Don't Take Me Seriously - Book - Page 51
ESCAPE Weekly
March 13 - 19, 2009 – 18
Belle
‘Liberty Belle’ Burbank flights
Continued from page 13
missions with the 390th bomb group of the
8th Air Force.
The “Liberty Belle” that will be flying
you out of Burbank was built toward the
end of the war and never saw combat.
Through a series of events the airplane ended
up being purchased by Don Brooks of the
Liberty Foundation and it was fully restored,
taking to the skies again on Dec. 8, 2004.
The airplane was given its name in tribute
to Brooks’ father, who flew many combat
missions aboard the original “Liberty Belle.”
This reporter was lucky enough to get
a seat aboard the “Liberty Belle” this past
Tuesday on the media flight and, though
this was my second flight on a B-17, it was
still a thrill of a lifetime. We were additionally
fortunate to be accompanied by G. Bennett
“Ben” Robertson, 89, a WW II B-17 veteran.
Though he doesn’t own any airplanes,
Robertson still gets to pilot friends’ planes,
and he is president of the 29th Bomb Group
Association (818-385-0518). Robertson said
he was “kind of smitten” with airplanes at
and early age and joined the Army Air Corps
after Pearl Harbor in 1941. He said that the
B-17 was his “transitional” airplane between
single engine and multi-engine and that he
ended up flying B-29s in the Pacific.
Of his upcoming flight on the “Liberty
Belle,” Robertson said, “It will be a lot of
fun. It’s a gorgeous airplane. They’ve done a
beautiful restoration job.”
And it was a lot of fun.
Knowing what to expect I was able to sit
Snakes
Continued from page 12
writings go, the night before the match.
And there were many trials, indeed.
When the morning of the big day
arrived, Pat was weak, yet, as the
writings say, “free of sin.” Of course
the translation has other meanings,
but no matter.
And so, Patrick faced the
Cullenoscopee — in the dreaded
caverns of Idareya.
At first, things went well, as the
Jim Walker/ The Signal
Ben Robertson is a WW II veteran who flew
B-17s and B-29s during the war.
back and watch the eyes of the other reporters
light up as the old bird rumbled to life and
rocked down the taxiway. When full throttle
kicked her in the behind, she grabbed quickly
at the sky and we were away and grinning.
As soon as we were up, folks unbuckled and
began to explore. As before, may favorite parts
of the flight were manning the waist guns and,
even better, sitting in the bombardier’s chair,
surrounded by Plexiglas and the open air over
Burbank. Those gigantic props, spinning so
closely to the cockpit, were a thrill as well.
It was like we were in a time machine,
having just dropped out of the skies
of WW II to slide in over present-day
Burbank. But there was little time for
the thousand thoughts that crowded into
my mind of then and now. Too soon we
touched down to the squeal of the tires.
Is this one on your “bucket list”? If so, now
is the time.
beast traversed the
caverns and Pat lay still
and waiting, not daring
to move a muscle. He
was slightly woozy
from another potion
the druid had given
him, and the druid
kept up a sing-song
chatter, which echoed
down the corridors and
further calmed him.
At first the beast
seemed far away, yet it kept
coming, mile after mile of it.
What: Flights aboard a restored B-17 nying fortress
When: Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. Check-in at Atlantic Aviation, 10750
Sherman Way, on the West side of the airport.
How: The approximately 45-minutes-total experience is $430 per person. To
ond out more and reserve your seat on a night, call Scott Maher at (918) 340-0243.
You can also ond out more at www.libertyfoundation.org. Each night experience
lasts approximately 45 minutes, with 30 minutes in-night and 15 minutes in
history brieongs.
Arrive one hour prior to your scheduled night time to get acquainted with the
aircraft and crew. You will be asked to oll out the night experience information
form, and if you have not yet paid, be asked to do so at that time.
Shortly before your night, your night group will get together for a B-17 safety
brieong, along with a brief discussion of the history of this B-17 and the overall
historical signiocance of the B-17 Bomber.
Once airborne, you are free to move about the airplane and go to the various
crew positions (nose, cockpit, bomb bay, radio room and waist gunner stations).
Grab a machine gun and really get a bird9s eye view.
All passengers must be seated with seatbelts fastened for landing. Once back
on the ground, the airplane and crew will be available to you for additional photos
and to answer any questions you may have.
Jim Walker/ The Signal
The “Liberty Belle” will be in Burbank March 14-15. The plane idles on the tarmack at Bob Hope Airport.
Eventually, it found Pat in a deadend chamber. And it was in
this very place that Pat’s soul
was sorely tested.
Thankfully, the legend
does not go into detail
here. But it is said that
something in Pat’s purity
of spirit, his willingness
to suffer, must have
vanquished the beast and
it backed off, slithering
away into nothingness.
Later, Patrick awoke
in the druid’s hut to
find Brigid by his bedside, with the
druid’s full report on the encounter
in her hand and a bit of a smirk on
her face. The druid was nowhere to
be seen, and Pat couldn’t help but
feel that, somehow, he’d fallen for
something.
But, in any case, the Cullenoscopee
was gone and Brigid stopped nagging
— at least for awhile.
Patrick then proceeded to take
his frustrations out on any animal
that resembled the Cullenoscopee.
And thus, the snakes were banished
from Ireland.
