Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing

Yesterdays photos of Miss Mitchel, posted on May 25.....I captured this photo set of one of eight remaining B-25 Bombers from World War II at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in South St Paul airport, Flemming Field. The CAF Museum survives on donations and hanger rentals. They often host other events at the hanger to raise funding to keep the museum open. Last weekend, they held a pancake breakfast open to the public, plus they were giving out 15 minute plane rides. If your looking for a place to host an event in the Twin Cities, they will rent out their hanger as well, quite a unique location.

More info on the CAF Museum can be found at their website: http://www.cafmn.org/
MNCAF blog with a few more photos of Miss Mitchell: http://minnesotawingblog.blogspot.com/

 

B-25 Bomber "Miss Mitchell"

Meet Miss Mitchell, she is a B-25, one of eight remaining Doolittle Raiders. There was 16 B-25 Mitchell Bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942. The Doolittle Raid was the first air raid by the United States to strike a Japanese home island during World War II. The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle.

Miss Mitchell was at the Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing, WWII Air Force Museum at Flemming Field in South St Paul. I just happened to be there at the CAF hanger/museum during a Raider Reunion to capture these photos.

More info on the CAF Museum can be found at their website: http://www.cafmn.org/
MNCAF blog with a few more photos of Miss Mitchell: http://minnesotawingblog.blogspot.com/

1942 Ford Fordor Staff Car Wagon

From what I could reference, this is a 1942 Ford Staff car for the US Army. Essentially it is a 1942 Ford Sedan with a military paint job and a few other customizations done too it. Shape wise, very similar to the 1941, but the front grill is much different between the two years.

Changes were made to the car besides a three-part "electric shaver" grille — the frame was lowered and softer springs were used to improve the ride. War rationing required auto makers to black out their chrome trim, and a Special Fordor model was produced with no chrome at all for military use. It is likely 1942-style Ford cars continued to be produced as military staff cars from March 1942 through summer 1945. These would have been registered as 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945 models

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1941_Ford

5th Avenue Plaza

I've seen the 5th Avenue Plaza sign many, many times before....but the plaza is rather small in comparison to today's strip malls. This sign can be found on Upper 55th Street, which is the border of Inver Grove Heights and South St Paul and of course 5th Street. However, it's called 5th Street in South St Paul, but once you cross the border into Inver Grove, the street name changes to Carmen Avenue.

Building Blocks

Does this building remind you of those building blocks you played with as a child? All it needs is letters printed on the colored panels. I'm glad I captured this building before the leaves started to bloom again.

Kaposia Indian Village

Passed by this sign along Concord Street in South St Paul. I'm not sure what exactly this sign represents. I know if you're traveling in South St Paul, Kaposia is a very familiar name. They have Kaposia Days Festival, many stores have it as part of their retail name, so I know Kaposia is part of this area. But why the sign here, the significants of this exact location is unknown. It is a stones throw from the Mississippi River, there are bluffs above the sign. Perhaps those two factors contributed to the village residing here for 22 years?

How Did They Do That?

When I first saw this house, I had to do a double take. Take a look at the size of the tree with the lights in it. That is a well established tree, I would estimate 60 feet tall? How they get the lights in this tree and keep power to it, is another question I would like answered....

Christmas Lights Tour

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

Major snow storm is underway. They are predicting 16-21 inches of snow....oh my. So far, my work has closed for the first time ever with the company in 11 years.

Thank You Wade Olson

Spotted this welcome home sign in South St Paul the other day. It put a smile on my face that a family would welcome home their loved one in this unique way. They were certainly proud of their father/son/husband for serving his country. We at TwinCitiesDailyPhoto.com say thank you and welcome back!

What Is This Sticker?

I've seen this sticker, next to the '7th' in the highway sign, for the past couple of years. I've seen it in the strangest of places, including this sign, but mainly on cars. I for the life of me, do not know what it is a symbol for. For as many times as I've seen this symbol around town, it has to be very popular whatever it is and I'm not in the right age category to know why it is popular. Can you clear up the mystery on what it is?

 

Welcome To St Paul Park

Sliding At Baker Playground

So what do we do for entertainment in Minnesota during the colder winter months? We grab a plastic sled and cruse down a snow covered hill. Baker Playground has to be one of the largest hills in St Paul to slide down.

Christmas Lights

Now this house doesn't have tons of Christmas lights, but I do enjoy this one. Mainly because of the time they take each year to string the lights on their roof so it resembles a Spirograph pattern. Which happens to be one of my favorite toys to play with growing up. They've added a few things over the years I've been driving by it, but not too much. This home can be found in South St Paul around the 5th - 7th Street exits.

This Ain't The Cash Cab

I took several photos of this cab, I tried to compensate for the glare off the window, but I couldn't get a clean shot. Is this a situation where a polarizing filter would have worked better to get rid of the glare or did I need to have the lighting different?

Xcel Energy Smoke Stack Falls

Live, from St Paul, Xcel Energy smokestack is demolished as it is no longer needed. This contribution photo from Claydough shows the 570 foot, highbridge tower as it falls to the ground. Explosives were used for the initial blast, then gravity took care of the rest as the tower fell leaving a great big cloud of dust. Claydough took over 100 photos of the day's event. To see the rest of the photo set, you can visit his flicker website.

Photo contribution from Clay Johnson Photography

Keep Out!

See it, say it, fix it! Got it?