“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

www.AmericanPrideAndPassion.com

This short tutorial video shows how a light painting photo of the B-25 Mitchell Bomber was made. It is an interesting and informative background to the photo and people involved, very interesting of the entire shot was staged and then painting with light.

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Happy Halloween from Flightline Fabrications!  May all of the little princesses and monsters out there find the candy they deserve! “Trick – or – Treat”

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

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 Lightning and 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!

PART ONE 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 Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Have you ever landed on an small island in a plane?  Check out this video of flying in a Cessna 180 and landing on an island in the middle of a river, eating a picinic lunch then taking off from the same island.  I was extremly lucky to be treated to this adventure and rare event by a friend and his 2 young boys. Thank you Trevor! It was truly a memorable event!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

 Thank you to Loris Wilson, while visiting the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing Hanger he snapped this shot of his newly installed Mk IV Spitfire Sticker!  The SBD Dauntless and Fairchild PT26 are pictured in the background.

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Until July 18th, 1979, no commemoration was held to honor America’s POW/MIAs, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation’s wars. That first year, resolutions were passed in the Congress and the national ceremony was held at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Missing Man formation was flown by the 1st Tactical Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia. The Veterans Administration published a poster including only the letters “POW/MIA” and that format was continued until 1982 when a black and white drawing of a POW in harsh captivity was used to convey the urgency of the situation and the priority that President Reagan assigned to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans still missing from the Vietnam War.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day legislation was introduced yearly, until 1995 when it was deemed by Congress that legislation for special days would no longer be proclaimed by Congress. However, the President continues to sign a proclamation each year. In the early years, the date was routinely set in close proximity to the League’s annual meetings. In the mid-1980’s, the American Ex-POWs decided that they wished to see the date established as April 9th, the date during World War II when the largest number of Americans were captured. As a result, legislation was passed in 1984 which included a July date, but established April 9th as the commemoration date for 1985.

The 1984 National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the White House. At that most impressive ceremony, the Reagan Administration balanced the focus to honor all returned POWs and renew national commitment to accounting as fully as possible for those still missing. Perhaps the most impressive Missing Man formation ever flown was that year, up the Ellipse and over the White House. Unfortunately, the 1985 ceremony was canceled due to inclement weather, a concern which the League had expressed when the April 9th date was first proposed.

Subsequently, in an effort to accommodate all returned POWs and all Americans still missing and unaccounted for from all wars, the National League of Families proposed a date in September, usually the third Friday, not associated with any particular war and not in conjunction with any organization’s national convention. Nearly all National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies have been held at the Pentagon; however, on September 19, 1986, the national ceremony was held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol facing the Mall, again concluding with a flight in Missing Man formation.

The sacrifice and service of America’s veterans, including those who became prisoners of war or who went missing in action, have preserved freedom for America and brought freedom to millions around the world. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the extraordinary courage of the Americans who have been prisoners of war, and we pray for those who are still missing in action and unaccounted for. This Nation also remembers the challenges and heartache endured by the families of prisoners of war and missing in action. We seek answers for the families of those who are still missing, and we will not rest until we have a full accounting.

Flightline Fabrications wishes to honor and say thank you to all those who fight to protect our freedom!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

We honor those who gave everything for our freedom!

THANK YOU!

 “What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Despite a steep learning curve and some harrowing instructional moments, Bryan Heim conquers a Cessna 172 and is cleared for takeoff into becoming a pilot.

Learning to fly may be every boy’s (and many girls’) dream, but flying a plane is the ultimate multitasking scenario and a serious venture. While controlling roll, pitch, and yaw, you must watch out for other aircraft and maintain a level flight. You are dealing simultaneously with wind and relative airspeed, with angle of attack, with the forces of power and load, weight and lift, thrust and drag. For most people, it is a new, and vastly accelerated, way of thinking. And unlike with ground transportation, you can’t just pull over to figure things out.

