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Originally Posted by NoRegrets
Thanks for the reply APS. It is inspiring to know the heroes walk among us.
I am glad that your BIL is here and his story has made it to the forum through your generosity!
I saw the planes at Laconia and went to Manchester Saturday and planned to take my father up on Sunday. We were not able to fly due to a low ceiling so we are going to Worcester for a Tuesday evening flight.
I was also amazed and thrilled that there were a few WWII flight retirees at the airport telling their story and experiences. One was "Smitty" who was the ball gunner for the B-17. He was on the "Spirit of Winnsome II" that was shot down and he became a POW. He lost his right arm in the battle.
The thread you published and other internet stories are truly amazing. It is great that the Collins Foundation can keep these aircraft in the air for us to see.
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I met Luther Smith - Smitty - back last winter. He and another member of his crew shared their experiences at the Wright WWII Museum in Wolfeboro during one of their winter Sunday lectures. He volunteers there every Friday until the museum closes at the end of Oct. he mentioned. He taught me how to read a flak map using one from the Mighty Eighth that's on display there.
Not to diminish what the Marines landing on the beaches of Tarawa or the D-Day soldiers went through, but boy, there were some serious risks that those fliers took back in the day.