There Is A Magical Place Called Bomber Camp Where B-17s And B-24s Still Drop Bombs

Updated Jun 5, 2018 7:24 AM EDT

The high-end military adventure entertainment business has grown from an anomaly to a cottage industry. Flying in a MiG to the upper atmosphere, taking to the skies for mock air combat, crushing through a building in a tank, and going to special operations and spy camps are just some of these exotic opportunities that affluent individuals can take part in. Another adventure like none other has been added to that list—experiencing a full recreation of a World War II bombing mission, including the actual bomb dropping part.

Here’s ‘Bomber Camp’s’ pitch for prospective customers, which includes being a crewman on a B-17 Flying Fortress or B-24 Liberator:

“Are you looking for a Call of Duty experience, but for real? Do you remember watching the movies Twelve O’clock High or Memphis Belle? Have you ever imagined what it would be like to fly your own mission in a legendary B-17 Flying Fortress or a B-24 Liberator? Young or old you can live your dream at Bomber Camp! Bomber Camp is much more than a “fantasy camp”. It is an immersive WWII living history experience allowing you to step back in time to train for a bombing mission and then to fly it, for real. You will experience sights, sounds, and smells that few others have known, and gain a greater appreciation for the men and women of the “greatest generation”. This year’s Bomber Camp offers a more affordable one-day program. You will attend classes in the morning, have a GI lunch in the mess tent, fly your bombing mission in the afternoon, and relax in the officers’ club after mission debrief. This once in a lifetime opportunity can be yours. Enlist now!”

“Are you looking for a Call of Duty experience, but for real? Do you remember watching the movies Twelve O’clock High or Memphis Belle? Have you ever imagined what it would be like to fly your own mission in a legendary B-17 Flying Fortress or a B-24 Liberator? Young or old you can live your dream at Bomber Camp!

Bomber Camp is much more than a “fantasy camp”. It is an immersive WWII living history experience allowing you to step back in time to train for a bombing mission and then to fly it, for real. You will experience sights, sounds, and smells that few others have known, and gain a greater appreciation for the men and women of the “greatest generation”.

This year’s Bomber Camp offers a more affordable one-day program. You will attend classes in the morning, have a GI lunch in the mess tent, fly your bombing mission in the afternoon, and relax in the officers’ club after mission debrief. This once in a lifetime opportunity can be yours. Enlist now!”

According to Bomber Camp’s website, the idea behind the interactive experience was originated a decade ago by Taigh Ramey, the founder of Stockton Field Aviation Museum . Over the last decade, the concept evolved dramatically, with different World War II reenactors being added to deepen the experience. The Collings Foundation’s WWII era B-17G, B-24J, B-25, and P-51, as well as a PV-2D and other assorted planes, have been integrated into the program.

Bomber Camp Facebook page

‘Enlistees’ arrive at Stockton Field in the morning and receive a basic orientation and they then begin their gunnery and bombardier training classes in a mock WWII camp—period specific crew apparel provided. The gunnery classes include how to operate the aircraft’s Browning 50 caliber machine guns and how to employ the bomber’s turrets. Bombing instruction includes the fundamentals of hitting targets with once top-secret Norden and Sperry computing bombsites. But it’s in the afternoon when the real exciting stuff begins.

“The afternoon includes mission flights and various ground activities. You will train and fly as a member of a 6-person bomber crew assigned during induction. A mission consists of flights of both the B17, B24 and other planes flying over the target area, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains as backdrop. As a crew you will take up positions in the bomber and rotate through them during flight. Before and after your mission you will participate in ground training activities, including firefighting, radio operation, first aid, and ball turret training. Bombers and escort planes depart promptly at mission H-hour. Prior to flight you can observe ground operations up close as the field comes alive readying the planes for battle just like in WWII. During flight, when permission is given, crews can explore their aircraft, fire simulated-firing 50 cal. machine guns from different crew positions, ride in the ball turret (requires prior ground training), and help to release dummy bombs on the target using the Norden bombsight. After the missions are complete and all planes have returned home safely there will be a mission debrief, reviewing the success — or failure — of each mission flight and its crew. Afterwards everyone will retire to the officer’s club for some well-deserved R&R, with snacks, refreshments, music and lots of stories from the crews and cadre about their derring-do. The evening ends with a toast to the efforts of the greatest generation, and especially to those who sacrificed everything.”

“The afternoon includes mission flights and various ground activities. You will train and fly as a member of a 6-person bomber crew assigned during induction. A mission consists of flights of both the B17, B24 and other planes flying over the target area, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains as backdrop. As a crew you will take up positions in the bomber and rotate through them during flight. Before and after your mission you will participate in ground training activities, including firefighting, radio operation, first aid, and ball turret training.

Bombers and escort planes depart promptly at mission H-hour. Prior to flight you can observe ground operations up close as the field comes alive readying the planes for battle just like in WWII. During flight, when permission is given, crews can explore their aircraft, fire simulated-firing 50 cal. machine guns from different crew positions, ride in the ball turret (requires prior ground training), and help to release dummy bombs on the target using the Norden bombsight.

