Tactical Playground

After a bleak weather forecast failed to materialize, Blake and I went ahead with our PA-28 flight over to Millville, NJ from Dover, DE.  We call these little weekend jaunts our "$300 hamburger lunches". 

Although it really doesn't cost that much if we plan the trips close to home, on this occasion I really wouldn't have minded paying twice that much because of what we stumbled upon.

While taxiing to park the Cherokee, we slowed as we passed a large blue hangar with the doors wide open revealing an impressive collection of vintage WWII aircraft. 

After we parked, we both were holding back the urge to all-out sprint back to the hangar.  Upon reaching it, we were greeted by a Mr. Tom Duffy, who is the owner of the collection.  He does also fly them, which was evident since he was pulling out his SNJ trainer onto the pad.  He was nice enough to allow us to take a walk through to the hangar.

Of all the planes he owns, (and he has many), the P-47D and F4-U Corsair were the most impressive.  The Thunderbolt is painted with the "No Guts, No Glory" scheme, while the Corsair sports the "Marine's Dream" nose art.

Being the admin of a simulation community, and one that is particulary popular with WWII themed IL-2, it was really moving to see those two skins in real life after having flown them in many virtual missions.  I can't describe it.

Some other aircraft that Mr. Duffy has are:

• Spitfire MK IXc
• Grumman (Goose)? water aircraft
• O-59 Grasshopper (Piper J-3)
• B-25 Mitchell (housed in another hangar)
• SNJ Trainer
• TBM-3 Avenger which was destroyed at Millville last year after it caught fire during takeoff

All-in-all, the day was a double success, with both great weather and great aircraft (even if they were parked); one that is going to stay fresh in my mind for a while.  Of course, Mr. Duffy told us to come on by if we ever flew out that way again, so I guess its time to start saving for the next $300 burger.

-Beagle