Warbirds on Display

[ANDY M]

These three planes were passing through Columbus yesterday, left at noon Friday for the Akron Airshow.
The Mustang is a P51-B, totally rebuilt to be a 2 seater w/ dual controls. It was modified to look like a P51-C. I saw it last year at the Mustang show, but I don't think I had any pics of it.

[ANDY M]

This B-24 Liberator was built at the Ford Willow Run plant, where old Henry showed the Army that you could build planes just like you do cars. The only one known to still be flying, this plane has an amazing history. The 130 on the nose is for the number of missions flown.

[ANDY M]

This B-17 is one of several still being flown, but it is owned by the same foundation as the other birds here.









Always a rare treat to see these birds still flying.

[William]

[ QUOTE ]
This B-24 Liberator was built at the Ford Willow Run plant, where old Henry showed the Army that you could build planes just like you do cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not quite how it was. After promising "one per hour" by the end of 1942 Willow Run had built just 56 B-24s, less than three days' worth at the rate quoted. The plant and 'ol Henry were a national disgrace. All he proved was that you couldn't build airplanes just like cars.

This is from "Ford: the Men and the Machine."

[SS427]

Thanks for sharing Andy. Annie and I stopped by the Springfield, IL airport last year to see both the B-17 and B-24 as well as a B-25. Tomorrow is the annual Air Expo at Flying Cloud airport in Minneapolis that I plan on being at. The B-17 "Yankee Lady" will there as I believe Bob Odegaard F2G-1D Super Corsair.