Stockton, CA – The Stockton Field Aviation Museum will once again host their Annual “Bomber Camp” this year, with support from the Collings Foundation. This year, there is an exciting new twist on the event, a “Battle of the Bombers!” Perhaps we may see, once and for all, which WWII Heavy-Bomber truly reigns supreme? “In past years we have used either the B-24 or the B-17. This time BOTH bombers will go head to head in competition to see which Bomber and Crew can put their bombs ON TARGET,” states the museum’s event page. “You will experience the sights, sounds and smells of 1944 in this immersive condensed training program. You will step back in time and train as the Air Crews trained during WWII.”
That’s correct, this is your chance to experience what it may have been like (sans BF-109 intercepts and flak) to serve on a bomber crew in World War II. This unique experience will occur beginning @ 09:00hrs Tuesday, May 30th until 21:00hrs Thursday, June 1st. To enlist, the cost is $4000 per cadet, which includes barrack accomodations (M-TH), food, materials, ammunition and support supplies. Those who enlist must arrange their own transportation to Stockton, however shuttle to/from the point of arrival/departure will be arranged. Those 16 yrs. to 18yrs. old have to be accompanied by legal adult guardian.
Both the Stockton Field Aviation Museum and Collings Foundation are 501c3 non-profits, so your enlistment fee is tax-deductible. Additionally, those interested may serve aboard a torpedo bombing run, courtesy the Lockheed PV2D Harpoon. The cost for this experience is $1,500, and will include a flight over the San Francisco Naval Yards (and possibly a tour of Moffett Field.) For $500, one can fly in the co-pilot seat of the Harpoon. Once in the seat, you will receive 20 minutes of log-able flight training from the main pilot/flight instructor.
For more information on the “Battle of the Bombers,” and PV2D Harpoon flights, visit the event page, click HERE.
Please note: The new Stockton Field Aviation Museum web page is: http://www.stocktonfieldmuseum.org!
I was working on a building high up on a bluff, (48.070-115.210) when I heard the unmistakable sound of big engines. Looking to the West I spotted a big green B-17 flying low up the valley. The airplane was level with my perch and close enough to where I could make out the lettering designation. I remembered that there was an airshow happening soon in nearby Kalispell, Mt.
(I was one of those kids who’d grown up building model airplanes and much of my extended family flew. In fact one of my cousins was Vic Agather of FIFI fame and so on and so forth).
I’d seen B-17’s flying fire fighting missions as a kid and so it was a great way to reacquaint myself with the warbird. I watched it fly by at equal level and watched as it flew over Loon Lake. As I watched it go I picked up the noise of another four engine rig. Turning again to the West I picked up a Liberator flying at the same elevation. Knowing it to be the only flying B-24 in the whole world I was beyond thrilled. My own private air show a couple of hundred yards away.