I was outside this afternoon and heard a slow airplane overhead. When I looked up I saw a big twin engine monoplane. Upon closer inspection with the binoculars it looked alot like a Heinkel 111. Luftwaffe markings and iron cross; it looked authentic. What the heck was that doing in the sky over St. Louis on a Monday afternoon in 2003 ?
The CAF used to have two HE-111s but only kept one in flying condition, maybe they restored the other one to flying condition.
DEC
They finally found Saddam's WMD stash?
Nope, she went down for good in Wyoming and took her crew with her. It was covered by the media in my area. I live in Fort Collins Colorado just about 30 minutes from the Wyoming border. A sad event indeed, but it is the risk for keeping them flying. I am glad to hear there is another one in the sky, since I understood she was the last flying HE 111 in the states. I have always admired the Confederate now the "PC" Commerative Air Force for what they have done. Seeing a WWII bird in flight and running up on the ground is like night and day from just seeing one sitting in a museum.
Bob Ruth
Even better, is riding in one. I got to ride the EAA B-17 for a ferry flight of about 40 minutes. Wow! I got to sit in the bombardier's seat, and stick my head out into the slipstream in the big top hatch in the radio area. Every place but the tail and belly gunner's positions. They don't let people in there anymore, and I wouldn't fit anyway! Those positions had to be "small" people.
An experience I'll take to my grave!
Well I envy you Jim :-) I got to only a quick walk/crawl through on the CAF Sentimental Journey many years ago.
I always get a chuckle to see Hollywood make WWII bombers look like they were as wide as a 747 on the inside. There was a real good reason most of those crews looked like a bunch of scrawny kids. Even in my thinner days, It was a tight fit with just me and my guide in that B17. I can not imagine what it was like to have a full crew packed into one for several hours in the freezing cold. If you did not get frost bite the lousy oxygen system got ya. I have known a few B17 crew members and most of them have heart problems related to lack of oxygen. You gotta have a lot of respect for those crews and what they endured to keep us free.
Bob Ruth
The He 111 crashed earlier this summer as has been said. I don't know if the JU 52 is still flying or not, but could the one you saw have had 3 engines?
-- Eric Kler Fubar Hill -
____
defineately 2 engines. Stubby nose. Single fin/rudder. I guess it;s possible it is something other than the He-111 but I tried looking up german WWII planes on the web and the He111 looks alot like what I saw today
Maybe and HE-177 ?
Might it have been "Iron Annie" -- the Fokker F-VII tri-motor?
p
Is that a reference to the Hitchhikers Guide froma US based poster? Good show old man!
Sween
It wouldn't be the HE-111. There was only one flying example in the world and it crashed and was destroyed a year or so ago. I saw it while it was being restored by the Confederate Airforce in Mesa, AZ a few years back.
Aren't they now called the "Commemorative Airforce?" I have a video of one of their airshows that I showed at a club meeting, and the club secretary kept correcting me. Video says "Confederate," he kept saying, "Commemorative..."
Damn PC crap.
I don't know anymore. I haven't been involved with them for about 5 years.
That's correct, They are now the Commemorative Air Force. They were getting bad press about the Confederate name. PC you know.
Dave Carr Life Member CAF
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.