Monthly Archives: October 2009

The flight from Atlanta to Smyra was also very reminiscent of what the crew of the Liberty Belle might have experienced. The sky was heavy with think gray clouds. As the wheels lifted from the runway, we climbed directly through … Continue reading →

It was after 12:00 noon by the time we taxied to the runway. Once again I was perched in the nose of the B17. Passing the main hanger, just to our right, I watched as people came out, into the … Continue reading →

Within a little more than an hour, we were checking into a hotel and off to our rooms for the night. I decided to head back downstairs to grab a bite before bed. As I walked into the restaurant, I … Continue reading →

Fifteen, or so, minutes had passed by when Scott noticed that I was in the nose and immediately relinquished his perch, even though I waved him to remain. As I climbed back on the seat the light was beginning to … Continue reading →

When I first entered the nose of the plane, I tried to gain a sense of what it must have been like for the bombardier embarking on a mission, but I wasn’t able to – until I leaned forward and … Continue reading →

When I entered this project, my goal was to experience – as closely as possible, the experiences of a B17 bomber crew. My plan was to board a commercial airline, Sunday Morning for Orlando, then catch a ride to the … Continue reading →

In the short time I have been involved with this project, I have heard several stories of the encounters by these airmen. Many of the stories have been relayed to me from those who have heard them from the veterans … Continue reading →

I began this assignment by flying to Orlando, aboard a Boeing 737 passenger jet, jumping into a taxi bound for Kissimmee, and within 15 minutes of arriving at the airfield, I was in the nose of the Liberty Belle B17 … Continue reading →

I understand the emotional impact of fighting a war on the ground, and that the terrors, experienced by every soldier, are real. But what struck me, most profoundly, about the roles of the bomber groups, was this: On the ground, … Continue reading →

When the opportunity to fly on the B17 bomber, from Kissimmee, Florida to Smyrna, Tennessee, came about I jumped on it, knowing only, that it was a project that I needed to do – a project that needed to be … Continue reading →