When I was stationed in Otero County, NM back in the early 70's, there were five or six B-17's stationed at the relatively small airport in Alamogordo. These planes had been fitted with equipment to drop slurry on the occasional forest fires in the Sacramento mountains just east of Alamogordo. The main mechanic that kept these machines in good flying condition and ready to go was an older man who had gotten his training as a mechanic on these planes during WWII. He had seen a lot during his time in service. I sought his acquaintance and friendship and would bring him hot coffee and a donut or two on occasion, and after a while, we got pretty well acquainted with each other. He began to answer some of my questions in more detail and eventually got to the point that he would tell me stories without much reservation as long as no one else was around. I really did enjoy his company, and I learned a lot of history from him. He was a quiet man and did not talk much about himself, but he could talk all day long about those machines.
When one of the planes was returning to the airport after an "exercise" and training flight, we would be talking and he would stop and cock his ear skyward when he heard the sound of that B-17. He always heard it long before I detected the sound. He would look in the direction of the sound and listen quietly. If he smiled, I knew all was well with that machine. If he frowned, I knew he was already plotting in his head what he needed to do to that machine to make it right. I never spoke while he was listening. He told me once that each plane had it's own distinctive sound that he could recognize. He had been taking care of these machines for several years. I was fascinated, of course, and would have dearly loved to go for a ride. But there was no room for any passengers at all. All available space contained the equipment and tanks to deliver that slurry to the fires. If one of the pilot's didn't take good care of his plane, that old fella would take a patch of hide off him! I have also watched these planes deliver loads of slurry to drop on fires that occurred during my time in the area. I never saw one miss the target! These old planes were still providing much needed air support to serve the people of this nation, and the old gentleman took very good care of them. He knew every inch of each one, and it's strengths and it's weaknesses. He was not married at the time I knew him. Don't know for sure if he ever was, and I never knew him to have a girl friend either. Those machines were his full time occupation as well as the only things he cared to spend time with. I feel very fortunate to be able to call him my friend!
Thanks for posting these photos. You have brought to mind some really good memories for me which are different, of course, from the original mission and purpose of these fine flying machines.
