Liberty Belle

**Kevin Milkins** · 06-Aug-09, 07:56

Back last year, I am sure some will remember that we were alerted by our fellow orger, Northerner of the impending visit to Wick airport of the Liberty Bell a B17 WW2 flying fortress that was returning to America on it’s way home from an air show in Coventry.

I was lucky enough to get some photos of this fine aircraft and upload them onto the org along with some that Northerner took.

Recently, I was contacted via the org by one of the crew on that flight and he asked permission to use some of the photos for an online book he is writing of his journey and permission was duly granted by myself and Northerner as although he was on this epic flight he did not get many photos.

He has sent me another request regarding photos and is looking for some old photos of what the hangers at the airport would have looked like during the war so that he can do a now and then comparison.

If anyone has any photos of the airport or hangers in days gone bye or of that period, I am sure he will be very grateful.

**northener** · 06-Aug-09, 08:30

Hi Kev, if your man speaks to the Airport people nicely, they may scan the pictures they have on display in the airport itself.

Failing that, I'd be very suprised if http://www.wickheritage.org/ doesn't have some photies in their vast collection.

**Kevin Milkins** · 06-Aug-09, 08:52

Originally Posted by northener

Hi Kev, if your man speaks to the Airport people nicely, they may scan the pictures they have on display in the airport itself.

Failing that, I'd be very suprised if http://www.wickheritage.org/ doesn't have some photies in their vast collection.

Cheers for that N.

I will get in touch with the heritage centre and pop up to the airport and have a look around.

It is my ambition to fly from there one day, but have not found a flight cheap enough yet.lol

**David Banks** · 06-Aug-09, 13:53

Originally Posted by Kevin Milkins

Back last year, I am sure some will remember that we were alerted by our fellow orger, Northerner of the impending visit to Wick airport . . .

He has sent me another request regarding photos and is looking for some old photos of what the hangers at the airport . . .

If anyone has any photos of the airport . . .

You did mean the "Aerodrome," didn't you ?

**Kevin Milkins** · 06-Aug-09, 20:23

Originally Posted by David Banks

You did mean the "Aerodrome," didn't you ?

Not too sure what the right name for it is in Wick, but it is the place the Liberty Belle had a stop over on her return trip to America after it had been to an air show in Coventry.

This is the The B17 parked in front of the hanger that the crew member is looking for some old photos of. I have had a PM off someone "in the know" that may be able to help and have put them in touch.

**Kirdon** · 09-Aug-09, 09:22

Originally Posted by David Banks

You did mean the "Aerodrome," didn't you ?

I believe it used to be called Wick Aerodrome but has since been changed to Wick Airport. But no matter it is all the same place.

**Gene Hunt** · 09-Aug-09, 09:27

If it makes any odds all the mentions I have seen call it Wick Airport, or EGPC to us aviation types.

**gleeber** · 09-Aug-09, 10:00

Locally it was always called the aerodrome. Its been a while since I've heard it called that though. It may have been a term coined during the war because I remember family talking about the other runways in Caithness and they were all called dromes.

**Kevin Milkins** · 12-Aug-09, 22:02

For those that have an interest in the Liberty Belle, Frank Drain, the crew member that contacted me regarding photos has started to upload his picture journal of his flight.
They are hosted on Potobucket and he has emailed me the first two links.

http://s720.photobucket.com/albums/ww206/390bg/Liberty%20Belle%20UK/?albumview=slideshow

And the second set of photos.

http://s720.photobucket.com/albums/ww206/390bg/Framlingham/

I will post the next link when he has uploaded them.

**Kevin Milkins** · 20-Aug-09, 00:00

Frank Drain has just uploaded some more photos of his visit to the UK and they are of Duxford.

They can be viewed at the link to photobucket below.

http://s720.photobucket.com/albums/ww206/390bg/Duxford/?albumview=slideshow

**Moira** · 20-Aug-09, 00:45

Thanks for that Kevin. I'd meant to post on this thread earlier to tell you how much it was appreciated by the "aircraft enthusiast in my life". I forgot - so sorry

**Kevin Milkins** · 20-Aug-09, 09:37

Originally Posted by Moira

Thanks for that Kevin. I'd meant to post on this thread earlier to tell you how much it was appreciated by the "aircraft enthusiast in my life". I forgot - so sorry

Your welcome Moira.

I would guess the next upload will be of the Caithness leg of his journey.