Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (45)
lyron
Stunning image. Great shot!!
bebert
impressionnant
renecyberdoc
there she is the BigBaby.great shot a fav.
jeroni
Wonderful and very creative work
JeffG7BRJ
What a beauty she is, great idea to paint the crews and everybodies name on the fusilage. It would have been an honour to be part of the restoration team but to see your name up there for everybody else to see would make anybody warm inside. I would love a ride in that forward gun turret. Superb capture Sig, excellent clarity and detail. Bravo!!!!!
flavia49
superlative picture!!
bmac62
What an amazing aircraft. My only unknown is the little plexiglass round window on top of the nose...might have been for the navigator to shoot the stars. We've come a long way in the last 60 plus years.
sandra46
wonderful shot!
timtripp
great shot!
rawdodb
Gorgeous shot of a beautifully restored plane!!
kgb224
Excellent capture my friend.
clbsmiley
WOW!!!
virginiese Online Now!
it has a funny shape ! Nice shot
lizzibell
great capture...
annie5
Wow..very impressive shot! love it :)
flora-crassella
schönes Flugzeug - schönes Foto!!!!
carlx
Impressive plane and capture!!!
emmecielle
Excellent shot! :)
Cosme..D..Churruca
awesome creature! great capture.
dragonmuse
Very cool :)
Minda
another great shot sig!!
jocko500
that a big plane. cool shot
Osper
Nice shot!
DennisReed
Fantastic!
duncanoooo
Great, love the AZ flag!
ysvry
great foto , I am amazed how much those glass domes look like the one from the model kits, well done airfix :P
danapommet
Awesome capture of this grand old lady and the memory of all those heros that flew them. Dana P
thevolunteer
Wow Sig, this really is a beautiful flying machine. They don't make them like this any more. And full of history...Aloha
ledwolorz
Fantastic shot.
Sylvia
Wow!! ~Impressive~ Thanks for sharing... EXCELLENT!!!