The Living History Cruise Air Show

The air show portion of the Living History Cruise is always a crowd favorite.  The ship arrives at the Bay Bridge just after lunch has finished.  Andy, who coordinates the planes for the air show, is on the Flying Bridge listening for the signal from the planes that they have arrived and are ready to commence the attack.  Crew members have manned the guns and guests are ready with cameras and phones.  The show will begin with a training flight.  The planes fly close to the ship and the pilots like to wave to the guests on board.  The next to arrive are more serious.  Japanese planes fly in for an attack and the gunners answer with volleys of bullets.  After several close passes the enemy planes are chased away by an TMB Avenger.  She's a graceful lady in the air and once the danger has passed she'll fly by with her torpedo bay doors open showing off her fire power.  Last, but not least, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber "Briefing Time" flies directly overhead.  There is no mistaking the sound of the engines of this beauty.

The Stearman was a primary training plane during World War II.  This plane comes to us from the St. Mary’s County Airport where you can take a ride over southern Maryland. I’m not sure the pilots would have been this friendly in 1944.

The white Val is actually a Vultee BT-13 Valiant that was converted for the Tora, Tora, Tora movie to look like a Val. The green "Zero" is a Russian Yak 52TW.  The air show is spectacular to see from the ship and we're fortunate to have photographs taken from the air too.

You'll never be closer to the planes in an airshow than you are on the JOHN W BROWN.  The sights and sounds of the planes are an experience you'll never forget.

Here is the Zero coming in for a dive bomb run.

She's the Boss is a WWII Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bomber.  She chases away the enemy planes and saves the day.

Briefing Time is a B-25 "Mitchell" Bomber that comes down for the air show from the Mid Atlantic Aviation Museum in Reading, PA.  There is no mistaking the sound of this engine with any other aircraft.  What a way to end the show!

Another image you won't see anywhere else but a Living History Cruise.

As you can see by comparing this photograph from a voyage of the JOHN W BROWN in 1944 with the photograph from one of the Living History Cruises we work hard to provide as authentic an experience as we can.  There really is nothing else like it anywhere!

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

Nothing Else Like It Anywhere

The idea of the Living History Cruise aboard the JOHN W BROWN is to give guests a taste of what it was like for the sailors on board the Liberty ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1944, while raising much needed funds.   It's a way to keep history alive and to educate the public.  These ships carried troops and much needed supplies.  They were dangerous voyages with threats from the air and from the sea.  There are lots of things to do and see while on board.  There are several museums below deck as well as our Ship Store.   There is a self guided tour that takes you through the four levels of the ship. The Manhattan Dolls, The Ultimate Abbott & Costello Show and Calliope provide wonderful period entertainment all over the ship.   And of course, there's the air show.

The cruise starts at the Maryland Cruise terminal. When the Captain gives the order, the whistle blows and we're on our way.

Guests are welcome on the Flying Bridge and the Captain is happy to answer questions. There is a special silent auction and the winner gets to steer the ship from the Flying Bridge.

The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the US Navy during World War II. They were responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships. During each cruise they perform a memorial service that includes a 21 gun salute and a wreath laying ceremony.

Veterans who are on board are invited to participate in a wreath laying ceremony.

The Manhattan Dolls sing their way through era favorites. They also take lots of pictures posing with cruise guests.

Guests and crew alike are often swept up in the music and enjoy dancing on deck.

The Ultimate Abbott & Costello Tribute Show is always a crowd favorite. Here they perform the perennial crowd favorite Who's On First.

Calliope are a Barbershop Quartet that wander the ship during the cruise thrilling guests with their harmonies.

There isn't a bad seat in the house for the air show portion of the cruise. The planes fly along both sides of the ship and overhead as well. You can stay in the shade and enjoy the show or take a front row seat on one of the gun decks. Crew members will man the guns to fight an attack by Japanese planes.

Guests shoot the Japanese planes as well but it's not quite as loud.

A 1945 TBM Avenger shows off its torpedo as it comes in to defend the BROWN.

You can just see the wing tip of the Avenger, She's the Boss, here as it chases the Japanese planes away from the BROWN. Photo Credit: Stephen Chapis.

