THE MISSION
Created
Updated 12/09/2012
“THE MISSION”
SYNOPSIS
We are going to recreate an abbreviated version of a typical bombing mission flown in the European Theatre during late 1944/early 1945 utilizing a WWII B-24J Liberator bomber and WWII flight crew members.
OUTLINE
The Collings Foundation will be visiting Stockton Metropolitan Airport from May 28th through the 30th, 2008. On the late afternoon of the 29th we are planning to fly this “Mission”.
The “Mission” is the combination of several individual projects previously put together Vintage Aircraft and the Stockton Field Aviation Museum where the technology of WWII has been brought back to life, in living history form, for historical documentaries.
In the past we have put a working Norden Bombsight back in the nose of a 1944 B-25 and let original aircrew members try their skills once again. Dropping practice bombs from the B-25 with the Norden was very interesting and presented a real challenge for the Bombardiers to relearn their skills quickly. Click here for a quick video of the B-25 dropping bombs.
We have also brought back to life the gun turrets, including the famous Ball Turret from the belly of the B-17 and the B-24, and let the WWII gunners fired the guns again. Click here for a video of a ball turret in operation and here for one with the guns firing for a PBS special called Warplanes
Our latest project has been to get the old radios operational and to get the WWII radio operators back behind the Morse code key one more time.
With the “Mission” we plan on bringing all of these individual projects together in one bomber to let the WWII crewmen show us what it was like for these heroes to defend our country over 60 years ago.
The “Mission” will be a shortened version of an actual combat mission flown from Stockton Metropolitan Airport, which used to be Stockton Army Air Field, to bomb targets at Eagle Field, Dos Palos, California, also a WWII airfield.
The last flying B-24J in the world will be the platform for the “Mission” as she is very stock and original and is complete with gun turrets and radio gear. The B-24 will be loaded with bombs and crew in period clothing using original equipment. The Armorers will prepare the guns just as they did before a mission in 1944. The radio operator in the Liberator will communicate with the Command Jeep using the same radio equipment that was used back then, to obtain permission for takeoff. The bomber will takeoff and fly on its mission. The bomber will be joined by two P-51D Mustangs who will provide air cover for the mission. The B-24 might just be attacked while she is heading in to the target and it will be up to the gunners and the Mustangs to ward off the attacking aircraft.
As the B-24 gets closer to the target area they will make contact with the forward air controllers who will advise the bomber of the latest target information. The bomber will make a reconnaissance run to evaluate the target which will be followed by an actual bomb run. The bomber will drop 250 pound practice bombs on two different runs to try and hit the target. On the second run pyrotechnics will indicate that the target has been hit. The B-24 will make a low pass over the target area and will then head for home base.
As the Liberator returns home a close eye will be kept out for more attacking fighters as the waist gunners and the ball turret gunners scan the skies.
As the Bomber nears the base she will make contact the command Jeep for landing instructions and will come in for a low pass followed by a landing. Flares from the B-24 indicate that wounded are onboard which will alert the waiting ambulance. The ground crews will attend to the aircrew and the aircraft following the “Mission”.
OPERATIONAL ITEMS COMMITTED SO FAR
AIRCRAFT
· 1944 Consolidated B-24J Liberator
· 1944 North American P-51D Mustang
· 1943 Beechcraft C-45H camera ship
PERSONNEL
· WWII radio operator
· Several WWII aerial gunners and other aircrew members
· Living History re-enactors at Stockton Field
1. Armament crew
2. Bomb loading crew
3. Air traffic control crew
4. Servicing crew
5. Aircrew
· Living History re-enactors at Eagle Field
1. Forward air controllers
2. US Army GI’s
3. German Infantry
RADIO GEAR
· BC-375 liaison transmitter. High powered long range WWII transmitter in the B-24J
· BC-348 Liaison receiver.
