WWII Warbirds in OKC

[HackerF15E]

The Collings Foundation just bought another B-24 that used to be the Confederate/Commemorative Air Force's "Diamond lil". It is a B-24A, and is one of the oldest Liberators in existence, much less flying.

Are you certain about that?

There hasn't been any news story stating that, the CAF website still lists B-24 appearance dates for this summer, and the CF site doesn't say a thing about acquiring a second B-24.

 

[AKguy1985]

I've been close to a B-25 but never flown in any plane.....ever

 

[ronny]

I can't imagine any fighter wanting to go nose to nose with that model B25.

 

[Mr.357Sig]

I got to fly in their B-24 in formation with the B-17 years ago in Stillwater when I was a photographer for the NewsPress. The B-17 took off first from Bartlesville and our Liberator had to haul the beans to catch up. I was riding in the side-gunner area with no plexiglass on the openings. Awesome!

 

[flatwins]

I got to fly in their B-24 in formation with the B-17 years ago in Stillwater when I was a photographer for the NewsPress. The B-17 took off first from Bartlesville and our Liberator had to haul the beans to catch up. I was riding in the side-gunner area with no plexiglass on the openings. Awesome!

Was that in the early 90s?

 

[HackerF15E]

I can't imagine any fighter wanting to go nose to nose with that model B25.

That's nuttin' compared to this model of Mitchell:

 

[ronny]

Looks like a prop-driven A-10.

 

[Mr.357Sig]

Was that in the early 90s?

I think it was 1995, but could be wrong.

 

[Mr.357Sig]

Ah, yes. The B-25H "Barbie III" with its 75mm M5 cannon and 4 Browning 50 cals. It was a Jap ship's worst nightmare.
Those gun-heavy Mitchells were badass.

 

[comeandtakeit]

The Collings Foundation just bought another B-24 that used to be the Confederate/Commemorative Air Force's "Diamond lil". It is a B-24A, and is one of the oldest Liberators in existence, much less flying.

A cool backstory to that plane is that it was an all-black 'carpetbagger' in the China/Burma Theater during WWII, and it was used to transport Chiang Kai-shek and his wife around the continent.

Stepping through that plane in particular is stepping through about 15 chapters in a history book.

That's really cool. The "Diamond Lil" was the first warbird I ever stepped in. It was at Tulsa International with the B-29 "FIFI". I think I was about six years old. Definitely didn't know the history of the plane or appreciate it as much as I would now.