Date: Fri 29-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-9

Quick Words:

B-17-Nine-O-Nine-B-24-American

Full Text:

Flying Fortresses On A New Tour Of Duty

(with photos)

By Shannon Hicks

Captain Walter Hushak, 71, of Southington, flew in to Waterbury/Oxford Airport

last week, at 2:40 pm Tuesday afternoon, on Nine-O-Nine , a fully restored

B-17 bomber from the Second World War. Captain Hushak, who flew on a B-24 on

seven missions in the 1944-45 Pacific Theatre, was one of a lucky handful

chosen for "passenger status" who emerged from the beautiful plane Tuesday

afternoon. The landing of the plane marked the latest stop in a national tour

honoring veterans of World War II, and the planes they fought in.

Looking quite handsome in his Air Force uniform, the retired captain was

greeted by a large crowd of spectators - people from all over the area, of all

ages, with many in their late 60s to 70s - who had been awaiting the arrival

of Nine-O-Nine , one of two planes traveling across the nation in a 50th

anniversary "Salute to Veterans Tour." Accompanying Nine-O-Nine is the B-24

Liberator, All American , a famous cousin to the B-17. The "flying museum" is

visiting over 100 cities in a span of eight months. The tour is sponsored by

Schlitz beer and has been coordinated by the non-profit Collings Foundation,

which recovered and restored the aircraft to their original war-time

condition. The public is invited to visit any of the airfields the planes fly

to and, for a donation, tour through the two planes, both in pristine

condition.

Nine-O-Nine buzzed the field in Oxford around 2:40 in the afternoon, flying

about 100 feet off the ground, bringing back memories - good and bad - for the

men who flew in them. She also brought with her the chance for generations

since to view her beauty.

The thrill of climbing up into the cockpit of a B-17 and looking out from the

very seats that were used to shoot down enemy planes, or fly a crew safely

from dangerous territory, is nearly inexplicable. From the pilot's area,

walking ever so carefully over the six-inch bridge in the bomb bay, into the

radio room, looking out to the left or right from behind machine gun turrets,

can bring back memories for the brave men who flew these planes during combat.

Traveling this road - or the similar one in the B-24 - also creates an

education that is impossible to get from a book. It brings to life the

conditions under which young men were living day-to-day in defending our

country 50 years ago. Spending just a few hours walking through, under and

around these planes is indeed a living history lesson.

Captain Hushak flew D-Day on Iwo Jima, he related to everyone who was

listening to his, and other soldiers', recollections of days in the war. Many

of the soldiers who turned out Tuesday afternoon came in uniform, while others

preferred the quieter anonymity of their own memories.

When it came time to enlist for the war, the retired captain said, he signed

up as a pilot.

"That was my opportunity, my chance," he said.

After his missions with his B-24, the captain said, his group was put on sea

search, "and other mundane duties," but he never forgot those days of battle.

"It is a great thrill to see [these planes] again," he continued. "You know

how you have moments in your life - one or two minutes, or a few days, maybe,

that you can remember specifically? This is a period of time you want to

revisit. You want to have your family share this with you."

These two planes are unique in that most vintage bombers are not restored to

flying condition. Once salvaged from the so-called "bomber graveyards," they

usually spend the rest of their second life as "static" museum displays.

Living Legends

During World War II, the B-17 Flying Fortress was widely recognized for its

high altitude strategic bombing effec tiveness, as well as its ability to

withstand tremendous punishment, yet still bring its crew back alive. The

champion of these durable planes was the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron plane

Nine-O-Nine . The 91st Bomb Group was also home to famous B-17s Memphis Belle

, Stormy Weather and Outhouse Mouse , all of whom earned the love of their

crews because of their enduring durability.

Commissioned to wartime duty February 25, 1944, Nine-O-Nine (#42-31909) was

stationed at Bassingbourn, England. By the following April, Nine-O-Nine had

made 18 trips to Berlin, dropped 562,000 pounds of bombs, flown 1,129 hours,

had 21 engine changes, four wing panel changes, 15 main gas tanks and 18 Tokyo

tanks changed, in addition to considerable flak damage... all during the

course of 140 bombing missions, without an abort nor loss of crewman .

