Vintage WWII planes land for Aerospace Day

The pilots who flew one of the 25 World War II-era B-25s still flying say the flight from St. Louis was clear and smooth on Thursday, and they look forward to talking with the public about the historical aircraft during today's Aerospace Day at Hot Springs Memorial Field.

Two of the three airplanes belonging to the Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing landed at Hot Springs Memorial Field at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The B-25 Mitchell Bomber "Show Me," piloted by Jordan Brown, of Terre Haute, Ind., and John Fester, arrived with the TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber, piloted by John Lohman, a commercial pilot with American Airlines and a 28-year veteran of the CAF.

Lt. Col. Doolittle made the B-25 famous when he led a squadron of the planes on a bombing raid over Tokyo, taking off from the U.S.S. Hornet, 72 years ago on Friday. The raid was designed to pick up America's morale after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

"Show-Me" was built late in the war and didn't see combat but was used as a bomber trainer. The B-25 holds 660 gallons of fuel and burns approximately 160 gallons an hour. It has logged about 4,000 hours of flying time and has attended several Jimmy Doolittle reunions.

"We go to about 20-25 shows a year, and it's a lot of fun to explain the history to the younger people so they know and understand about these aircraft from the Greatest Generation," Brown said.

The Mitchell and the Avenger made the flight from St. Louis in just under two hours and made several passes around the field before landing.

Seven members of the CAF flew in on "Show-Me" and will be on hand to greet and talk to visitors.

Also making an appearance today will be a 1941 U.S. Army Aeronca L-3E "Defender" observation aircraft, nicknamed "Lil Show-Me." The planes, which were used to observe enemy troop movements, became known as "Grasshoppers" because of their ability to take off on rough terrain.

"Living History" flights will be offered on the B-25, at $395. Five people are flown at one time, and seven flights are planned.

Call Bob Moore at 314-486-1205 to reserve a flight.

Lohman said the CAF's Avenger is one of only 25 still flying.

"There's only one that I know of that saw combat that still exists today. Our plane came off the assembly line in April 1945, and the war was nearly over. It was used quite a bit as a training plane. The Navy retired it in 1954, and it sat around for several years until it was bought by Wiley Sanders, an avid war bird collector. He repainted it, but didn't do much more than that. We bought it in 2008, and it is probably has one of the lowest hour totals of any other Avenger flying," Lohman said.

The engine has been rebuilt at a cost of $55,000.

"We sometimes have to get some parts special made. We had to get two new wings made when we bought it because the originals were rusted out, but that's what it takes to keep them flying and keep their memory alive," he said.

During Aerospace Day, representatives from various companies and educational institutions will be on hand to discuss local career opportunities in the aerospace industry with high school students who are considering it as a future career.

Henderson State University will have a flight simulator available along with a training aircraft display. National Park Community College, various airframe and power plant schools and military recruiters will be on hand with information and applications.

Local on 04/19/2014

Upcoming Events