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| Memorial Motorcycle |
Aaron Hatfield has customized a Harley in authentic
100th Bomb Group Markings. We hope you enjoy the photos
of this remarkable creation. The accompanying text
is from an email note Aaron sent to the site webmasters.
The text has not been modified.
Email Aaron
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Thanks for the opportunity to put these up for
everyone to see. I think it's something that everyone
will enjoy. I have always been a history buff, and WWII
is my favorite time in history. It has always intrigued
me to see an entire country pull together, sacrifice,
and be all for making sure the troops had all they
needed no matter what the cost. Then there is the real
story behind the war. Just to see what happened then,
how things all built up, and then how we took care of
it. So the bike wasn't intended for any real use other
than to be my own personal salute to the men of the
100th during the greatest generation in history.
However, I think I might put the bike in shows to help
spread the story of a dying generation that saved the
freedoms so many take for granted these days. Here's my
story behind it:
I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in England for 4
years, and just up the road from RAF Mildenhall (which
is now the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing). I saw
the "Box D" fly everyday for those 4 years, and when I
learned that the 100th was the only active Air Force
unit still flying it's WWII heritage tail marking I
looked more into it. Learning as much as I could in the
the little time I had left before leaving England I was
hooked.
Although I regret that I never made it to Thorpe Abbotts. I knew when I bought my Harley that I wanted a
custom WWII aircraft theme, and it was only obvious to
me to use the 100th. Originally it was going to depict
Lt. MacNab's aircraft "Nine Lives" from the famous
piggyback incident, but Michael Faley and I failed in
finding the nose art and mission/enemy kill markings.
At
last minute I changed the aircraft to "Rosie's
Riveters", and redrew the scheme out to include the
100th as a whole instead of just partially with 1 single
aircraft. The aircraft markings are that of Col.
Rosenthal's from the tail number/serial number, to the
aircraft and squadron designations on the fuselage with
the star and bars. The nose art was replaced with a
mural of the group and squadron patches with a banner on
the opposite side of the tank. The USAAF headquarters
insignia was painted on the tip of the front fender, The
yellow stripe behind it represents the yellow tips of
the propellers. Not as noticeable on the fender is the
quote from General "Jimmy"
Doolittle "The 100th was always ready".
The tank also
has bombs for the missions flown by the 100th for the
duration of the war, and swastikas to represent the
enemy kills. Each mission marker = 17 missions for the
total of 306 missions flown. Each enemy kill marker =
26.5 enemy kills for a total of 291.5 shot down. The
bullet holes from enemy fighters were actually my
painter's idea. He thought it would add a little depth
to it, and I couldn't agree more.
The bullet holes in
the front fender line up perfectly with those on the
right side of the tank to look like the enemy aircraft
attacked in passing. I also have an 8th Air Force
medallion that still needs to be attached to the timing
cover, but that should be on by the end of this week.
If you need any more information please let
me know, and I'll gladly provide anything I
can. This project is far from done though.
I'm focusing on the vintage 1940's Harley
design and heritage to go along with the
bike's scheme. Baby steps though. She should
be looking pretty good by the time I roll
her up to the 2007 reunion in Nashville.
Well, I'll let you go now Charlie. Have a
good one!
Aaron |
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