This week-end was the "Wings of Freedom" tour at the Louis Zamperini Field outside of the Western Museum of Flight at the Torrance (CA) airport.
I got there just as the event was closing and I got to see the B-17 "Nine-O-Nine" Flying Fortress, B-24 "Witchcraft" Liberator and the P-51 "Betty Jane" Mustang, taking off.
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B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine"
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Nine-O-Nine completed 140 combat missions during WWII, holding the 8th Air Force record for most missions without loss of crew.
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| B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" |
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| B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" |
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| B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" |
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B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"
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| B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" |
This "Witchcraft" heavy bomber (B-24) is the last one of its type still flying.It had 130 bombing missions.
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| B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" |
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| P-51 Mustang - "Betty Jane" |
Charles McCokle was credited with 11 'victories'.
The plan was named after his wife, Betty and daughter, Jane.
These three WWII aircraft are considered exceedingly rare.
Thanks to the Collings Foundation, they have been going all over the country as a living history tour.
This was my first time at the Western Museum of Flight (3315 Airport Dr, Torrance, CA).
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| JB-1 Bat Prototype |
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| Pioneer 5 |
They have several aircraft, historic photographs, blueprints, an extensive aircraft model collection, wind tunnel models and a research library.
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| F-86 Sabor Jet |
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| F-86 Sabor Jet |
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| Bede BD-5 |
You can climb into the F-5A Freedom Fighter:
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F-5A "Freedom Fighter"
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They conduct a lecture series and have an impressive gift shop with all types of model kits.
This old car was on the other side of the runway.
