This week I am going to check another box on my bucket list.
I have been invited to take a flight on a B-17 Bomber! I can’t tell you how excited I am, but it goes beyond being a World War 2 history geek. I’m looking at this as a chance to learn more about a man I have not seen in a very long time.
My Uncle Ray flew as a member of a bomber crew in World War 2. He died many years ago and I never had the opportunity to ask him about those experiences. I may not have ever even known he flew those missions, had not the subject come up as I spoke to my Aunt June about him shortly after his death. It felt like the wrong time to ask her more about it then, but I found it immensely interesting and have always wondered about his experiences flying over Europe.
He was such a gentleman. I find it ironic that such a caring person was called upon to help fight and defeat such wickedness.
So, this one is for you Uncle Ray. Thank you for your service.
One more quick shout out: A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be invited to take a ride in another WWII era airplane, a P-40 Warhawk. (You can see the plane at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa.) That goes down as one of the coolest things I’ve had a chance to do. Not many people get the chance, and I’m still honored by the invitation from Sue Paul and her family to experience that.
