WWII vintage aircraft over Palo Alto today? Around Town, posted by Sound of Freedom, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on May 16, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Today, (Wednesday 5/16) around 5:30pm I saw a B-17 pass over my house heading NW at around 500 feet. About 15 minutes later, I saw what looked to be a B-24 flying the same direction. Does anyone out there know anything about these flights? Was it part of a special event or club?
In any case, they were certainly amazing to see in flight. That B-17 has a remarkable sound like nothing else in the air today.
Posted by Gina Gonzales, a resident of Menlo Park, on May 18, 2007 at 10:01 am
The B-17 and B-24 are part of the Wings of Freedom Tour, which is now at Moffett from from Wed. 5/16 through Sunday. I believe you can go to Moffett and sit inside the planes for $10. You can also get a ride for somewhere around $400. Once the tour leaves Moffett it will be in Concord at Buchanan Field.
The planes are amazing! For more information on the Wings of Freedom Tour you can visit www.collingsfoundation.com
Posted by enough already, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on May 21, 2007 at 7:05 pm
OK, they were great the first time and the second, third, fourth. I hate to be a spoilsport, but I'm rather fed up with the anount of noise they make, how closely to the ground they fly and the constant reminder that war is not healthy for children and other living things. Go fly over another community...
Posted by anonymous, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on May 22, 2007 at 9:10 am
I think they're neat, and they don't make me think of war, they are no longer weapons of war. They make me think of Sword to Plowshares. (Not their fault that G.W. doesn't read his Bible.)
Posted by Kate, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on May 22, 2007 at 11:06 am
As a member of what Tom Brokow called the greatest generation, I am thrilled to see them again. A friend who was a prisoner of the Germans during WWII says it brings back some stark memories of seeing those planes overhead.. Another WWII pilot, who lives in Palo Alto, and had a B-24 almost shot down but brought it back in the South Pacific with mostly a dead crew, has similar emotions. Next Monday is Memorial Day. When you see those planes, say a prayer for all of those brave men who flew them - and go out to Moffett Field
and go through them. then go home and put up an American flag.
Posted by enough, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on May 22, 2007 at 11:26 pm
OK, I hear you all. But, I hear those planes all day, too. Try to teach over that noise - why couldn't they do this the week before July 4 - that great American flag waving holiday - when it won't bother schools? I know there's some nostalgia and honor and respect here, I'm not trying to keep that from you but lest we glorify B29's too, can we at least acknowledge those incredible photos from Nagasaki and recognize that bombers were built for one purpose - wipe out huge masses of people quickly and efficiently. Relay your precious memories to 3rd graders of any heritage that we tried to wipe out in the good old days while those flying death machines interrupt yet another lesson...
Posted by trudy, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 23, 2007 at 11:33 pm
I hope you're teaching your students what WWII was really about, not to "wipe out huge masses of people quickly and efficiently," but to actually protect freedom, in contrast to Iraq. Maybe you are too young to know that.
Posted by enough, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on May 24, 2007 at 8:12 am
Even us young 'uns had fathers who served and were haunted for the rest of their lives by the loss of human life; they taught their children the value and hope of pacifism. I hear you, Trudy, and that's part of the heartbreak - WWII was about liberation from a tyrant, Iraq is...well a full-out disaster.
I still didn't like the bombers and I'm glad they're gone.
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