Woman Who Christened B-52 Bomber In 1964 Will Do It Again In Tillamook

Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts, because we're about to embark on a journey back in time, a journey filled with history, nostalgia, and an exciting new chapter. Today, we're joined by the fantastic Sherry Lowe, a remarkable woman who will soon be taking a special trip to Tillamook, Oregon, on April 1st. And what's the grand occasion, you ask? Well, it's nothing short of legendary.

Tillamook, Oregon, is gearing up to unveil and showcase an aviation marvel at the Tillamook Air Museum. The star of the show? A historic aircraft with an illustrious past, the B-52 Strato Fortress. This beauty was once a pivotal part of the U.S. Air Force, soaring through the skies and playing a crucial role in countless military operations throughout the 1960s and beyond.

When History Takes Flight

Sherry Lowe isn't just any visitor; she's a guest of honor, a living link to the past. Back when this magnificent aircraft first took to the skies in 1964, she was right there, a vital part of the grand ceremony that marked its debut in the U.S. military. Imagine the excitement in the air, the anticipation, the promise of something extraordinary. It was a momentous event in the heart of the community, where they christened the plane with the name "City of Bangor." The mayor of the city even bestowed upon it the symbolic key to their beloved city, a gesture of open arms, a promise that the aircraft would always be welcome in Bangor, no matter where its missions took it.

As Sherry Lowe stepped up to christen the aircraft, she did so with a bottle of champagne in hand. The team had ingeniously fitted the bottle with spikes to prevent any damage to the precious paint job. You see, these were the small details that made the event even more special. Sherry shared her fond memories, "It was a pretty big event. Dow Air Force Base was a major part of the city of Bangor's population at the time, and a few years after that, they closed. It affected the city in major ways, but at that time, it was very much prominent in our city's daily life."

Life's Journey Beyond the Strato Fortress

Life moved on, as it always does, and Sherry Lowe ventured into new horizons. As she put it, "I did not keep track of it; I was too involved in my own little things that I was doing." One of these "little things" included an opportunity to become a weather girl on television, a venture she embraced with gusto for a whole year. Reading the weather five days a week, and it was all happening when she was just 19 years old. Can you imagine the thrill?

However, recently, Sherry received a fascinating update from Christian Girling at the Air Museum. It was like receiving a time capsule, a treasure chest of history. Sherry shared, "It was fascinating to me to read about it just this past year, where Christian Girling from the Air Museum has sent me information about all of the missions it's been on around the world and how it's had its name changed a number of times."

A Phoenix from the Ashes

The B-52 Strato Fortress embarked on a journey of its own. It was stored in the "Boneyard" in Arizona, a surreal desert graveyard for aircraft, and later, it found itself in a storage area, where it sadly faced vandalism. The Tillamook Air Museum, known for its expertise in restoring and reviving aircraft, took on the Herculean task of resurrecting this aviation marvel. They've painstakingly refurbished both the exterior and interior, breathing life back into a piece of history.

As Sherry Lowe remarked, "They had to do it from scratch, refurbishing the outside and the inside, and the Air Museum is really good at that." Now, the aircraft stands tall, ready for the world to see it in all its glory.

Nostalgia Takes Flight

As we approach the monumental date of April 1st, the grand re-christening of the restored B-52 Strato Fortress cockpit awaits us at the Tillamook Air Museum. It's a moment that will surely be drenched in emotions. Sherry Lowe, a Bangor native who played an essential role in this aircraft's history, will be there to witness this awe-inspiring reunion.

Sherry's son, John Lowe IV, is flying her out to Tillamook, making this an unforgettable mother-son adventure. And, in an extraordinary twist of time, Sherry shared, "It's gonna be fun, 58 years later is kind of strange."

As we prepare to celebrate the past, embrace the present, and welcome the future, we're reminded that history is not something locked away in dusty books; it's alive, vibrant, and soaring through the skies of Oregon. On April 1st, let's come together to witness a piece of history's rebirth and honor those who were part of its incredible journey.

In the words of Sherry Lowe, "It's gonna be very exciting for me to have five days with my son and get to experience this nostalgia." The excitement is palpable, the anticipation electrifying, and the story, one for the ages.