So we got underway for McMinnville. I can't keep the secret any longer. We were going to McMinnville to see the SPRUCE GOOSE! Now I know some of the younger readers won't know what that is. It is probably the largest airplane ever built and it's made almost entirely of wood! It is a seaplane and only flew once, for about a mile and only 70 feet above water. It was built to have the capability to carry over 700 troops, because the US was losing so many troop transports to UBoats during WWII. Howard Hughes built and flew it and then retired it because the war was already over and the government felt it was no longer needed. It's a massive plane, and if the hull were placed on the 50 yard line, the wing tips would be beyond the goal posts. Notice how it dwarfs the other planes, including the DC3. Notice also that it has 8 engines! The Spruce Goose is housed at the Evergreen Aviation Museum which had lots of other airplanes, most of which we had seen last year at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Following are a few shots from photos on display. The Goose in Long Beach Harbor Inside the cargo bay, looking back, notice the 6 foot manniquin about halfway back. This is to give scale to the size. It was planned to have one or two levels for all the troops. The beach balls were found in the plane and still inflated from 60 years ago! They were to be used in the wing floats for flotation devices if the floats were punctured. This little plane looks fun. Below is a photo of a B17. Seated in front is a WWII veteran who flew these in combat. He got his plane and crew and was plane captain at age 18! Imagine the responsibility for someone so young. I was able to go inside the plane although not the cockpit, which was disappointing. This is the tail gunners position, and the little hatch to enter the position. Once in here, he had to stay for the entire flight as there was no way to access the rest of the plane. Next is the belly gunners position. No one was allowed in there during takeoff and landing. He had to enter from inside the plane once airborne. The red arrows point to where the man put his heels when in firing position. I don't see how he could see out. Following is one of the waist gunner positions. At altitude, the temperature was -60 degrees, and early models of this airplane did not have the plexiglass window. That made it pretty cold in there. Next is a view looking forward thru the bomb bay to the cockpit. In spite of the movies, there was no way to get from one area to the other. The radio operators position is behind the bomb bay. Looking forward past the waist gunners and the belly gunners 'ball'. The radio operators chair is in the compartment forward. Well, this may have been interesting to some of the guys, but it was a real experience for Chuck. Tomorrow promises to be another Chuck day, but we'll see. Stay tuned.
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Who Are We?
Chuck and Mary Lou have been traveling in their RV since 2002 and have lately been taking longer, extended trips. This is our way to share our experiences. Trip Reports
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