Flying With The Aero Experience: Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing B-25J Mitchell "Show Me"

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience was back in the air recently during the second day of the annual Wings Over St. Louis event held May 28-29 at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force offered living history ride opportunities in their Grumman TBM Avenger and North American B-25J Mitchell Show Me, and we were aboard Show Me for the last flight on Sunday afternoon. Five riders, including our friend Matt O'Day, took the approximately 30-minute flight that would create memories to last a lifetime.

This 1944 B-25J Mitchell medium bomber, serial number 44-31385, was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces in January of 1945 and remained stateside as a TB-25J training aircraft until it was retired in 1958. It was sold to the first of several civilian operators the following year. The Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force took ownership of the aircraft in 1982 named her Show Me in honor of the Missouri State motto. The Missouri Wing crew can be seen at airshows and special events throughout the Midwest each season, usually along with the wing's TBM Avenger or Aeronca L-3 Lil' Show Me. 

As with most flight events, the wing brought a ground crew to handle registration, merchandise sales and flightline security. This time, one of the crew trucks was also parked on the apron. 

Between rides, Show Me was on display for ground tours and the flight crew was available to answer any questions about the classic bomber. The B-25J, the most-produced variant of the Mitchell, incorporated many of the improvements needed since the early B models used in the Doolittle Raid in 1942. The J model, produced at the Kansas City Fairfax plant from December 1943 to October of 1945, was equipped with twelve 12.7mm machine guns and carried 3,000-4,000 pounds of bombs. Various modifications were made to the nearly 4,400 B-25Js, including additional nose machine guns, radar, updated bomb sights, more armor protection and cabin heat among other improvements. Show Me faithfully represents the conventional B-25J model in the livery of the 345th Bombardment Group, the Air Apaches, when deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations.

Our flight was the last one of the weekend, boarding at 3:30 P.M. and departing Spirit of St. Louis Airport about ten minutes later. Fittingly for the upcoming Memorial Day, the flight made a pass over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to salute the veterans who lost their lives dating back to the Civil War. The flight continued with a pass along the west side of the City of St. Louis and the Gateway Arch before returning back to the airport.

Flying in a plane designed eighty years ago to fight a war spanning across both of America's oceans and literally around the world is a privilege not lost on any of the riders and crew. The B-25 is the archetypical warbird - it has two radial engines, big three-bladed propellers, machine guns bristling everywhere, glass nose for the bombardier/nose gunner and a bare-bones interior that reveals the cables, pullies wires and other mechanisms attached to the uninsulated structure. Everything shakes as the engines roar to life, and the body soon gets in tune with the combination of vibration, noise and general excitement that pervades the experience. It's noisy. It gets hot inside when on the ground. Movement to the nose and tail requires a bit of crawling only to arrive in a very confined space. It's noisy. It's bumpy. It belongs to another age. It's a privilege to be aboard!

Our veteran crew briefed us on how to get strapped in, where the emergency exits were and how to get around the aircraft when given the all-clear sign. Our pilot and aircraft commander, Matt Conrad, and co-pilot Matt Throckmorton, were familiar faces from our years of covering previous events with the wing. Our friend, Matt O'Day, requested, and received, one of the seats in the front behind the cockpit (there are distinct front and aft seating sections). We start our coverage of the flight with his impressions and photos from his perspective.

I always wanted to go up in a old warbird. I thought it was the right time and perfect day. With no vacation in 2 years with covid and money saved up, it was the perfect opportunity. The flight itself was a lifetime experience. I mean, how many people can actually say they have been up in an 70 year old vintage warbird? Climbing up in the nose of the bomber was the best. The view was Awesome! I don't know how those airmen survived 6 hour missions. I'll admit I almost got sick in the end - it was a pretty bumpy ride - and we encountered no flak!