After the missions are complete and all planes have returned home safely there will be a mission debrief, reviewing the success — or failure — of each mission flight and its crew. Afterwards everyone will retire to the officer’s club for some well-deserved R&R, with snacks, refreshments, music and lots of stories from the crews and cadre about their derring-do. The evening ends with a toast to the efforts of the greatest generation, and especially to those who sacrificed everything.”

The add-ons list is almost laughably awesome—they include flying an ‘escort mission’ in a fighter like a P-51 Mustang. Flight instruction in most of the aircraft is also available at a substantial additional cost.

‘Torpedo Camp’ is an additional half day module that mirrors Bomber Camp but you learn how to shack a ship in the PV-2D Harpoon with torpedoes instead.

This all happens between San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so incredible scenery is included in the package along with a t-shirt and ‘personalized dog tags.’

The coolest part of all of this is the simple fact that World War II bombers are actually dropping bombs—albeit inert ones—out of their bomb bays in the year 2018!

Prices run from $450 for the day but with no bomber flight and $2,200 for the day with the flight. The escort flight add-on in the P-51 costs $4,500 and an instruction flight in the B-25 will run $3,500. Torpedo camp is a $1,500 adventure in itself.

B-17G about to be loaded up before a Bomber Camp sortie., Bomber Camp Facebook page

None of this may be cheap, but for the World War II air warfare super aficionado, there isn’t anything similar that can provide such an immersive and interactive experience. And it’s not like the money isn’t going to a good cause. The funds keep these incredible antique aircraft, which also serve as traveling memorials, in the air. Considering that the vast majority of the people involved in these projects do it all for free, it’s really a bargain.

As someone who has worked around the warbird community for many years, this is a really creative way to package all that it has to offer into something marketable and totally unique. What a great idea.

So if your dream has always been to drop bombs on target from the belly of a Flying Fortress or Liberator, here’s the chance you probably never thought you had.

For more information visit bombercamp.org or Bomber Camp’s Facebook page .

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2018年6月5日上午7:24

高端军事冒险娱乐产业已从一种小众现象发展成为一项蓬勃发展的产业。乘坐米格战机飞入高空、进行模拟空战、驾驶坦克撞破建筑物、前往特种作战基地和间谍营地，这些只是富裕人士可以参与的众多奇特体验中的一部分。如今，又一项前所未有的冒险活动加入了这一行列——完整体验二战轰炸任务，包括实际投弹环节。

以下是“轰炸机训练营”向潜在客户的推介，其中包括成为 B-17 飞行堡垒或 B-24 解放者轰炸机的机组人员：

您是否渴望体验《使命召唤》般的真实感受？您是否还记得电影《十二点正午》或《孟菲斯美女号》？您是否曾幻想过驾驶传奇的B-17飞行堡垒或B-24解放者轰炸机执行任务？无论老少，您都可以在轰炸机训练营实现梦想！轰炸机训练营远不止是一个“幻想营”。它是一次沉浸式的二战历史体验，让您穿越时空，接受轰炸任务训练，并最终驾驶轰炸机执行任务。您将体验到鲜为人知的景象、声音和气味，并对“最伟大的一代”的男男女女更加敬佩。今年的轰炸机训练营提供价格更亲民的一日体验项目。您将在上午参加课程，在军官餐厅享用美军午餐，下午执行轰炸任务，并在任务简报后在军官俱乐部放松身心。这千载难逢的机会，现在就报名吧！

“你想体验一把《使命召唤》的真实感吗？你还记得电影《十二点正午》或《孟菲斯美女号》吗？你是否曾幻想过驾驶传奇的B-17飞行堡垒或B-24解放者轰炸机执行自己的任务？无论老少，你都可以在轰炸机训练营实现你的梦想！”

轰炸机训练营远不止是一个“幻想营”。它是一次沉浸式的二战历史体验，让您穿越回过去，接受轰炸任务训练，并最终驾驶轰炸机执行真正的任务。您将体验到鲜为人知的景象、声音和气味，并对“最伟大的一代”的男男女女更加敬佩。

今年的轰炸机训练营提供更经济实惠的一日课程。上午上课，在军官餐厅享用午餐，下午执行轰炸任务，任务结束后在军官俱乐部放松休息。这千载难逢的机会，现在就报名吧！

据轰炸机营地网站介绍，这一互动体验的构想源于十年前斯托克顿机场航空博物馆的创始人泰格·雷米。过去十年间，随着二战重演者的加入，这一理念不断发展演变，体验也更加丰富。科林斯基金会收藏的二战时期B-17G、B-24J、B-25和P-51轰炸机，以及PV-2D和其他各种飞机，都已融入到该项目中。

