Three summers ago, I began a mission: to complete the Aviation Trail. Completing the trail would require 14 stops around the Dayton area. I found a brochure advertising the trail with an offer that if you completed seven stops, you received a small aviator teddy bear. You visited a spot on the trail and got a stamp. Collect seven, go to the Aviation Heritage Museum outside of downtown Dayton, and the bear is yours. Easy, right?
I figured I'd start there, with the seven, then hopefully, I could go back and visit the other places on the trail. My first three stops were at Carillon Historical Park to see the third Wright Flyer the Wright Brothers flew, the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and the Aviation Hall of Fame (located in the museum). It was easy to obtain those first three stamps because I actually worked at both places the summer of 2016.
Then life got a bit hectic and my mission to finish the trail sat on the back burner of my bucket list.
Fast forward:
On May 17, 2018, the National Museum of the United States Air Force unveiled the restored, iconic World War II plane, the B-17F Memphis Belle and I was determined to see it.
Placed on permanent display and open to the public, the museum hosted a three-day event for the public. With books and two movies made about the plane, one can utter the words Memphis Belle and everyone knows what they are talking about.
Perhaps one of the greatest myths about the plane is that is was the first to fly 25 bomber missions. This is, in fact, untrue. What is true is that it was the first plane to fly 25 missions during the war AND return home to the United States. With a crew that relatively remained the same during those 25 missions, the plane went through several hurdles before it made its way to the museum, where a restoration team worked on it for a good fifteen years.
Via the museum's website, here's a fact sheet full of nifty bits of info if you'd like to read more about it: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195966/boeing-b-17f-memphis-belle/.
In the mean time, I went on day two of the unveiling and managed to get a few decent photos. I love World War II history, planes in general, and of course, World War II planes. The museum has a wonderful World War II hangar and now the Memphis Belle is there, where it belongs.
The museum also has a display dedicated to the Doolittle Raiders, as well as the Strawberry Bitch, and the famous Bockscar (the plane that dropped the second atomic bomb, Little Boy). Enjoy these additional photos:
The Museum has a holocaust display as well (which actually leads into the planes of the WWII display):
What about the aviation trail though, as I mentioned in the beginning?
Well, in seeing the Memphis Belle, it prompted me to dig out my original brochure. I had four other stops I'd have to make, to collect the rest of my seven stamps needed for the bear.
Stay tuned for Part Two of my quest to travel the Aviation Trail to see if I complete my mission and get the bear!
No comments:
Post a Comment