Well it's that time of year again when the Collings Foundation makes their West coast tour. This year was a treat because for the first time the B-25, TONDEYALO, made the trip Westward. Up until this point the B-25 had only toured on the East coast. Since I had never flown in a B-25 this was my destination for this years trip. This year we flew out of Moffett Field, also know as Mountain View, Ca. My father, Chester, and I drove up early in the morning and had plenty of time before take off time. Here are some of the pictures of the aircraft on the ground. The first one in line was the B-24, Witchcraft.
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I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round. -
Second in line was the B-17, Nine-O-Nine.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round. -
And third in line was the B-25, Tondelayo. The B-25 aircraft is special to our family. My grandfater was in the Marines and was part of the military police. To earn combat pay they had to fly one mission a week or four in one month. You also had to be a qualified gunner in order to earn combat pay. So my grandfather wanted to earn combat pay and flew several missions in a B-25. On one particular mission they were flying over some Islands in the Pacific that were supposed to be vacant. However, they immediately took flak from the island. The B-25 was hit by a big piece of shrapnel that closed in the access tunnel to the front turret. My grandfater was trapped and could not get out of the front part of the plane. As you may know there is no way to carry a parchute up to the front because of limited space. So if the aircraft goes down and you are trapped in the front, you are going down with the aircraft. The good news was that the aircraft made it back to the base where they had to cut my grandfather out of the front turret.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Here is a shot of the bomb bayI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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CockpitI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Here is a shot of the front turret position from the tunnel while the aircraft is still on the ground.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Here is my dad at the entry point of the tunnel to come up to the front turret. Notice how small it is.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Bomb SightsI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Front turret side machine gun.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Different parts of the planeI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Air tanksI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Here is me sitting in the back of the plane on the ground.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Here is a shot from the back of the plane over the top of the bomb bay. Notice how small the space is. For this reason when you flew in the B-25 you either bought tickets to sit in the front or the back. It was not like the B-17 or the B-24 where you got to move throughout the whole plane.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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Tail of planeI once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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A shot of my father and I before take off.I once flew in a B-17, B-24, & a B-25. Next, I want to fire an 88 round.Comment
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