轰炸机营地 Facebook 页面

新兵们早上抵达斯托克顿机场，接受基本情况介绍后，便开始在模拟二战营地进行炮手和投弹手训练——部队会提供符合时代特征的制服。炮手课程包括如何操作飞机上的勃朗宁50口径机枪以及如何使用轰炸机的炮塔。投弹训练则涵盖了使用曾经高度机密的诺登和斯佩里计算机投弹点进行目标命中的基本原理。但真正激动人心的训练要到下午才开始。

下午的行程包括执行任务飞行和各种地面活动。您将作为入伍时分配的六人轰炸机机组成员进行训练和飞行。任务包括驾驶B-17、B-24和其他飞机飞越目标区域，以内华达山脉为背景。作为机组成员，您将在轰炸机内担任不同位置，并在飞行过程中轮换。任务前后，您将参加地面训练活动，包括消防、无线电操作、急救和球形炮塔训练。轰炸机和护航飞机将在任务H点准时起飞。飞行前，您可以近距离观察地面作业，看着机场像二战时期一样，为飞机做好战斗准备。飞行过程中，经允许，机组人员可以参观飞机，从不同的机组位置进行模拟射击（使用50口径机枪），乘坐球形炮塔（需要事先进行地面训练），并使用诺登轰炸瞄准器协助向目标投掷模拟炸弹。任务完成后，所有飞机返回基地。安全返航后，将举行任务简报会，回顾每次飞行任务及其机组人员的成败。之后，所有人都将前往军官俱乐部，享受他们应得的休息和放松，届时将提供小吃、饮料、音乐，机组人员和干部们也会分享许多关于他们英勇事迹的故事。晚会最后，大家将举杯致敬最伟大的一代，特别是那些为国捐躯的英雄们。

下午的行程包括执行任务飞行和各种地面活动。您将作为入伍时分配的六人轰炸机机组成员进行训练和飞行。任务包括驾驶B-17、B-24和其他飞机飞越目标区域，以内华达山脉为背景。作为机组成员，您将在轰炸机内担任不同位置，并在飞行过程中轮换。任务前后，您将参加地面训练活动，包括消防、无线电操作、急救和球形炮塔训练。

轰炸机和护航飞机在任务预定时间准时起飞。起飞前，您可以近距离观察地面作业，感受机场如同二战时期一般，为飞机做好战斗准备。飞行过程中，经允许，机组人员可以参观飞机，在不同的乘员位置体验模拟射击的50口径机枪，乘坐球形炮塔（需事先接受地面训练），并使用诺登轰炸瞄准器协助投放模拟炸弹。

任务完成后，所有飞机安全返航，将举行任务简报会，回顾每次飞行任务及其机组人员的成败。之后，所有人都将前往军官俱乐部，享受他们应得的休息和放松。俱乐部提供小吃、饮料、音乐，机组人员和干部们还会分享许多关于他们英勇事迹的故事。晚会最后，大家举杯致敬“最伟大的一代”的贡献，尤其要向那些为国捐躯的人们致敬。

附加内容清单简直令人难以置信地精彩——其中包括驾驶P-51野马战斗机执行“护航任务”。大多数飞机的飞行指导也需要额外付费。

“鱼雷训练营”是一个额外的半天模块，与轰炸机训练营类似，但你将学习如何驾驶 PV-2D 鱼叉式轰炸机用鱼雷攻击敌舰。

这一切都发生在旧金山湾和内华达山脉之间，因此套餐中包含了令人难以置信的风景，以及一件 T 恤和“个性化狗牌”。

这一切最酷的地方在于，二战时期的轰炸机在 2018 年竟然还在从弹舱里投掷炸弹——尽管是惰性炸弹！

价格从450美元（不含轰炸机飞行）到2200美元（含飞行）不等。P-51战斗机的护航飞行附加项目价格为4500美元，B-25轰炸机的飞行指导费用为3500美元。鱼雷训练营本身就是一项价值1500美元的体验活动。

一架B-17G轰炸机即将装载弹药，准备执行轰炸机训练营的飞行任务。（轰炸机训练营Facebook页面）

这一切或许价格不菲，但对于二战空战的超级爱好者来说，没有任何其他体验能提供如此身临其境的互动感受。而且，这些钱也并非白花。这些资金用于维护这些令人惊叹的古董飞机，它们同时也是移动的纪念馆，让它们得以继续翱翔蓝天。考虑到参与这些项目的绝大多数人都是义务奉献，这真是一笔划算的买卖。

作为一个多年来一直与战机爱好者群体打交道的人，我认为这真是一个极富创意的方式，将战机爱好者群体所能提供的所有资源整合到一个既具有市场价值又独一无二的产品中。真是个绝妙的主意。

所以，如果你一直梦想着从“飞行堡垒”或“解放者”轰炸机的机腹中向目标投掷炸弹，那么你可能从未想过自己会有这样的机会。

欲了解更多信息，请访问 bombercamp.org 或 Bomber Camp 的 Facebook 页面。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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