My FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE.

My First Airplane Ride "The B-17"---May 1944

This is a Boeing B-17 which started out my flying career. I joined the Army Air Corp. in 1944 as an aviation cadet to become a pilot. Of course by the time I got ready to start pilot training they had too many pilots and the Air Corp decided I was to be a Ball turret gunner. My very first flight was on a B-17 lying face down in the nose of the aircraft. WOW when the aircraft became airborne I decided to stay another 60 years .. It all ended this year March 2004. What a wonderful Career.