Bomber Camp 2010: Mission complete-Photos

[Jarink1]

That just looks awesome. Wish I had the time and $$ to attend.

The gunnery trainer turret with the shotgun looks really fun!

[cco23i]

2) What Captain would wear marksmanship medals?
Maybe in WWII; but, as a prior enlisted officer, I was told in OCS that officers were assumed (Yah I know) to be experts and never wore my expert medals again... Even though I usually qualified expert in all weapons I carried, I'm sure there were some who could barely hit the broad side of a barn and would be embarrassed to wear the marksman award.

Must differ by service.

I wear my two marksmanship medals on my ribbon rack. It's one of the few medals I actually feel like I legitimately earned!

That may be true Randy. I do know that in WWII, the USAAC/USAAF were Army. Don't know how far back that tradition goes. The one medal I was proud (and fun) to wear as a Captain was the Good Conduct Medal -- only awarded to enlisted soldiers.

Pog,
Bill's good conduct was awarded while enlisted then he was sent through OCS and as for 2 marksmanship medals, it's only one and the other is the technician badge issued to different MOS' in the USAAF, his is AP mechanic. Bill's persona for the camp is that of a previous enlisted type, as he was actually active (in real life) he wears his good conduct.

Scott

[B29B24crewchief]

"FIFI" DROPING BOMBS AROUND MIDLAND?? not likely to happen. Steve Brown giving his approval to do such a thing, not likely either. Most important thing for "FIFI" right now is to finish ground tests and get through flight tests and get out on the road. Period..
Dave

[Jack Cook]

I wear my two marksmanship medals on my ribbon rack. It's one of the few medals I actually feel like I legitimately earned!

Spot on Randy. I fired expert with the M-14 and got the medal but the one I really earned was the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
for 6 months on USS Boat

[cco23i]

I wear my two marksmanship medals on my ribbon rack. It's one of the few medals I actually feel like I legitimately earned!

Spot on Randy. I fired expert with the M-14 and got the medal but the one I really earned was the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
for 6 months on USS Boat

Roger that fellas, I have mine and as I am a crew chief and electrician I wear the AAF technician badge with 2 bars.

Scott

[p51]

So help me God, I’m going to sure to get the time off and volunteer for the ground crew next time! I missed the first year due to work and had family issues this time. But as a former Army Ordnance officer, longtime AAF re-enactor and competition shooter, I’m quite sure I could be useful for the event…

[warbird1]

"FIFI" DROPING BOMBS AROUND MIDLAND?? not likely to happen. Steve Brown giving his approval to do such a thing, not likely either.

Why is that? Is it a public perception thing, or a perceived safety and/or legal liability issue?

How about bringing the B-29 to somewhere else other than Midland?

Most important thing for "FIFI" right now is to finish ground tests and get through flight tests and get out on the road. Period..
Dave

Nobody has suggested anything otherwise. We're talking later down the road, maybe in a few years. Don't be so negative. It's that kind of "closed-minded" thinking that will prevent the CAF from realizing it's full potential. These are different times, and it will take new paradigms in order to find ways for the CAF to continue to be successful and prosper. Like it or not, this is NOT Lloyd's and Lefty's CAF anymore.

[cco23i]

That's it, we ALL need to advance the aviation living history in the country. Many people just look and say "oh, it's only an airplane". We all need to add to and help spur more interest to the younger generations.

Scott

[Randy Haskin]

That's it, we ALL need to advance the aviation living history in the country. Many people just look and say "oh, it's only an airplane". We all need to add to and help spur more interest to the younger generations.

Scott

Oh, yes...in my zest for knowing the technical details of Bomber Camp, I forgot to mention "BRAVO"!

What a fantastic idea -- exercising the weapon systems (and the knowledge needed to operate them) in warbirds. Glad someone was interesting in going that extra mile beyond enjoying warbirds for how they look sitting on the ramp or flying in formation. Hope more people run with the ball and continue to do this kind of stuff.

[cco23i]

Thanks Randy, I guess me crewing for this long has made it I am addicted to airplanes!!!

Scott

[Taigh Ramey]

Hey Randy,

Thanks for the kind words. I have been wanting to do this for a while and it happened because of a long list of people willing to volunteer their time and expertise to pull it all together. From the Collings Foundation letting us set up their bombers to the Arizona Gang, Ricky the cook and so many others made this one special event.

What is even better is how it just keeps getting better each year. One of our Students returned from the previous year and he said that it was like attending two different camps because of all of the improvements. I have a feeling he might just be coming back next year.

It would be fun to get together with you and talk about WWII and present day bombing practices. Good stuff.

Thanks again for the kind words Randy; we all appreciate it!

Taigh

[David Krull]

Taigh, thanks for making this event happen, without folks like you, this stuff would be lost to the history books and the Discovery Wings Channel.

[cco23i]

Well Bomber camp made Air Classics and Witchcraft made the CETERFOLD!!

Scott

[JDK]

Well Bomber camp made Air Classics and Witchcraft made the CETERFOLD!!

Oh, I think we can do better than that.

Roger deserves a cover too, wouldn't you say?

[RyanShort1]

"FIFI" DROPING BOMBS AROUND MIDLAND?? not likely to happen. Steve Brown giving his approval to do such a thing, not likely either.

Why is that? Is it a public perception thing, or a perceived safety and/or legal liability issue?

How about bringing the B-29 to somewhere else other than Midland?

Most important thing for "FIFI" right now is to finish ground tests and get through flight tests and get out on the road. Period..
Dave

Nobody has suggested anything otherwise. We're talking later down the road, maybe in a few years. Don't be so negative. It's that kind of "closed-minded" thinking that will prevent the CAF from realizing it's full potential. These are different times, and it will take new paradigms in order to find ways for the CAF to continue to be successful and prosper. Like it or not, this is NOT Lloyd's and Lefty's CAF anymore.

I thought my old '70s or '80s CAF magazine actually had photos of three or four CAF airplanes that participated in some sort of bombing competition with the USAF... is that just my memory playing tricks?

Ryan