Wednesday September 11, 2013-Prairie View RV Park

I want to begin today's entry by remembering the events that happened on this date. No one will ever forget the attack on the United States at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the failure of an attack on the White House in 2001. Let us also remember those that died in the attack on our consulate in Benghazi and the fact that no one has been brought to justice.

Carl took us to the Fagen Flying Museum that is located on the outskirts of Granite Falls. The airport is dedicated to the Second World War. Ron Fagen and his family have built a very nice museum of both aircraft, equipment and vehicles from the "big war". The airport is actually a working airport and the airplanes are in flying condition. It's a pretty amazing place, especially when you realize that it is all privately owned.

                                      

Here is our little group, Carl, Faye, Stella, Judy and Warren. The soldier demonstrates what a commander of an air group would look like as he talked to his men, preparing for a mission. Notice the map of Europe and a small part of England on the wall behind. Carl was stationed at several locations in Germany during his time in the Air Force. Thank you Carl and all the other veterans for your service to the country. 

                                      

The first aircraft that I will show you is a glider that was used to carry both troops and equipment behind enemy lines. This airplane is probably the only one that is not ready to fly because it has been cut away to show the construction of the craft. the left wing has been mounted on the wall beside it to show how large the wings were.

A BT-13A Valiant

A P51D Mustang

A Curtis Wright P40 Flying Tiger

A P38 Lightning

A P40 Warhawk

This is a demonstration of the invasion of Normandy beach. It is hard to imagine the bravery of those men, who ran ashore into a withering gunfire from the enemy. Ron Fagen's father went in on D-Day and this is in his memory. The sand in this demonstration actually came from Utah beach in France.

This is what a radioman and his gear looked like. 

An army ambulance, used in the war. When I worked for the Dickinson Police Dept. we acquired one of these vehicles through the surplus vehicle plan from the government. I actually drove it and we used it extensively during Hurricane Alicia.

This is a fifty caliber machine gun in the wing of a P-51 Mustang. Have you heard the term "the whole nine yards"? Do you know where it came from? When a fighter pilot shot up all of his ammunition, he shot "the whole nine yards". His ammunition belt held twenty seven feet of ammo, or nine yards. 

We returned home for a short break and to let Warren and Judy get some fish together for our supper. We brought it over to C & F's house where we cooked the fish with them making the side dishes, and we had a wonderful meal. We spent the rest of the evening visiting before returning home. Warren drove this afternoon, so there wasn't near the drama in getting home as yesterday.

So long.