Vertical Victory Project

The Vertical Victory Project will entertain you with wonderful music and tell you how during World War II, the famed aircraft’s usual payload with several thousand pounds of bombs changed. Under special circumstances the B-17 doubled as a cargo plane for “G.I. pianos.” Also known as “Victory Verticals,” the instruments were parachuted to awaiting troops in what the advertisement terms “far places of the world — England, Australia, New Guinea, and elsewhere.”

Intended to lift troop morale, the 40-inch-tall Victory Verticals were identified by their military colors (olive drab, blue and gray), absence of front legs (deemed too delicate for the battlefield), and durable shipping crates. About 2,500 of the verticals were transported to every theater of war, including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and the South Pacific. They were played by a dance band in the Philippines, a special service unit in Alaska, and by performers from Bob Hope to violinist Isaac Stern as they toured on behalf of the United Service Organizations (USO).

Some pianos were air-dropped to the front line troops and some pianos were actually installed while submarines were being built.

The Brunswick Rotary Club is hosting a program on May 4 & 5 called “The Vertical Victory Project” and it will be presented by Dr. Garik Pederson, concert pianist, who has done extensive research on the program. He’s presented this beautiful program across the country and will be featured in an upcoming PBS special.

The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Pleasant St on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 5 at 2pm.

Attached is the flyer we’ve developed. At the bottom right is the QR code that folks can use to purchase tickets. Please note that General Admission tickets are $40 and Veteran tickets are $30.