Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Send in the Marines!!

We went to the Trenton/Mercer Airport to see a WW2 Bomber Display. They had 3 gorgeous planes that we were able to view and tour. Alongside the planes was a small display of military vehicles. There were 2 WW2 Era Jeeps, our WW2 Dodge Ambulance and a modern Marine Corp Truck, complete with it's crew.

It was a gorgeous day, the high reaching only about 75 degrees! I loved seeing the planes and reading the poster boards about them and their crews and missions during WW2. The planes look so big and bulky that you can hardly imagine them being graceful and stealthy!
What I love most about the planes is their nose art. Some of them have some really detailed artwork on them. This one is one of my favorites. It doesn't have all that much artwork on it but it lists the names of all the crew who ever worked with this particular plane. It's amazing that so many people are connected with just this one plane.

The names cover almost the entire side of the aircraft. Here you can see only a small area. It's amazing!
After the display closed at 5PM they sold rides on the bombers. The money goes to the upkeep and fuel for these flying fortresses. It's a pretty penny for a flight at $425.00 for just 30 minutes! Most of those who flew that day were Vets who had actually been crew members on a B17, B25 or B24 Bombers during WW2.
For my girls, the highlight of the day was hangin' with the Marines. We were set up next to their huge truck and the girls befriended one Marine in particular. PFC Wolf. He was fantastic with the girls, showing them the truck and equipment. He was so nice to them that they just wanted to hug him all day long! Thanks PFC Wolf!

11 comments:

Artful Creations by Tracie said...

Wow what an exciting and exhilirating day! It has got to be so neat to see those majestic beauties up close and personal. Glad to hear the girls had so much fun, those are going to be great pictures to scrap!

lauren bergold said...

wow, that's really cool! i don't live super-far from that airport (& lovely husband jeff has even flown from there) but i didn't know they had cool historic planes and stuff! looooooooooooove the artwork and names on the noses!!!

Anonymous said...

How cool that you live near a place that does things like that. I bet those two girls are going to be history buffs!

Good going PFC Wolf!

Jax

Charlotte said...

It sounds like you had a terrific day with the historic planes. And those names on the nose of one of the aircrafts are just perfect! I love it - that's real history to me! :-)
Thanks for a very interesting post!

Pauline said...

Don't you just love Marines, well i love mine ... LOL ... Looks like you had a blast!

Pauline

Debbie said...

This is very cool! Love the pictures of the plane with your girls. Witchcraft - great name! My Dad part-owned a very small airport when I was just a baby. So our family album is filled with...airplanes! Couldn't make a living at it so he was out of it shortly after I started walking. He LOVED planes all his life. He'd critic old movies and tell me how "those aren't really Japanese zeros, they are such-and-such painted to look like them." I miss him...but I always think of him when I fly and imagine him in the cockpit with a hand on the pilot's shoulder :). Thanks for sharing these great pictures and the story! Semper Fi! XOX

Kim -today's creative blog said...

you are a very interesting woman. I would probably walk past all these planes and all their stories if I didn't know you. Now when I see stuff like this, I want to look closer to see what my friend Gabi gets so excited about.

Cheryl said...

Looks like you all had such a great time. Thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures.

Nik said...

That looks like it was a great day.. Love the photo of the girls with their marine..

Laura S. said...

cool!
great pictures.
I am missign hanging with you girl...we need to get together.

oxoxox
Laura

Loreluca said...

That is sooo NEAT! I have to find out if we have something like that around here. I know Coco and CEsar would absolutely LOVE to see both the aircraft AND the marines!!