories with me. One of them was that Travis Hoover, pilot of the second B-25 to depart the Hornet on the Doolittle Raid, was the Wing Commander at Reese when we were there. He mentioned that Mrs. Hoover took a special notice of my Mother while she was expecting me and would drop by the house to check on her. That was very nice and beyond any obligations she might've had a General's wife. Dad also mentioned that now General Hoover said he forgot to deploy the flaps when he left the Hornet; and that's why his plane made a little dip as she left the bow of the ship. It's noticeable in the old news reel film. One of my Mother's West Texas cousins, Arno Fox, was a WASP instructor at Avenger Field near Sweetwater. Fox taught a lady named Janet Hargrave, who later opened a flight school along with another ex Wasp near Nashville, Tennessee. My father later took lessons at that flight school from Hargrave. Dad later ran into Hargrave again while she was working in a tower during the time Dad was undergoing military flight training but not too long after he had been taking lessons at her school. Dad said he mentioned to her that it didn't seem right he was wearing the uniform and she wasn't. She replied it was unfortunate that military based their pilot standards on the kind of plumbing a person was born with. Or, words to that effect. Anyway, all that and $2.00 might get you a cup of Starbucks Coffee. And I might have some of the details wrong, but you can be sure they are at least based on fact! BTW, the Devil Dog was painted by Crider's Aircraft Painting at Mena, Arkansas. I proudly serve as the airport manager there after career in the oil field. You might see me puttering around Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma in an old Piper Cherokee. Thanks to all the spunky women in aviation, whether they're wives, mothers, instructors, air crew or all of the above.
Great story, Fred. I grew up and to this day, live a mile south of the center runway at the old Reese Air Force Base. I loved when it was open, it was heaven for an airplane nut. I’ve been told that my grandfather (he passed before I was born), helped put down the original runways at Reese.
@@JohnSmith-fg2pk I'm glad you liked the story. Texas, and West Texas in particular, I think had a big impact on WWII with all the training that took place there. I remember when traveling back and forth to New Mexico and West Texas from points east Dad would have a tale bout every little town we would go through. Many of them were "auxiliary fields". I've had a little experience with laying down new pavement in my role as airport manager. That's hot work!
Just sent this video to my youngest daughter, who at four, sat in FIFI's right seat, with both hands on the yoke, like she belonged there. I explained, the high wing load and the handling difference, and the uh, lack of enthusiasm the "men" pilots had for the plane's propensity for crashing. Near me, MacDill A.F. Base was enhanced by the B-26 as "One a day in Tampa Bay." So, as legend has it, the WASP's began ferrying the 26's, and the ego's got the best of the "guys" and they forced themselves to do what any "girl" could do. So today's wonderful presentation features two ladies, carrying on the WASP's tradition. Now, I'll watch the video.
It is great to see that PBJ in flight. I served with the Marine Corps as a turret gunner during WW2 with VMB 413 and always felt excited when we we went on a mission over the Rabaul area. Thanks for a great video.
