Early Birthday Present for my Dad, Arthur Phippen (April 27, 1924)

In World War II my Dad was a mechanic and worked on the B-17's, B-24's and B-29 bombers. He repaired the gun turrets. He did this when he was stationed in Italy.
For his birthday my siblings and I decided to surprise him with a flight on a B-17 bomber. The Liberty Bell was going to be in Salt Lake for two days so I reserved him a spot on the 1:30 pm flight on Saturday the 3rd of April. It was a great day.

Mike and Julie and Bob and LuAnn got there before us. Bob and Lu brought Dad. My son Brian was also able to make it. Bob and Lu hadn’t told Dad that he was going to fly on the plane yet; they waited for Lynn and I to be there to tell him. He was excited just to go and see the plane. Then we took him over to look at souvenirs and I filled out the paper work and paid for the flight. I called Dad over to sign the release form. I just said, "Dad come here and sign this", so he did. I think he would have signed over his life savings without questioning me about what he was signing. Anyway I asked him if he knew what he was signing and he said no. I told him that he was going to get the fly on the B-17 bomber. He was so excited it made me get a little teary eyed.

There were 10 people on the flight including Sterling Poulson from the channel 2 news, he is the weather guy. Dad was the oldest veteran there so they let him fly up in the cockpit. They also have a panel on the door of the plane where they have any veterans sign. When the door is full they take the panel off and put it in a museum then put on a new panel. Dad got to sign the door.

Then after the plane landed we all got to go in it and sit in the pilots chair and stuff. Dad said it was easier to move around in the plane when he was younger. When we were done we all went to one of Dad's favorite places for lunch, Chuck a Rama. It was a great Day. Thanks to all my siblings (Mike, Julie & Mike, Bob and Lu, Nancy and Raymond, Janet) for going in on this for an early birthday present for Dad. Give him a call I know he'd love to tell you all about it.