World War II Airplane Show - Part 2

Last weekend, I went to a small airshow with my dad at the Mercer County (Trenton, NJ) Airport. At the show, they had books on World War II experiences written by local veteran airmen on exhibit. Included in the display was this painting:



Little Friends by Robert Taylor

To the young men in the bombers, the sight of the escorting fighter planes was a very welcomed sight. The young men in the fighter planes and their planes were called "Little Friends". The fighter planes in the painting are P-51 Mustangs, and there was one on exhibit at the airshow.



P-51C, Dual Seat, Trainer

Of course, this Little Friend, has lots of his own little friends. :)

Rumor has it, after a long hard days work, all of these hungry OCHAs walked single file off the airfield and climbed into a red SUV. They then rode off to a local McDonald's, where instead of a Big Mac or even a Happy Meal with a toy, they surrounded a Honda Minivan and ate it for dinner.


Follow-up on comments in Part 1 -

I spoke to my Dad about whether or not he did any work for New York Shipbuilding, which was located in Camden NJ and the builder of the USS Kitty Hawk that LadyStyx's father served aboard. He immediately replied that he had done "tons" of stuff - and sent me a picture of a foundry pattern used to produce one of the parts he mentioned. He made a good deal of the "big" plumbing, that is, the 4 inch pipe fittings used for steam and fuel lines. It's such a small world. This is the third or fourth time someone of you have stumbled into something in my world that we share somehow - each connection makes me feel even more connected with you all.

A 1054 SE pilot certification was someone qualified to co-pilot a 4 engine airplane in US Army-speak. The SE means ChicagoLady's father was also rated as a pilot in single engine aircraft.

Both Hank Jr and Alice Kay have encountered the Nine-Oh-Nine themselves. The planes in the airshow are owned by the Collings Foundation and tour the United States. Rides are available for around $425.