Back to the N scale train meet (FreeMoN) at Wendover Field in Utah. Wendover Field was home to the 509th Air Composite Group, America’s Atomic Bomb Squadron.
Wendover Field is America’s best preserved World War 2 airfield. The entire Flightline is intact, some of the hangers that once held B17s, B 24’s, B 25’s, P51’s and many other aircraft during the war have been in continuous use. Much of the base is now a museum, however, the field is still used as an airport and Air National Gaurd base. The museum was host to the “FreeMoN” modular train meet.
Wendover Field sits right on the Utah – Nevada border at the western edge of the Bonneville Salt Flats. It was served by the Western Pacific Railroad AND was the eastern end of the Victory Highway and the junction with the Lincoln Highway, two of the named highways back when America’s interstate highways were privately owned. The Bonneville Salt Flats are also a famied race track where thousands of land speed records have been set.
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My dad worked in engine repair at Hill Airforce Base and got to ride in some of the airplanes that he worked on. He loved it. Thanks guys. Chuck Yeager said that some guys "requisitioned " a B 25 and flew to Salt Lake City for a beer run.
Jet was called a star figther i think….
That book is priceless.
They couldn't pull off the flag being fake, who knows how flags were made with 48 stars.
That's at t 33 , I worked on and was a crew chief on one in Colorado Springs back in 1963 to 1967 at Peterson field. 18 yrs old at the time , now 76 . Time keeps going by.!!!!!
From 1952 to 1954 the Blue Angels flew a single Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star for show support and VIP rides. This was a two seat trainer derived from the P-80/F-80 Shooting Star,
Very very interesting video!
This TV-2 aircraft is painted and numbered correctly. Could it be the original?
Thank you for the second part I love it 😀
Fascinating. Thanks for the tour!
Do you think they will have air shows out there again? Went to a few about 10 years ago I think it was.
The first jets that the Blue Angles used were the F9F Panther, the jet in question looks to be a Lockheed T 33 or a Canadair that was basically a T 33.
I really enjoyed this video, the big band music in the background was fantastic. There is a lot of history at that air station. My Dad and Uncle both served in WWII neather one talked much about it over the years. I didn't understand why till I went in… there are some things best left in the past.
Seeing the flag hanging on the wall cause the hair on the back of my neck stand up… you are right it is "our" flag… but for those that fought and died for it, it will always be their flag.
Great Video congratulations
I driven by that location many times in my big rig I'm definitely going to have to make some time to check out that museum but thanks for the little history lesson but the real question is which one of you have the better score on the pinball machine 👍👍
Hey TM.
All of my research books show Nose Art on All " In Combat Aircraft " during W W 2 , Not Applied After the war .
That includes the B 29's also .
And by the way the B 29 Boxcars
Was Not painted with Railroad Boxcars as seen Now .
It was painted as Boxcars Double 6's
As in Gambling .
The change was ordered by High Command along with other Nose Art as Nudes or Topless art were to be repainted COVERED Up in part of preparation for the return to the US as to Not Offend the Public Sensitivities or any Embarrassment of the Families .
So how ever you got the information about the Nose Art 🧜🧚💃 is not correct .
Again the Nose Art was prominent throughout W W 2 .
Several of my Research books include this Order to Repaint or Cover Up the Artwork before they went back to the US .
the jet was a shooting star one of the first A.F. jets so it could have been a thunderbird, but the first blue angle was a Gruman swept wing I don't Rember the desingon the "star" had no tail hock so could not be on a carrier and not navy sorry about spelling. military will say my flag not meaning possagen but service too.
Interesting video. Well presented as always.
That blue angels plane was a shooting start which they did use. Not sure if that one is an actual blue angels flown plane though.
That appears to be a T-33 and yeah you're right, the Blue Angles never used them. During that time period the jet they used was the F9F Panther.
Great video
When I drove west in a semi,I would stop at windover to try to beat the blue haired old ladies to the slot machins
How neat both the Free mo and extended base tour! Interesting note there’s a B-29 “Doc” I contributed to the restoration of it in Wichita KS will be visiting the base on May 9-12.
The paint on the air craft weighs quite a bit. It is surprising. I saw this on a documentary specifically taking about the B29. They chose to fly farther and have less paint. The people to be in that Air Group were selected on talent and ability. Even criminal records were over looked. The first nuc was from Los Alamos and the second came from Handford in Washington. Interesting story.
I was in the Navy,I still choke up when I see the Flag.
