Arsenal of Democracy Fly-Over

[planenutti]

Ended up on the bridge between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, not sure the name. A great place to watch the fly-over, nice breeze but the shade was hard to find. Knew things were about to start when the airborne air boss started circling in the T-6/SNJ between the Mall and Reagan National. Who was doing the coordination? He did a nice job.
Saw the MAM TBM break off shortly after he was feet dry and drop his gear while heading for Reagan, glad everyone is good and the airplane is fixed.
The best day off I have had in a long time minus the stupid traffic on 95 south heading home.
Thanks to all that organized and all those that flew today!!!!

[Tim Savage]

Ended up on the bridge between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, not sure the name. A great place to watch the fly-over, nice breeze but the shade was hard to find. Knew things were about to start when the airborne air boss started circling in the T-6/SNJ between the Mall and Reagan National. Who was doing the coordination? He did a nice job.
Saw the MAM TBM break off shortly after he was feet dry and drop his gear while heading for Reagan, glad everyone is good and the airplane is fixed.
The best day off I have had in a long time minus the stupid traffic on 95 south heading home.
Thanks to all that organized and all those that flew today!!!!

That wasn't the airboss in the SNJ. That was Rick Siegfriend with www.iflytheairshow.com with a cameraman from the Smithsonian on board.

The airboss was at Potomac Center coordinating from there.

The sequencing and route of flight was coordinated by Mike Ginter and Wade Boggs. Needless to say this was a very complex briefing that lasted 1.5 hours. With multiple aircraft of varying capable speeds there were multiple holds and ingress and egress routes. Most of the fast airpanes flew right down the river from the Leesburg area after 'pushing' from two stacked holds of aircraft. Each group was on a distinct squawk code and we were talking to airboss, Potomac Center or National tower. Hats off to the great job the various controllers did and for all the assistance from the various security agents who were definitely out in force this morning at the two airports we launched from.

[JohnB]

To add to the previous post on the subject....I just watched the coverage on the network news.

NBC shows about 5 seconds (showing fighters and L-Birds...was that really an L-16?*) during a tease for upcoming stories, then another 10 seconds primarily of two still shots of Fifi over the Washington Monument.

ABC showed some Stearmans..then mentioned a "close call" and highlighted the Corsair (next to the Avenger which wasn't highlighted), trailing smoke as it pulled out for the "Missing Man" formation, then they cut to a shot of the Avenger on the ground at Reagan.

Oh well. As they say, "Any publicity ...".

* I like Aeroncas as much as the next guy...but L-16s (and I'm pretty sure it WAS an L-16 and not an L-3) weren't in WWII....in fact, did they serve in Korea?

Last edited by JohnB on Fri May 08, 2015 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Good stuff ...


An observation mission photograph taken on the 9 May 1945 shows a 487th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (2G-M, serial number 44-9312) flying by the Eiffel Tower.

[A26 Special K]

That wasn't the airboss in the SNJ. That was Rick Siegfriend with http://www.iflytheairshow.com with a cameraman from the Smithsonian on board.

The airboss was at Potomac Center coordinating from there.

The sequencing and route of flight was coordinated by Mike Ginter and Wade Boggs. Needless to say this was a very complex briefing that lasted 1.5 hours. With multiple aircraft of varying capable speeds there were multiple holds and ingress and egress routes. Most of the fast airpanes flew right down the river from the Leesburg area after 'pushing' from two stacked holds of aircraft. Each group was on a distinct squawk code and we were talking to airboss, Potomac Center or National tower. Hats off to the great job the various controllers did and for all the assistance from the various security agents who were definitely out in force this morning at the two airports we launched from.

Tim, thanks for representing the A-26 so well at the event. It was great!!! Yall done good. Just sorry we couldn't join up with you in our A-26. Maybe next time.... Best... JR

[Tim Savage]

That wasn't the airboss in the SNJ. That was Rick Siegfriend with http://www.iflytheairshow.com with a cameraman from the Smithsonian on board.

The airboss was at Potomac Center coordinating from there.

The sequencing and route of flight was coordinated by Mike Ginter and Wade Boggs. Needless to say this was a very complex briefing that lasted 1.5 hours. With multiple aircraft of varying capable speeds there were multiple holds and ingress and egress routes. Most of the fast airpanes flew right down the river from the Leesburg area after 'pushing' from two stacked holds of aircraft. Each group was on a distinct squawk code and we were talking to airboss, Potomac Center or National tower. Hats off to the great job the various controllers did and for all the assistance from the various security agents who were definitely out in force this morning at the two airports we launched from.

Tim, thanks for representing the A-26 so well at the event. It was great!!! Yall done good. Just sorry we couldn't join up with you in our A-26. Maybe next time.... Best... JR

You guys were missed!

[SaxMan]

Here's a link to the photos that I was able to snap. Did I mention the planes were directly overhead?

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... df3d7cc32d

Planenutti - you were on the Memorial Bridge. It's actually the oldest of the extant Potomac River bridges in D.C., having been erected in 1911. Roosevelt Bridge was the next bridge to the north. It had fewer spectators because it is so #$%$#% hard to figure out how to get onto it as a pedestrian or cyclist. We did have one scary moment where a spectator toppled over backwards and into the path of traffic. Two other people quickly whisked him back up to the sidewalk.

[k5083]

It was a great event and a special day. I watched from my firm's office in Georgetown right on the river, where we hosted clients, families, vets and servicemen and had a great, albeit against-the-sun, view from our balconies. Many thousands of people who had never been exposed to warbirds got a fantastic taste. Hats off to CAF, TFL, MAM and the other organizations that participated. Special mention to Jim, Andrew and the other P-51 guys for dropping the altitude a bit on the Potomac run -- you guys got a delighted ovation all the way down the river. Well done today all involved.

August

[Lon Moer]

short photo set at the bottom of this story;

CNN

[planenutti]

Tim,
Thanks for the insight about the coordination. Have sat thru a few briefings in my time, that must have been one for the books.

SaxMan,
Thank you for the info, it certainly was a great seat.

To ALL that organized, flew and the ground crews that got them ready,

THANK YOU for ALL that you did to make this happen!!!

Bob

[Left Seat]

Fox News report of "Arsenal of Democracy Fly-Over":

Short clip of walk through and flight of Diamond Lil.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4228466960001/climb-aboard-a-vintage-world-war-ii-b-24-bomber/?intcmp=features#sp=show-clips

[Warbird Kid]

Members of the Connecticut Air & Space Center ventured down to DC to witness this fantastic event. I'd say it was an overall rousing success! We staked a claim on a prime spot between the Washington and WWII Monument to watch the flyover. Needless to say, it was a perfect spot to witness history in the air in such a fitting location! Heres to more flyovers like this in the future!

PS: Didn't get a chance to meet up really with any Wixers. BUT I did find one, our own Patrick Mihalek!


All other photos taken by Drew King.

The Crew prior to the flyover


Hmmmm I wonder what aircraft we're supporting?


TBM Avenger Rolls out of formation with an emergency. Lands at Regan Airport in under 1 minute.


Excellent shot of the second formation of P-51s that day.


My Favorite Bomber with escorts


Doolittle Raid Formation