Two of the biggest, baddest birds to ever fly the skies
I have always loved history. A history teacher was my second desired profession when I was a youth — my first was an anesthesiologist, simply because I could spell it.
My interest in history demands that I attend air shows whenever and wherever I can. Started that as a freshman at Texas A&M University in 1973.
Our “Wings Over Gillespie” air show was this past weekend in El Cajon, and I was there to see one of the biggest, baddest birds to ever fly the skies:
That’s a Douglas C53-D (DC-3) Sky Trooper — parked to takeoff to flight to landing. It is based in Riverside, California, as part of the Commemorative Air Force. This specific Sky Trooper, M2-R 268830, actually took part in delivering paratroopers to the beaches of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. A big, bad bird.
And here’s the second of our biggest, baddest birds to ever fly the skies:
That big, bad bird is a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the national bird of the United States of America. Rescued as an injured juvenile and rehabilitated by the San Diego Zoo, its injuries prevent it from being released back into the wild. It has to live out its life at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. Big, bad bird.
And one final picture from the “Wings Over Gillespie” Air Show in honor of our living soldiers and in memory of our fallen soldiers who gave their lives so we could live:
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Posted on June 6, 2012, in Birds, Halls of History, History, Manmade, Mother & Father Nature, Photos, Zoo & Safari Park and tagged bald eagle, commemorative air force, d-day, DC-3, Douglas C-53D, eagles, el cajon california, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Riverside california, sky trooper, wings over gillespie. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Cool birds, both of them
Great shot of the eagle.
Thanks!
Excellent photos, Russell. That last one is wonderful.
Thanks. There are two bald eagles at Safari Park, both rescued as injured juveniles. Both are very photogenic.
Love the eagle, beautiful:)
Thanks! I just finished camping out at your lovely campground. Had a lot of fun and only left when I ran out of smores. lol
Oh, that is some cool stuff in those pictures! My father worked for Douglas (which then Macdonnell Douglas, and then Boeing!) for over 30 years, so he’s got a real ‘thing’ for planes, old and new…we have gorgeous shots like these all over the place in our family home still
Great post!
Anne
My oldest uncle worked for MD from 1972 to 2002 up in Los Angeles. He retired to Austin TX in 2003.
Your photo of the eagle is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by, too!