The experience from the waist gunner station directly behind the wing and engines was no less impressive. There are machine guns right there at your seat pointing out of large windows. After takeoff, we received the signal to unstrap from our crew chief, Bill Wehmeier, and, one by one, ventured to the tail gunner position. Whether exploring the view from the tail - it's very bumpy back there - or appreciating the view of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and the Gateway Arch from the side windows, the thrill of flying in the B-25 Show Me only increased throughout the flight and remained long after engine shutdown. Here we share some views from the rear-facing seats along with a video from the flight.

The Aero Experience thanks the Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing crew for providing our community with this living history flight. Flying in the B-25 Show Me or the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber (to be featured in another story) is an unforgettably wonderful experience. Contact the Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing for the next available living history ride event.

Annual Smartt Field Open House Features Fly-Ins, Warbirds and Pumpkin Drop Competition

By Carmelo Turdo

The much anticipated annual Open House was held Saturday at St. Charles County (Smartt Field) Airport. The event, sponsored by the airport, St. Charles Flying Service, the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 32 was well attended despite being postponed for a week by weather. The airport was inundated with flood water for most of the spring and summer, but the Open House went on (nearly) as scheduled mostly due to perseverance of volunteers from the sponsoring organizations. The Aero Experience was again on site to bring to you our coverage of the day's activities and encourage everyone to attend this and other Midwest Aviation events whenever possible!

Upon arrival at the airport, one can quickly gain a sense of appreciation for the rich aviation history of the region. The airport is also referred to as Smartt Field in honor of Ensign Joseph G. Smartt, killed in action on December 7, 1941 while serving with Patrol Squadron 11 at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Dallas, Texas native was commended for his actions in alerting the Kaneohe Naval Base to the air attack. The USS Smartt, Destroyer Escort DE-257, was also named for him.  Ensign Smartt took flight training at Naval Reserve Air Station, St. Louis (Robertson), Missouri.  A marker, sponsored by the Missouri CAF Wing, is located near the wing's hangars.  

The Missouri Commemorative Air Force Wing is based at Smartt Field, in part using an historic wood hangar dating to the 1940s when the U.S. Navy conducted flight training there. The CAF Wing's missions are to preserve World War II aviation history and share that history with the public using the actual hardware of the period (aircraft, vehicles, etc.). The wing also has a museum containing significant historic artifacts. The World War II-era aircraft and vehicles were on display next to a lookout tower representing Tacloban Field, Leyte, Philippines. The Missouri Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wing aircraft, North American B-25J Mitchell, Grumman (General Motors) TBM-3E Avenger and Aeronca L-3E, were on display. They are shown below being towed out of their hangars for the morning static display following an engine run-up by the TBM crew.

Several warbirds besides the Missouri CAF Wing aircraft were available for public display. Included here are Mark Schuler's Nanchang CJ-6A and John Fester's North American T-28A Trojan. These former military trainers also performed other important missions during their military service such as weapons training, forward air control and counter-insurgency. 

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 32 is also based at the airport, and they had an excellent display inside and outside their hangar. The chapter pilots volunteer their time and aircraft to give Young Eagle flights to youth aged 8-17 each month through the spring and summer annually. Chapter members build and fly their aircraft throughout the year and are always ready to give advice and assistance to others in the local aviation community. Here we show a Zenith CH750 STOL aircraft under construction (an Explorer project) and experimental aircraft on display outside of the hangar where the monthly meetings and Young Eagle flights are held. 

Local pilots flew in and displayed their aircraft on the apron. Included here are a variety of general aviation, experimental and vintage types. 

  

The pumpkin drop began at 10:00 A.M. and continued through the afternoon. Crews flew their aircraft or rented them from St. Charles Flying Service, aiming their small pumpkins at an aircraft wreck target. At noon, the Missouri CAF B-25J Mitchell Show Me and Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber made several pumpkin bombing runs and also several more passes to the approval of the gathering crowd.

According to St. Charles Flying Service official results, the pumpkin drop champions were: First Place: John Gittemeier; Second Place: Scott Zimmer; and Third Place: Jeff Stephenson. 

The Aero Experience thanks St. Charles County Airport, St. Charles Flying Service, EAA Chapter 32 and Missouri CAF Wing personnel for producing a safe and successful Midwest Aviation event!