Pilots, Pinballs and Politics
Fesseden Ph. D., Nancy B.
During the early days of aviation in Collier County, Florida, planes landed on a golf course or on the beach. But, that all changed in December 1943. World War II clamored for more pilots, more gunners, and more aircraft. The Naples Airdrome was built and suddenly the skies over Naples, Florida were filled with P-39s, P-40s, B-17s, and RP-63s. The orange "Pinball" (RP-63) participated in the Army Airforce's flexible gunnery training program. H...