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 (42)
jocko500
wow a lot is going on here with kids going inside the plane too. wonderful the waqy you put the four photos together
dbrv6
Scale! Amazing capture and thanks for putting it all together and sharing.
Flbenjamin
Would like to know more of the specifics: F stop. Shutter speed. Would be phanominal photo in flight
danapommet
Great catch Sig. They come to Boca Raton, FL each year. Some local old timers show up to explain what it was like back then. Last year there were 6 guys, this year only 3 left. Dana P
duncanoooo
The glory days of flying!! Love it.
RG19
Super capture of the G and venerable Liberator, my dad served in WWII in the Pacific and saw a lot of Liberators. He missed the short window of the B-17 service in the Pacific Theater. Most impressive shot!!!
tallpindo
I'm working on a model of the B-17 right now. I've looked at several of the photos of 909. This one has some interesting things like a black propellor hub on the starboard inboard and an odd open bin on the back of the turtledeck behind the upper gun turret. The way the tail turret straps and the upper turret straps look like they have no thickness makes me laugh. No need to press too hard in that area on modelling with either UV maps or cutout and change material as a part. I haven't done any of the aircraft used in WW-II bombing of Germany to avoid hard feelings of my German viewers. This is a change and may not appear in this gallery.
lucindawind
fantastic planes and capture of them !
Cosme..D..Churruca
love it!
virginiese
excellent capture ! Nice planes !
Richardphotos
superb vantage point Sig
DennisReed
Awesome planes!