· BC-191 Liaison transmitter in the command Jeep
· BC-224 Liaison receiver in the command Jeep
GUNNERY GEAR
· Ball turret firing twin 50 caliber guns
· Waist guns firing 50 cal guns in E-12 gun mounts
· Top turret operational
BOMBING EQUIPMENT
· Norden Bombsight operational
· Forward bomb racks with 250 pound concrete general purpose bombs
GROUND EQUIPMENT
· 1942 ¼ ton Ford GPW Jeep
· 1943 ¼ ton Willys Jeep
· 1944 1.5 ton Chevrolet M-6 Bomb Service truck
· 1943 M-5 Bomb Trailer
· Fuel service trailer
· Ground power unit
· Jeep trailer
1943 1/2 ton Dodge Ambulance
Contact for information: Taigh Ramey
taigh@twinbeech.com Vintage Aircraft (209) 982-0273
Here is Row Bowen, WWII B-24 pilot taking the controls of the Collings B-24J for the first time in over 60 years. He did a masterful job of flying too!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
We have an interesting project coming up that I think you might want to get
involved with. We are going to recreate a WWII bomber mission with the only
Consolidated B-24J Liberator still flying.
This “Mission” will depart from Stockton Field (SCK) in Northern California and
will fly a bombing run to Eagle Field near Dos Palos, California.
We need three different groups or re enactors for the Mission. The first two
will be based at Stockton Field (Stockton Metropolitan Airport). One of these
groups will be the ground crew that will be servicing the B-24 (with fuel,
maintenance, bombs and guns) for the flight and the other will be the flight
crew to represent the crew for the Mission. The third group will be at Eagle
Field and we hope to have a small ground battle between the Americans and the
Germans as the B-24 comes in on the bomb run.
The Collings Foundation
will be coming to Stockton Field from May 28th through the 30th with
their full complement of bombers; the B-17G Flying Fortress, B-24J Liberator and
the B-25 Mitchell. We are going to fly the Mission around 1600 (4pm) on Thursday
the 29th.
The Stockton Field contingent of living History folks are welcome to stay
throughout the entire time the Collings aircraft are at Stockton. The group at
Eagle Field is welcome to set up on the 29th or possible the day
before.
Here is a brief outline of the “Mission”:
The “Mission” is the combination of several individual projects previously put
together Vintage Aircraft and the Stockton Field Aviation Museum where the
technology of WWII has been brought back to life, in living history form, for
historical documentaries.
In the past we have put a working Norden Bombsight back in the nose of a 1944
B-25 and let original aircrew members try their skills once again.
Dropping practice bombs from the B-25 with the Norden was very
interesting and presented a challenge to the Bombardiers.
We have also brought out back to life the gun turrets, including the famous Ball
Turret from the belly of the B-17 and the B-24, and let the WWII gunners fired
the guns once again.
Our latest project has been to get the old radios operational and to get the
WWII radio operators back behind the Morse code key one more time.
With the “Mission” we plan on bringing all of these individual projects together
in one bomber to let the WWII crewmen show us what it was like for these heroes
to defend our country over 60 years ago.
The “Mission” will be a shortened version of an actual combat mission flown from
Stockton Metropolitan Airport, which used to be Stockton Army Air Field, to bomb
targets at Eagle Field, Dos Palos, California, also a WWII airfield.
As the B-24 gets closer to the target area they will make contact with the forward air controllers who will advise the bomber of the latest target information. The bomber will make a reconnaissance run to evaluate the target which will be followed by an actual bomb run. The bomber will drop 250 and or 500 pound practice bombs on two different runs to try and hit the target. On the second run pyrotechnics will indicate that the target has been hit. The B-24 will make a low pass over the target area and will then head for home base.
As the Liberator returns home a close eye will be kept out for more attacking
fighters as the waist gunners and the ball turret gunners scan the skies.
Thanks in advance for your help,
TO ALL OF OUR COUNTRY'S VETERANS, WE HERE AT VINTAGE AIRCRAFT WOULD LIKE TO SAY:
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COUNTRY!
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