The air show culminates with a couple of fly overs by Briefing Time, a North American B-25 "Mitchell" Bomber. There is no mistaking the sound this plane engine makes.

As the ship heads back into port at the end of the day we are happy to know that our guests have memories that they'll treasure for a long time to come.

Don't miss the ship....

To buy tickets for the May 9th cruise click HERE.

To buy tickets for the June 13th cruise click HERE.

To buy tickets for the October 3rd cruise click HERE.  

 Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

Love is in the air...

Love is in the air... so who loves the BROWN? Who loves history? Who loves ships? Museums? How about being 'attacked' from the air by the Japanese? In the spirit of Valentines Day, we've compiled some fun images and stories below. Also, if you're interested in getting your special someone a unique gift...an adventure... a one of a kind experience, click the links at the end of the blog for a special Valentines Week cruise ticket promotion; offer active from 11 Feb to 16 Feb.

Love stories may not be the first thing you think of when you hear "WWII Liberty Ship," but stories of love are easy to find. The ship has even provided a unique venue for many weddings over the years!

In our Navy Armed Guard quarters, you will find a copy of a letter that no sailor wants to get. In the summer of 1943, Walter received a "Dear John" letter from Marge. She told him of a nice young man with a blue convertible who takes her dancing. We have this letter because Walter was on one of our Living History cruises in the late 1990's with his daughter. She is the one who rewrote the letter for him. His copy was falling to pieces from carrying it in his wallet for years. We found out that he did find himself a wonderful girl and they had two children and many happy years together. We know that Walter did see Marge again many years later. He visited her in the hospital before she passed away. We don't know what they talked about that day but would like to think it was a conversation filled with sharing good life stories.

If this reaches the family of Walter or Marge, we'd LOVE to hear more of their story. Remember, we are always willing to preserve artifacts or pictures (books, flags and even Dear John letters) from this time period.

Crew Members Joey and Craig are one of the many couples who were married on the ship. Passengers had just disembarked after our 60th Anniversary/Birthday Living History Cruise and Craig and Joey were married on #2 Hatch by the ship's chaplain (Rev. Ray Reno), just North of the Key Bridge. Joey and Craig (a nurse and paramedic, respectively) are part of the ship's medical team (Craig since 1997 and Joey since 2001). Baltimore City's Fire boat, the Thomas D. Alesandro Jr, saluted the couple at the end of the ceremony. 

There are also many families and couples who volunteer together on the BROWN!

Brian and Patty get into the spirit of things while the Manhattan Dolls are performing.

From Left to Right: RADM Richard A Bauman, Liam Bauman, and Captain Rick Bauman Jr. during the Great Lakes 2000 trip. 

Ship's Bosun, Walter and his wife Judy, "Mrs. Bosun," volunteer most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Here they take a moment to tease one of the ship's photographers.

Ben and Kathryn, seen with family (above), were married by Captain Rick in 2014. 

Volunteer mother and son, Andrew and Sue take time out from work on one of the cruises to show some affection. 

Crew member David with his grandson Holden on one of the 2013 cruises. Holden is wearing his grandfathers uniform from the war. 

Even the Captain is a hot commodity on the ship...

But, besides the crew, many people enjoy spending the day with loved ones, while on a day-cruise of the Chesapeake Bay, on a WWII Liberty Ship. Some show up, not knowing what to expect, while others come back each year or so. Some (see the picture towards the bottom of the blog) even theme dress while others will just break out in dance, along with our entertainers. 

Here we have Tom, a Liberty Ship veteran and graduate of the JWB (class of '51), with his wife Marie, enjoying a day at sea on the October 14th Living History Cruise. 

Below: More pictures of happy couples on the BROWN. 

 

So don't treat your sweetheart the way Marge treated Walter; give them an experience they'll remember forever, but in a good way. Your love may not carry around their 'Dear John' letter, but they will have unique memories aboard a WWII Liberty ship.   

To buy tickets for the May 9th cruise click HERE. Enter the promo code: lovethebrown for discounted tickets!

To buy tickets for the June 13th cruise click HERE. Enter the promo code: lovethebrown for discounted tickets!

This offer is valid for online tickets from February 11 through February 16, 2015

 Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.