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Bend Oregon
I Love Ranger Rob
www.rangerrob.com
I have decided I should start a bumper sticker company for Central
Oregon. People could really use the help from my designs, to get
around this area.
Starting with Crooked River Ranch for an example. Since they seem
to have such a Deer population problem. I suggest two bumper
stickers. One for small cars; “I Brake For Deer”. And one for
trucks with brush guards, “I Kill Deer”. I also think Crooked
River Ranch would like this one, ”I Only Drive 35 On The Ranch”.
Since everytime I drive on or off the Ranch, I always get stuck
behind a slow car.
Terrebonne could use one too. It would say “Was That Terrebonne?”
I think I have a pretty good idea what would be good for Redmond,
how about “What’s Up With All The Trucks?”. Another one for them
could be “I Park In Fear.”
Now looking at Bend, it is very clear to me that this one works.
“Our ByPass Goes Thru The Middle” Or “Guess Which Exit Will Get
You There.”
Well, maybe I should just stay out of the bumper sticker business,
since I probably would get in big trouble, but I still think the
best one out there should say, “I Love Ranger Rob.”
The Wings of Freedom
By Carla Sperber
An excited crowd of Central Oregonians gathered at Butler Aircraft at
Roberts Field on Monday. Looking skyward, they anxiously awaited a
glimpse of history. At aprox.11:30 AM Redmond was treated to a rare
sight as two World War II bombers rumbled overhead and circled around
to land. Crowds of people lined up to tour the Boeing B-17 Flying
Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. They are the main event in the Wings
Of Freedom Tour currently underway in the U.S. The Collings Foundation
of Stow Mass. has accurately restored these bombers to their original
configuration so they can actually fly. In fact, there are only nine
flying B-17’s in the world today out of the 12,000 that were built,
and only one flying B-24 out of the 19,000 that were built. They are
currently fascinating people in 120 cities nationwide while on the
flying tour; a huge advancement from static museum locations where
many people would never have a chance to see them.
The atmosphere on the tarmac in Redmond Monday was of excitement, and
remembrance. People got to stand under the plane’s vast wings and
touch their metal bellies. Folks were allowed to tour the inside of
these war relics and walk through the bomb ba ys.
They got to take a look at the cockpits where many a brave pilot of
centuries long past sat gripping the yoke in the throws of combat.
Veterans of war, some with tears in their eyes, got to visit familiar
places as they climbed through these aged flying friends and handled
the plane’s old waist guns. Youngsters looked up at the aircraft with
wide eyes as their grandpas talked about the war that they flew in.
Grover Fike from Bend remembers the B-24 well. He flew 156 missions in
World War II, in the China, Burma, India theater. He stood near the
plane on Monday with a far away look on his face. “We transported new
P-47 engines, fuel, and even horses and donkeys to China in this
plane.” Fike said. “I remember one time in the B-24 when both of our
left side engines blew out, and we were letting down at 6,000 feet and
had to come in from the left. Kind of scary, but no big deal once we
landed,” Fike smiled.
Bruce Bishop of Bend was a B-17 gunner and radio operator in the war.
He recalls a crazy training mission in Nevada aboard the B-17 one hot
summer day in 1944. “We were doing a low level straithing operation in
this slow flying monster at about only 300 feet off the ground, which
is scary enough.” Bishop says. “Then we discovered that the pilot and
co-pilot were up there drinking brandy.” Bishop chuckles, “They shared
the Brandy with all 13 of us crew members and we all got sick from it.
Everyone on crew puked all over the bomb bay while the drunk pilots
took us for a wild ride.” Bishop grins and waves his hand, “now that
has got to be one of my most unforgettable moments in the B-17.”
Jim Goolsby, from Crescent City Fl. is the B-24 tour pilot. He has
been piloting the B-24 for four years. Goolsby says he feels very
fortunate to be the one to fly the only example of it’s kind left in
the world. He has a lot of fun while on tour and enjoys the people who
come to visit the planes. The veterans that come to rekindle their
memories each have a story to tell about the famous B-24. “Their tales
are quite entertaining,” Goolsby says.
“Flying the old bombers is not the easiest thing”, Goolsby points out.
“You don’t actually fly them, you herd them,” he laughs. “ They have
very poor visibility, they leak like a sieve, they are slow and heavy,
and since there is no cabin heat they are pretty cold too. But still
the same, it sure is a feather in my cap to have the honor to fly
them,” Goolsby grins. That alone makes one respect how tough it must
have been for the pilots who flew these same bombers in the World War
II venue.
Unlike the war pilots, the tour pilots today have to be extremely
careful with these special aircraft because of their rarity. They are
never flown faster than 200 MPH, or above 10,000 feet. They are always
handled with kid gloves since the engines are very sensitive and the
original parts cannot be replaced.
Patriots and veterans, war plane enthusiasts, and Central Oregonians
that just wanted to pay tribute to an era long past, truly received a
rare treat by The Wings Of Freedom Tour. It was indeed a nostalgic
trip for some, and a unique historic glimpse of the past for all.
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