This past weekend, I had the rare opportunity to take a ride on an actual Higgins Boat. A landing craft vessel used during WWII to land troops from offshore naval vessels.
It was a blast and I feel very fortunate to have been able to done it. But it reminded me of a time long ago when I was just 20 years old, still in school and living at home with the folks. I was out back cutting the yard one day when I heard a very loud noise. Thinking the mower was going to explode, I turned it off, but the noise was louder and overhead. I looked up and saw it. A B-25. When I was a kid, I would always build those models...okay, they were the snap together models, but, those planes were my first love. I mentioned something to my mom about it and she told me she saw an article in the paper that the plane was flying out of Akron-Fulton airport and giving rides. Being in school, and broke, I begged and pleaded with Mom to borrow the $75 to take the ride. She did. I think I still owe here. Anyways, the next day I sat all day waiting for my ride. Finally, it came. Wow. I was actually up in this marvelous warbird. I didn't have enough to ride up from so I sat to the rear of the plane behind with others. All of us had the chance to crawl back into the tail-gun position and sit there for a few minutes. I didn't have the camera I have today, but I took lots of pictures from the air. I wish I had taken more of the interior. Regardless, it was a day I won't ever forget. Here's a few negatives I found of the ride. They look terrible but still capture the awesomeness.
(And yes, I'm still working on the Conneaut pictures from this weekend. They are just taking a while to save out to my hard drive. Thank goodness for two computers.)
Click on the image to enlarge.
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