I Have a Fascination for World War II Planes

[Hostile]

It started with the old TV Show "Baa Baa Black Sheep" starring Robert Conrad as Greg "Pappy" Boyington and the fact that my Dad was a pilot. I loved the look of the F4U Corsair with the swoop of the wings. For a long time I thought this plane was the be all end all.




Then I really fell in love with the P51 Mustang.




Respect for other fighter planes followed. Including the fierce look of the P40 Flying Tiger.




I even grew to respect the amazing Japanese Zero.



And the German Messerschmitt.



I started building models of WWII airplanes as a hobby. It was a great way to spend some quiet time. My favorite model I had displayed in my bedroom was the P38 Lightning.




Eventually I had to find my way to bombers. My neighbor growing up was a WWII Bomber Pilot. He flew a B26, the kind used in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. The B26 was called "The Widowmaker."




The B26 was an upgrade of the B25 which to me just has a classic bomber look.




Of course the B17 which may be the most famous bomber planes in Europe.

[Aikmaniac]

A thread right down my alley!

I fly R/C planes and most of them are warbirds.

I have a (2) P-51D's, P-47D, Ryan STA-M, A6M5 Zero, F7F Tigercat

Below are some links to some of our club's past warbird events if you're interested in checking them out:

http://trac_tampa.homestead.com/warb.../wb2005_1.html - That's the Zero you see pictured within the album.

http://trac_tampa.homestead.com/Warb...WB04ALB_2.html - You'll see our "Big Beautiful Doll" Mustang pictured.

There's nothing like warbirds. Don't get me wrong, the jets are on a level by themselves. Always will love the F-14 Tomcat.

But the sound of a Mustang screaming by...that V-12 Merlin crackling and creating the best melody you ever heard...there's nothing like it, and there never will be.

[xWraithx]

I shot down numerous Japanese Zeroes from various gunner positions of a PBY Catalina (in my new xbox360 game, Call of Duty: World at War)

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by Aikmaniac

A thread right down my alley!

I fly R/C planes and most of them are warbirds.

I have a (2) P-51D's, P-47D, Ryan STA-M, A6M5 Zero, F7F Tigercat

Below are some links to some of our club's past warbird events if you're interested in checking them out:

http://trac_tampa.homestead.com/warb.../wb2005_1.html - That's the Zero you see pictured within the album.

http://trac_tampa.homestead.com/Warb...WB04ALB_2.html - You'll see our "Big Beautiful Doll" Mustang pictured.

There's nothing like warbirds. Don't get me wrong, the jets are on a level by themselves. Always will love the F-14 Tomcat.

[View Full Quote]But the sound of a Mustang screaming by...that V-12 Merlin crackling and creating the best melody you ever heard...there's nothing like it, and there never will be.

Davis Monthan AFB has a great airshow here very Spring. About 6 years ago they did a flyby with a P51 Mustang, an F-15, and a Stealth Fighter. I thought it was absolutely amazing.

I have to agree on the sound of the P51's engine. I love the jets too, but the fighter planes of WWII are so amazing to me. When looking for pictures I found this picture of some kids playing on a shot down Zero.



I envy those kids. What a great playground.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Well when you go to fedex next year maybe you can take a side trip to Dayton, Ohio...

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Well when you go to fedex next year maybe you can take a side trip to Dayton, Ohio...

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

We have a nice one here in Tucson too.

http://www.pimaair.org/

You even get to tour the famous airplane graveyard, which is considered the 4th largest air force in the world since the planes can all be made flight ready within 48 hours time each.

I spend hours at the Smithsonian every time I go to DC. Most of it at the air and space museum there. I want to see the Enola Gay.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by Hostile

We have a nice one here in Tucson too.

http://www.pimaair.org/

You even get to tour the famous airplane graveyard, which is considered the 4th largest air force in the world since the planes can all be made flight ready within 48 hours time each.

I spend hours at the Smithsonian every time I go to DC. Most of it at the air and space museum there. I want to see the Enola Gay.

I would love to go to the smithsonian. Probably could spend days in there.

[ROMOSAPIEN9]

As a kid, Baa Baa Blacksheep was my favorite show. Pappy Boington was my hero and the F4u Corsair was the most beautiful bird in the sky IMO.

Great thread Hos.

[Joe Rod]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

I would love to go to the smithsonian. Probably could spend days in there.

I took my son there before we moved from DC to Texas and he loved it. Never a big plane buff myself, but the time was well spent considering how wide-eyed he was the entire time.

[Rowdy]

Originally Posted by Hostile

I envy those kids. What a great playground.

Unless said kids slip on a jagged piece of metal and bleed to death all over what's left of the fuselage crying out in anguish that Daddy Hos let them prance around the Zero's demise like dancers in the Nut Cracker.

[Rowdy]

But seriously-those old bombers are awesome. Just imagine back then seeing this as your view during war...

[ConcordCowboy]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

But seriously-those old bombers are awesome. Just imagine back then seeing this as your view during war...

Nice pic.

That's quite a view.

I don't think I'd like that view though when a enemy plane was shooting at me.

[masomenos]

I love anything that has to do with aviation but the WWII planes definitely have a special place in my heart. It's just the golden age of flight. I take it you've seen the show "Dogfights" before Hos?

[ConcordCowboy]

Love anything that has to do with WWII history.

I posted this a while back...some may have seen it.

Check out this B-29 Superfortress Remote Control Aircraft.

http://users.skynet.be/fa926657/files/B29.wmv

[ConcordCowboy]

Loved Baa Baa Black Sheep.