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Ed Hoelker |
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MY 75TH BIRTHDAY PRESENT The Collings Foundation located in Stow Massachusetts has two World War 11 four engine bombers, a B-17 and a B-24. The two aircraft tour the country from January to October each year giving 1/2 hour rides to six people at a time in each aircraft. When the planes are not flying, people can go through the planes to see what it was like inside. There are several B-17's still flying, but the Collings' B-24 is the only one of the 18,400 B-24's made during the war that is still flying. The B-24 and the B-17 are supported only by the donations for the rides and the tours of the planes. My generous children surprised me for my 75th birthday, August 31, 1998 with a ride on the B-24 bomber, the plane that I flew during WWll. On top of that they bought "stick time" so that I could handle the controls. I was in the co-pilot seat, but nonetheless, I was in the cockpit and I was able to maneuver the plane. It was an experience beyond my wildest dreams. I never thought that I would have that opportunity again in my life time. Who would expect to after 53 years had gone by and at the advanced age of 74 years and 362 days! Enclosed is a snapshot of the six who were on that flight. Bud Williams and Norb Trohoski are friends of mine who were able to go on the flight with me. Another passenger and I had stick time. After take off we were allowed to roam the ship. Of course I ran for the cockpit and jumped into the copilot seat as soon as the copilot left it. I did turns left and right. I forgot how heavy the controls were! I asked the pilot to retard the throttle on an inboard engine to simulate an engine out. I wanted to feel again the effort required on the rudder petal to keep the plane going straight. Those 15 minutes in the co-pilot seat revived many fond memories of my time as an Air Force pilot. After the flight a crazy notion entered my head. Would it be possible for me to be a volunteer pilot for the B-24? How could I at my age which in three days would be 75? However, I did fly B-24's for 400 hours during the war. Also, I am an active pilot and I am currently giving flight instruction at a local airport. As I always told the kids, if you want something, you might as well ask for it, for the worse thing that can happen is they'll say no. Am I glad that I followed my own advice, for Rob Collings, the pilot, said yes, he could use me! And he added that I could join them for the next two weeks if I were available. Well I had too many commitments for that period. However, I was available the next day, Saturday, and also Sunday. To make a long story short, I did fly copilot on three flights Saturday evening. On one of the flights I made the take-off and a low pass along the runway. On Sunday, I flew the trip from Lancaster, PA to Trenton, NJ, the next stop on the tour. Altogether I have 2 1/2 hours in the right seat! I was able to add that time in my log book with the time flying my Aeronca 7AC and the Cessna 152's in which I currently instruct. The schedule for the October, 1998 tour for the Collings airplanes is in planning. October should see them travel South along the East coast where it will be possible for me to join the tour. In the meantime I am eagerly watching the internet for the schedule and I am carefully planning my time. I cannot pass up the the chance to fly that B-24 again. Ed Hoelker (75 going on 21) SEQUEL TO MY 75TH BIRTHDAY
The schedule had the tour leaving Millville, NJ for Easton, MD on October 18. After two days it would fly to Winchester, MD. Again after two days it would proceed to Frederick, MD. After three days it would move to Wilmington, DE on October 25th. At each location depending on the demand, 6 to 7 people were given ½ hour rides on each plane in the morning and/or in the evening. Some days up to three rides in each plane were given both times, When not flying I helped at the PX or the gate. The PX sold items such as pictures of the planes, WW ll shoulder patches, dummy 50 caliber cartridges such as were fired from the planes, and other items associated with the planes or WW ll. A $7.00 donation at the gate entitled one to tour both planes that gave one the opportunity to see what it was like inside them. I enjoyed the interaction with the people who came to the airports to see the planes. I was amazed to see how many of all age levels were interested in them after 53 years had passed. There were veterans of WW ll or family members of veterans or just young people who wanted to hear about the war and the planes. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to reminisce about the war and the planes. Also I learned some things about the war that I had not known before. One incident sticks in my mind. A woman complained to me that she offered a ride in the B-24 to her husband. He piloted one during the war, but he refused her offer. When out of ear shot of him she disgustedly said to me, "He's just tight". After her third complaint to me about his refusal, I suggested that if she paid for the ride he would have to go. She did and he went and he enjoyed the ride immensely. Like all who rode on either plane, he had a BIG grin on his face. During my barnstorming week, I made 12 flights including 3 cross countries for a total of 7 hours and 55 minutes. Rob Collings, the pilot, let me make two take offs and two low level passes down the runway and one landing. I forgot how heavy the controls were, but I was able to make the plane do what I wanted. However it wasn't as well as I remember doing 53 years ago. On several flights from one airport to another, someone in a T-34 took pictures of the B-24 and the B-17 flying in formation. Rob and I flew the B-24 and Major Carl Clark and Jason Owen flew the B-17. Carl who retired from the Air Force was a WW ll B-17 pilot. Jason is an airline pilot type rated in the B-17 and the B-24. When the B-17 was on the right wing (my side), it was like old times. Carl had that plane tucked in real tight just waiting for the ME-109's to attack. It was a beautiful sight. As of November 15, the planes are in a Florida shop for inspection and necessary repairs. The B-24 will be repainted to reflect the paint scheme of "The Dragon's Tale", a famous B-24 in the Pacific Theater. The repainting will delay next year's tour until mid-February. At that time the planes will be off on the ten months trip around the country. Adding the flying time above to the previous time accumulated in August at Lancaster, PA gives me a total of 17 flights and a total of 10 hours and 24 minutes in the right seat of the B-24! I assure you that it is in my log book. Right seat, left seat it doesn't matter. I was a crew member, essential to the flights. In the right seat, of course, I started those big round engines cranking one at a time while counting nine propeller blades before turning on the ignition. At the same time I fed it fuel till it sputtered and coughed big billows of smoke out the exhaust for several moments before it decided to run smoothly. I did this four times and four times it was a thrill. In flight I controlled the engines and the propellers for the varied conditions of flight. I operated the landing gear, the wing flaps and the cowl flaps as required. At 75 years of age I did this as if I were 21. The title of General Jimmy Doolittle's autobiography reflects my feelings about this opportunity and privilege - "I Could Never Be So Lucky Again". Ed Hoelker |
| Page last revised 01/10/2007 |
I
couldn't believe it when I saw the October, 1998 schedule for the
Collings planes. They would be close to home on October 18th and
again on October 25th. During that week they would tour three cities
in Maryland. My offer to the Foundation to join the tour that week
as a co-pilot was accepted! Now all I needed was two willing drivers
to take me to and from the points of departure and return.