Dale & Karyn: My dad served in the South Pacific conflict theatre in 1944/45. He was in action as an Army infantryman in the Palau Group Islands Nation, and specifically on the island of Peleliu; in this south seas, Pacific Volcano raised coral reef island. One of his fellow 1937 Graduating Class of North Side High School, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was a B-29 Bomber Captain flying missions over Japan's Transportation Resources on the coast of the main island, in Tokyo.
As always very good video, thank you.
The very first B-29 bomb run was flown from India to bomb a bridge near our house here in Bangkok. They missed the bridge, it's still there but hit the Japanese secret police head quarters a few miles away.
My dad was in the 8TH in Europe but uncle training as a gunner in a B 25 when the war ended. Maybe he was one that trained there. Can't believe your collection.
Where the trains are set up it looks to be an old Service Club, and where your bomb sight was I believe was the old snack bar from a Service Club.
A fascinating, but sad history, given the fact that Russia and America are currently playing a game of Nuclear Chicken! Let's hope they all keep their fingers off the button!
Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star used by Blue Angels 1952-54. Was the only 2 seater which allowed rides for VIP’s etc.
When I was in the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), we flew into Wendover, and stayed overnight. We were amused as the Airport building was in Nevada, while our Helicopter (only 100 yards away) was in Utah. Someone pointed into the distance to a small building in the distance and told us that was the building that the Fat Man and Little Boy bombs were actually assembled prior to their delivery to Tinian. It was on the "Base", but far away from the rest of the buildings (for safety, obviously), although it still would have wiped out the whole base if one had exploded. Unfortunately, we never got to explore anything at all, as we were only there overnight. Very disappointed that we never got to check it out.
There was actually a backup plan to use RAF Lancasters to deliver the bombs if the B-29's didn't work out. The main wing spar of the B-29 needed to be completely redesigned because it went through the middle of the Bomb Bay, and the Bombs wouldn't fit. The Lancasters didn't have that problem, and could easily carry the 9,000 lb atomic bombs – they REGULARLY carried 22,000 lb Grand Slam (Earthquake) bombs in Europe. The modifications were successful, though, and the modified B-29's did the job.
Thanks you two love 💕
The Blue Angels airplane shown appears to be a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star and an ARMY Air Corps. At the time this aircraft was developed in the Mid 1940s, the NAVY would have used F6F or F8Fs as show team Aircraft when they switched over to Jets ,The Grumman F9F was the NAVY's choice for Blue Angel aircraft.
That jet is a T-33. As far as I know, the Navy never used that trainer, so it would not have been used by the Blue Angels. Very nice restoration from the looks of the aircraft.
After a bit of research, I can say for certain that the "Angels" never flew the T-33. They flew the Hellcat and Bearcat prop planes. The jets were as follows: Panther, Cougar, Tiger, Phantom II, Skyhawk, Hornet, and Super Hornet (today).
I love your efforts to catch all of the "screwing around!" Keep up the good work.
If memory serves the aircraft in Navy Blue is a T 33.TheT33 was a starched out version the P80,later to be redesignated F80 in 1948 when the USAF came into existence, and was used as a trainer.
Let us not forget the USS Indianapolis !!!
You have a history there with the pinball machine American flag something be very proud of thank you for the video very interesting
I know it's a Navy training plane.
Really cool video. I live in San Diego. I'm thinking about moving to wendover.
It's my flag if you fought. It's our flag if you didn't. Land of the Free courtesy of the brave.
This is where the story of the USS Indianapolis comes in very secretive mission a Japanese sub sank her with few or so torpedoes over 900 men went in the water sharks finish most of them off except for maybe a couple hundred survivors Bill Clinton back in the late 90s he used his presidential power to Pardon captain Timothy McVeigh
The T33 Shooting star was NOT flown by Blue Angels it was the 2 seat trainor to the P80 Fighter of early Korean war. Fun plane to ride in.
Love the old Wurlitzer jukeboxes. What are the neon lit burst that look like they have a speaker un the middle?
Did you walk up the stairs leading to the tower. I did when I was there and was shaking like an earthquake going up and down
Very cool…Great video…I have a lot of family in Utah…..Ive been through Wendover many times.
If your ever in Denver for the Forney museum or railroad museum, check out the Lowry AFB flight museum….worth it!
Many of the buildings are in work, one barracks is completed. Our group (the Arizona ground crew) is restoring a squadron building on the flightline.
Great video filled with historical view to our past. And respect to the Greatest generation…. if only our youth would come to understand what was then. As always I enjoy your videos (Thumbs UP ) and salute.