“Landing is the most challenging part of flying, I didnt even try!” said Heim. “It’s a skilled craft that can’t be fully explained unless you have actually landed a plane. You just have to practice again and again until you get it.”

“Next time I’m coming out with my new log book, I need more hours!” Heim smiled, “so you can bet I will be back!”

Learning to Fly the Cessna 172

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications 

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both the day on which the initial announcement of Japan’s surrender was made in the afternoon of August 15, 1945 (August 14 North American date), as well as the date the formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945.

In Japan, the day is usually known as Shuusen-kinenbi, which literally means the “memorial day for the end of the war”; the official name for the day is however “the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace”. This official name was adopted in 1982 by an ordinance issued by the Japanese government.

HAPPY V-J DAY!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

The Gratitude Campaign

Scott Truitt noticed that as he traveled around the country, he would see military and other soldiers in airports.  He wanted to thank them, but sometimes didn’t know exactly how to do it without both parties not feeling a little “awkward”.  He knew they would appreciate it, but at the same time, didn’t know how to convey this.

Acquired in 2008, this WWII German Fighter Aircarft Access Panel was recovered from the remains of a factory in Germany.  This panel is belived to be mid-late WWII war production and is in very nice relic condition.  This panel appears to be some soft of cockpit plate for the radio or other cockpit equipment.  This panel was used on various German aircraft such as the Bf-109, FW-190, JU-88, Bf-110, HE-111, JU-87, & possibly others.  This panel has been professionally framed with a custom photo graphic created by one of our Flightline Fabrications artisans.

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please click the “Comments” link below.

*This Virtual Museum artifact is for sale.*

Thank you to Michael from Lockport, New York for submitting photos of his F-18 Hornet Action Sticker!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

The Senate voted to terminate further production of the Air Force’s topline F-22 Raptor Tuesday, giving President Obama a major spending victory and siding with the Pentagon’s desire for smaller jets beter suited to 21st century wars.  F-22 Raptor supporters complained the action would be a blow to long-term national defense — and cost thousands of jobs in the middle of the recession.

In recent news, just announced is the replacement for the F-22 Raptor  jets that will not be built.  Budget cuts have forced the Air Force to re-visit WWII B-29 Super Fortress aircraft and the developement of jet engines tested in the X-1 Rocket Plane that are more efficent.

Watch the B-29 Super Fortress & X-1 Rocket Plane test flight video here: http://users.skynet.be/fa926657/files/B29.wmv

Thank you to TED GIERKE for submitting this photo of his Chinese Red Star!

“What’s on your window?” - Flightline Fabrications

July 20, 1944 – World War II – Adolph Hitler survives an assassination attempt (known as teh July 20 plot) led by German Army Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.  While the plot was successful in detonating a bomb in close proximity to Hitler during a meeting, several factors such as the location of the meeting and the placement of the bomb in relation to a heavy wooden table leg led to the ultimate failure.  The 2008 film Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise was based on this event.

July 20, 1960 – A Polaris ballistic missile is launched successfully for the first time from a submarine,  the USS George Washington.

The Second World War, the famous 44th ‘Vampire” fight Squadron of the 13th Air Force, Far from home, One P-38 Pilot flying missions in the Solomons & Philippines during 1944-1945. Retired Col. Mitchell lived the adventure, the air combat, and the reality!

Col. Mitchell recently sat down with our Flightline Fabrications Living History Project to share his story of flying the P-38 Lightning , Phis comfirmed victory and 1 probable victory, and the stories that went along with WWII.

Strap on your parachute, complete your pre-flight checklist, and get ready to take off, because these P-38 Lightning Pilot stories are AWESOME!  Thank you Mr. Mitchell for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE , PART TWO, or PART THREE, You will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

PART FOUR of Four: P-38 Pilot Col. Robert Mitchell Interview

 Flightline Fabrications expresses its gratitude 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 Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications