WIX Archives
Heavy-bomber formations
Posted by Steve T on Thu Aug 14, 2003 07:30:41 AM
In reply top Formation Flights at YAF show posted by Steve on Wed Aug 13, 2003 08:33:01 AM
What a sight it would of been to get all 6 bombers (4 engine) in one group flyover photo!
Steve--
Yep, it would've been. Probably for the reasons mentioned below they didn't do this at Willow Run. One of my fondest airshow memories dates to 1991 at Geneseo, NY: a seven-plane "stinger" formation comprising five B-17s in vic with a B-24 and the Lanc in trail, coming down the line with a martial-band version of "Amazing Grace" wafting over the PA and a quartet of P-51s weaving high overhead. I invariably mist-up slightly just thinking about it.
Something similar was tried at Hamilton in 1993, but the weather that weekend was horrendous and the intended formation only happened for a press photo shoot on, I believe, the Thursday before the show. That grouping consisted of B-17, LB-30B ("B-24"), Lanc and B-29. Far as I know that particular grouping never happened again...?
S.