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Victory in Europe Day flyover

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

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It's today folks. On May 8, 1945, the European war was declared over.

In Washington DC today, around noon EST:

https://ww2flyover.org/

Live broadcast of the flyover:

https://events.dacast.com/?webcast_id=9

And here's President Truman's radio announcement on May 8, 1945:

https://www.history.com/topics/worl...ry/videos/truman-announces-germanys-surrender

Some celebrating at Buckingham Palace:

GpugmugIY70.jpg
 
They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels.
They have made the planes and welded the tanks, riveted the ships and rolled the shells.”

– President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, August 19, 1942​

 
I set up shop on the Roosevelt Bridge, which was nearly perfect, as the planes passed directly overhead. I drove to Bethesda and rode my bike into D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail. Took a swing by the Iwo Jima Memorial, too. Sightseeing in D.C. on bicycle is a really amazing experience.

Best moment was a formation of four P-51s that came in below the 1,000 foot level they were supposed to be flying. Four Packard-Merlins at rooftop height is a pretty amazing experience.

Seeing a plane that I worked on, the CAF's TBM Avenger, in formation was also a thrill. As I was snapping away, I saw the other TBM suddenly peel off. It had a hydraulic leak and made an emergency landing at DCA.
 
Great you could be there in person! Most moving part for me was the period aircraft flying the "missing man" formation, while Taps was played. Always gets to me.

Tom
 
Tom,
Thanks for posting the link. I caught the last 45mins on my lunch break. The echo'd taps and missing man... words fail.
 
SaxMan said:
Here's a link to some of the pictures I snapped. Please let me know if it works.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...160.1073741859.1148247176&type=1&l=df3d7cc32d
Click to expand...

David - photos came through fine. Thanks for posting the link.

One "funny" thing I noticed in watching the live broadcast. Many of the WW2 vets were watching the aircraft fly overhead. Many of the younger folks were staring at the screen on their smartphones as they recorded the event.

You also have to credit the narrator, for trying to fill the varying time gaps between aircraft groups with historical bits.
 
No L-3s, but there were a pair of Stinson L-5s that followed the formation of L-4s and a pair of PT-19s as well. They flew a bit too far to the south for me to get good pics.
 
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