In June of 2010 the Flightline FabricationsLiving History Project interviewed WWII B-24 LIBERATOR PILOT,33 MISSION Veteran Ralph Walsh of the 448TH BG, 20TH WING, 2ND AIR DIVISION 8TH AIR FORCE: EUROPE.
Mr. Walsh experienced the great depression, survived 33 European bombing missions during WWII as a B-24 Liberator pilot/commander, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and successfully started his own company all while acting as a husband, father & man of adventure!
Over the next three weeks Flightline Fabrications will be posting segments of Mr. Welsh’s interview for all generations to hear. Ralph’s stories are truly an honor to hear first hand! I am honored to have been part of taking with Ralph and will remember him my entire life!
Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to Ralph Welsh & the Collings Foundation for their partnership in making this interview possible.
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please click the “Comments” link below.
Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you. Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances. History should NEVER be forgotten. Your memories are important and should be retained and shared.
The de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver is a single engined, high wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane.
Used for cargo and passenger hauling, the Beaver has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft. The United States Army purchased several hundred; nine de Havilland DHC-2 Beavers are still in service with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) for search and rescue. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Beaver supported Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition to the South Pole.
Over 1,600 Beavers were produced until 1967 when the original line shut down.
Flightline Fabrications artists recently added the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver on Floats to inventory!
Where were you on D-Day 6 June 1944? John Taylor was flying his P-38 Lightning over the beaches of Normandy, HOW COOL IS THAT!
Earlier in 2009 Flightline Fabrications interviewed retired USAAF P-38 Lightning Pilot John Taylor. Mr. Taylor and his daughter were generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project™ and tell us about his life as a P-38 Lightning Pilot during WWII, Flying with the 8th Air Force in Europe and his flight status on one of the most important days of WWII, 6 June 1944 D-Day! Taylor flew 63 missions in the P-38 Lightningand the P-51 Mustang with the 364th Fighter Group.
Fuel Levels – Check! Flaps – Check! Wag your rudder and get ready to take off, John’s stories flying the P-38 Lightning will take your breath away! Oh Yeah… you better have your GLOVES at the ready for this one….!
If you missed PART ONE or PART TWO of John Taylor’s interview, you will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!
PART THREE of Four: P-38 Pilot John Taylor Interview
Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.
If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.
Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you. Please contact our Living History Projectwith your remembrances. History should NEVER be forgotten. Your memories are important and should be retained and shared.
In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, Americans received word that three years of concerted war efforts had finally culminated in D-day–military jargon for the undisclosed time of a planned British, American, and Canadian action. During the night, over 5,300 ships and 11,000 planes had crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy. The goal of every soldier and civilian involved in that effort was to drive the German military back to Berlin by opening a western front in Europe.
General Dwight David Eisenhower was in command of the invasion, which was code-named Operation Overlord.
The operation was the largest amphibious invasion of all time, with over 160,000 troops landing on 6 June 1944. 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. The invasion required the transport of soldiers and material from the United Kingdom by troop-laden aircraft and ships, the assault landings, air support, naval interdiction of the English Channel and naval fire-support. The landings took place along a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
Flightline Fabrications would like to take a moment to give thanks for our freedom and say thank you to all those who have fought for our country and those who have paid the ultimate price, we OWE you a deep debt: THANK YOU!
In 1951 Ford Motor Company was awarded the contract to design a 1/4 ton 4×4 Military Utility Tactical Truck (hence MUTT) to replace the M38 and M38A1 model jeeps. The M151 “MUTT” Jeep was developed with guidance from the US Army’s Ordnance Truck Automotive Command. Design started in 1951 and testing and prototyping lasted through most of the fifties. Although the M151 “MUTT” Jeep was developed and initially produced by Ford, production contracts for the M151A2 were later also awarded to Kaiser Jeep and AM General Corp.
“People have forgotten how cool and how simple flying is. It’s just man and his machine. It’s getting away and just enjoying life.” -Trevor Norris
Our friend Tevor Norris recenly launched his website http://www.oregonflying.com based out of Twin Oaks Airpark in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Whether you’ve always been interested in flying, you want to give a flight as a gift, or just have a memorable flying experience, Trevor would love to take you flying! Trevor offers fights in 2 main aircraft, the CESSNA 172 {1-3 passengers} & J-3 Piper Cub {1 passenger}. Check out the pricing options here: SERVICES
You won’t be disappointed with this ride!
Trevor also offers rides during the monthly 1st Saturday EAA Chapter 105 pancake breakfast at Twin Oaks Airpark from 8-11 am and beyond.
“RED TAILS” – The re-told story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American Fighter Pilots to fly in a combat squadron during WWII. Red Tails was shot last year {2009} and has been in post production since. There have not been any images of footage released to the public, until now! Visit Flickr: Hannsmannn’s Photo Stream to check them out!
A total of 12,732 B-17 Flying Fortress’s were produced between 1935 and May 1945. Of these 4,735 were lost in combat. Following WWII, the B-17 Flying Fortress saw service in three more wars. B-17’s were used in Korea, Israel used them in the war of 1948 and they were even used during Vietnam.
Today, fewer than 100 B-17 Flying Fortress airframes exist and fewer still are in airworthy condition. At one time, more than 1000 B-17’s could be assembled for mass combat missions, now less than 15 of Boeings famous bombers can still take to the sky.
Libery Belle is one of those B-17 Flying Fortress Bombers still flying. This past weekend Libery Belle made a rare stop in Hillsboro, Oregon to share it’s history, experience and timeless beauty. Flightline Fabrications was on hand to witness this great event, we hope you enjoy some of the videos we took!
