Well----this build is talking far more time than I thought!!! On 30 hours now. Many more to go!!!!
More on the "Buzz Job". This video and story are on page 3 of our build. In October 1954, when I was 7, I was recovering from polio and at home in bed. One day I heard a B-36 take off from the AFB that was 3 miles away. I always liked the sound but didn't pay much attention. But it kept getting louder and louder! Within seconds the roar was shaking the bed, floor, pictures were falling off the walls, and the floor was vibrating. The window blinds were jumping up and down in my bedroom window. I thought "this guy is coming right down my street and is not just above the houses but between the houses, Wow!!!!!"(Of course impossible) I jumped out of bed, ran through the living room and out the front door in my jammies, so excited about the buzz job but so scared I would meet the monster nose to nose in the front yard!
I ran clear to the middle of the street and looked all around. By then the engines were beginning to fade and it was though nothing had happened. I'd missed it!! Really mad at myself and so disappointed. It was hot from the afternoon sun and dead calm, and not a soul or car was in the street. I thought "Where are these people!!!!! They just missed the show of the century and nobody cares!!!!!!!(Actually the houses were full of young moms raising baby boomers and could have cared less---Probably upset at the racket that lasted for 10 seconds)
This has been one of my great regrets of childhood---the other was losing Rickenbacker's autograph. But, about 3 years ago, I found 8mm film of the Buzz Job while surfing for B-36 stuff---the pilots wives had known before hand and filmed it!!!!!!!!!! So I did get to see it after all!!!
In the film, it is interesting to note it was dead calm that afternoon, but the small trees, bushes are being blown by the monsters prop wash. The plane passed down the street next to mine. (I found the houses and street by looking at Google maps street view and matching to the film.)
Mom was upset the monster knocked pictures off the walls and broke dishes from the display rack----and really upset that I'd run outside at a dead run. But I didn't care---I had at least heard the monster and my dad who worked at Convair thought it was veeeery swell! He knew that the CO at the field thought it was a nice touch!!!!