The Commemorative Air Force made a stop this weekend at the old Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas. They brought a B-29 Super Fortress, a B-24 Liberator and a T-6 trainer. My wife bought me a ride on the B-24 as a birthday present. It was absolutely amazing. The crew was great and let all the passengers (10) move to all the different stations. This meant a lot to me because a very good friend of mine, Frank O'Donnel, was a pilot trainer in Georgia on B-24s during WWII. Frank and his wife lived next door to us. My wife and I went to their house at least three times every week for happy hour in Frank's sunroom. He loved the B-24, and loved reminiscing about it. In December 2005 Frank gave me the wings he earned on August 4, 1944. I put the wings in a shadow box with a small plate engraved with his name, rank and the date he got the wings. Frank passed on April 10, 2006, and I still miss him dearly.
I took the shadow box with me on the plane today. The crew really enjoyed seeing the wings. I keep them on a wall in my man cave.
The flight lasted about 30 minutes. My cheeks are still sore from smiling so much. I couldn't imagine being a 19 year old crawling into that plane to go on a bombing run over Germany, not knowing if I was going to come back. That was truly the Greatest Generation.
And, I have the greatest wife in the world.
I took the shadow box with me on the plane today. The crew really enjoyed seeing the wings. I keep them on a wall in my man cave.
The flight lasted about 30 minutes. My cheeks are still sore from smiling so much. I couldn't imagine being a 19 year old crawling into that plane to go on a bombing run over Germany, not knowing if I was going to come back. That was truly the Greatest Generation.
And, I have the greatest wife in the world.