Even after being fully restored to her wartime configuration during the 1980s,

Nine-O-Nine has always taken care of her boys. During an air show in western

Pennsylvania in 1987, the plane was caught by a severe crosswind moments after

touchdown. The right wing lifted into the air, coming down too far on the

runway, and despite the efforts of her crew, Nine-O-Nine rolled off the end of

the runway, crashed through a chain link fence, sheared off a power pole and

roared down a 100-foot ravine.

Nine-O-Nine took a pretty severe beating, but fortunately, there were no

fatalities to crew or passengers.

Tim Hartigan of Willimantic was another of the lucky few granted passenger

status for Tuesday's arrival at Waterbury-Oxford Airport. His father, Carl, a

resident of Burlington, was a B-17 pilot during the war.

"She felt pretty solid," Mr Hartigan said of his experience inside the belly

of Nine-O-Nine . "I can't imagine spending 12-15 hours at a time in there,

though, which they did during the war."

Many of those who got through the plane's tour early did not leave the

airport's tarmac immediately. Nearly 90 minutes after the arrival of

Nine-O-Nine , eyes again looked to the sky and arms began pointing out the

second arrival of the afternoon: All American , the only B-24 Liberator bomber

that has been completely restored and is operational in the world today. Pilot

Phil Haskell was again at the controls, and All American flew into the airport

at 4:20 in the afternoon, again to the applause and awe of the waiting crowd.

Built in August 1944, in Fort Worth, Texas, All American saw combat with the

RAF Coastal Command in the South Pacific, and then stayed with the Indian Air

Force until 1968. This Liberator bomber has been restored as All American of

the US 15th Air Force, 461st Bomb Group (BG), 765th Bomb Squadron (BS).

Liberators could carry more bombs farther, faster, and had greater range than

B-17s. They were also produced in higher numbers (18,481 total Liberators vs

12,731 B-17s), and B-24s flew more missions and dropped more bombs than any

other bomber in WWII.

"These were heavy bombers for range," Captain Hushak said.

An interesting note on the markings of the All American : Since "All-American"

is a football term, the plane's crew decided to use footballs - possibly

relating to "touchdowns" - rather than bombs to record bombing missions during

the war.

The "work horse" of the war, Liberators were not the most attractive nor even

the most publicized bombers of the war. But their superior range made then

WWII's most destructive and versatile aircraft. With an urgent need to become

a world class air power, at the urging of President Roosevelt's call for a

strong defense after Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939, the B-24 became a

"production miracle," going from the drawing board to full production in just

one year.

Liberators did their job well. In the Pacific, they were used for a wide range

of targets, including low-level submarine patrol. In Europe, they took

American troops and other allies deep into enemy territory, from arriving on

the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, to bombing Rumanian oil refineries against

anti-aircraft fire.

Both planes have continued to serve in different forms of duty throughout

their lifetimes. This year, in honor of the end of the war 50 years ago, the

two are being presented throughout the country on the "Salute to Veterans `95

Tour." Whether a retired soldier or student of life, visiting these planes in

honor of the men and women who defended the US five decades ago is an

enlightening experience.

Residents should watch overhead Tuesday, October 3, as the two four-engine

WWII bombers wing their way to the Danbury Municipal Airport for a three-day

stopover as part of the "Salute to Veterans `95 Tour." Donations are $7 for

adults, $3 for children under 12. The public may tour the planes at the

airport, located at Route 7 and I-84 at Miry Brook Road, and learn about each

bomber's contribution to the war. Nine-O-Nine and All American will be on

display Tuesday from arrival time (approximately 3 pm) until 6:30 pm;

Wednesday, October 4, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm; Thursday, October 5, 8:30 am to 6:30

pm; and Friday, October 6, from 8:30 am until departure at 2 pm.