Lawrence Crider
Greenfield, IN

When I was 11 years old, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II. Colin Kelly’s heroics in a B-17 caught my eye…and my heart! The B-17 became the aircraft of the war, for me.

When I read in the newspaper about the young men, boys really, a lot of them flying from the airfields of East Anglia, in England to brave war torn skies over Europe against Luftwaffe, their bravery and the incredible ability of improved models of the B-17, to get those boys to the target, and get them back again to their home base made me a firm believer in the strength of this great warbird. And I had my own dream to fly in a B-17!

On Saturday, July 12, 2003, at approximately 8:15 a.m., that dream was realized as the EAA glistening “Aluminum Overcast” took on her first “mission crew” of the day, I was among that number. Shortly thereafter, as the B-17G raced down the runway and lifted into the blue of the sky above the airport at Mt. Comfort, IN, it took with it a 73-year-old man whose dream was being fulfilled. To say it thrilled me beyond belief is an understatement.

I, like the others, was allowed to unbuckle my seat belt and stand to move about, but the waist-gun position was where I spent most of my time. Partly because the view from that position was so good, but mostly, I think, because I somehow identified with those young men who manned that position. Defending their aircraft against the Third Reich’s best, the Me-109’s, Focke-Wulf 190’s and later in the war, the Me-262 jets.

As we came in to land, at the realization that our “mission” was over, I felt no sense of sadness. Rather I felt a deep satisfaction that I had been able to make this flight. As we got out of the aircraft, we walked into a barrage of cameras aimed our way, but I wasn’t thinking about them. I was mentally making a note to write this little story and to thank the EAA for making all this possible for one of their newest members! I became an EAA member in March of this year.

Thanks; also, go to the men who flew the “Aluminum Overcast” so well; a very smooth take-off, a well-planned flight and a “greased-on landing.” Thanks, also, to the many, many folks in the “support” positions…”thumbs-up!”

P.S. I also purchased the special jacket and will wear it with memories of the day of my flight and with pride in the great organization of EAA!