Diamondtreo
US Veteran
I also flew on the Liberty Belle the year before she crashed in the field. What a ride! I was in the nose for a bombing run over Vashon Island & on a waist gun for the final approach to Boeing Field in Seattle.
I still get a thrill seeing this plane...
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Herknav
Member
One of my best friends' has a step-grandpa who was a B-17 tailgunner in WWII. The got shot up pretty bad on one particular flight. One engine dumped all its oil, and a fuel line was severed, causing a second engine to quit. The pilot informed the crew that, due to the headwind, they couldn't make England on two engines. He let the crew vote on "try to get as far west as we can before we crash land in probably (Nazi-occupied) France" or "crash land in Poland and take our chances with the Russkies." The crew chose Option B.
The pilot mangled one of the main gear on landing, but the crew was otherwise unhurt. They spent six weeks at a Russian camp, where the Russkies were so in need of vodka that they were drinking avgas. One day, a Russian came in and pointed to a spot on a map. He told them that another B-17 had gone down at that location. He offered them the keys to a truck to see if they could scavenge anything.
The crew was able to link up with the other B-17 crew. Together, they pulled a main gear, an engine, and some fuel line off the "donor" airplane and put the first B-17 back together. Apparently, they did something similar with a couple of P-51s. Almost two months after it took off, a B-17 arrived back in England with a P-51 escort and all four crews.
The pilot mangled one of the main gear on landing, but the crew was otherwise unhurt. They spent six weeks at a Russian camp, where the Russkies were so in need of vodka that they were drinking avgas. One day, a Russian came in and pointed to a spot on a map. He told them that another B-17 had gone down at that location. He offered them the keys to a truck to see if they could scavenge anything.
The crew was able to link up with the other B-17 crew. Together, they pulled a main gear, an engine, and some fuel line off the "donor" airplane and put the first B-17 back together. Apparently, they did something similar with a couple of P-51s. Almost two months after it took off, a B-17 arrived back in England with a P-51 escort and all four crews.
Imagine today's 20 somethings doing this! This thread is inspiring for what the Greatest Generation accomplished.
And so sad about the capabilities of today's high school graduates.
mickeyblueyes
Member
I like this thread a lot ,I don't pilot but love planes. So much so after many years with my company I decided to transfer to the airport and work there just so I could work aboard them every day. The part that is mind boggling to me is the advancement in technology in 50 years. Have any of you guys been in the cock pit of modern aircraft? In the B17 there are like 3 gauges I was in Memphis a while back and toured Graceland , Elvis's plane was just down right scary I don't remember if it was a DC3 or not , but the cock pit was so rudimentary I don't know how two guys could fly it. A new Toyota car has 500% more instrumentation.
Anyway thanks for the thread OP
Anyway thanks for the thread OP
Texas Star, I think the Merlin found it's way into P-38Js too. Bell adapted the P-39 Airacobra for the Merlin and called it the P-63 King Cobra, but that air frame was too outdated to work very well. I'm sure it got stuck in some others as well.
I have to correct my self on post 9.
Art Scholl was not the owner of the P-51 known as the "Miss America". He was a stunt pilot.
I confuse easily.
The P-51 "Miss America" (a P-51D) is based at Wiley Post Airport in Okla. City. She has been there for some time. The owners name escapes me now, but he has given many people rides in it over the years. NOTHING sounds better than that Merlin taking off, flying or landing.....NOTHING!!
Art
doc540
Member
My dad will be 91 this month. He flew a '17 in the 8th.
Good read here:
Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany: Donald L. Miller: 9780743235457: Amazon.com: Books
very well could be the most comprehensive history ever written of the U.S. bomber campaign over Europe
chilling
Good read here:
Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany: Donald L. Miller: 9780743235457: Amazon.com: Books
very well could be the most comprehensive history ever written of the U.S. bomber campaign over Europe
chilling
OFT II
US Veteran
The old Fort was still there a few months ago. It originally sat at Abilene Municipal Airport but was moved to the front gate of Dyess several years ago.
5Wire
Member
I think this might be an earlier photo of the same B17, taken about 10 years ago.
OP
The "909" is another famously restored B-17; the "Sentimental Journey" is a different plane.
John
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OP
I mentioned that I once went through a B-17. I found this old photo of it; it was mounted on pylons at a gas station in the Pacific Northwest in the '60s. It has a story of its own. When it was bought, it was flown surreptitiously to near its final destination and landed on a highway by very inexperienced pilots! Then it was hauled to the gas station and lifted up using a crane. It may still be there for all I know.
John
John
Liberty Belle came to the Dayton, OH area August 2005 and the 909 came August 2008.
9-0-9 was at our local airport during the summer several years ago along with a b-24 but the name escapes me. they were giving rides on either for a price. i think it was 500 for about 30 minutes and if you were a pilot with multiples rating they would let you sit up front and let you fly once it was up.
pilgrim6a
Member
Nothing sweeter to see than a B-17, nothing sweeter sounding either!
Great pics....
We have a local WWII weekend here in my area and we're always guaranteed to see at least two come in! One of these days I'm going to pony up the cash and go for the ride,,, One thing I have to do.
The local Air museum sponsers this and they are restoring a P-61 Black Widow which I can't wait to see when it's finished.
You can see that one here....MAAM's Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's P-61 'Black Widow' Recovery and Restoration Project - The Widow's Web
Great pics....
We have a local WWII weekend here in my area and we're always guaranteed to see at least two come in! One of these days I'm going to pony up the cash and go for the ride,,, One thing I have to do.
The local Air museum sponsers this and they are restoring a P-61 Black Widow which I can't wait to see when it's finished.
You can see that one here....MAAM's Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's P-61 'Black Widow' Recovery and Restoration Project - The Widow's Web
I believe the MISS America was fielde by Clay Lacy, I'll check up on myself.
Modern aircraft have got larger. I was stationed in Thule, Greenland for a year. Once, during the summer, there was a B-17 and a Lancaster sitting on the tarmac. They wre owned by mapping companies and were doing aerial mapping. They weren't a great deal larger than the single seat F 102s from the fighter squadron there.
photoman
Member
I mentioned that I once went through a B-17. I found this old photo of it; it was mounted on pylons at a gas station in the Pacific Northwest in the '60s. It has a story of its own. When it was bought, it was flown surreptitiously to near its final destination and landed on a highway by very inexperienced pilots! Then it was hauled to the gas station and lifted up using a crane. It may still be there for all I know.
John
That's Art Lacey's B-17.
The Milwaukie Bomber: 'It's not going to last much longer' | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon
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