B-17 Flying Fortress

ripcord810 · 09-24-2013, 02:17 PM

Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing aviation brought there B-17 to town yesterday. I was able to go take a look at it today. I also took a tour of the inside of this aircraft. Amazing how small and tight things are inside. I can't imagine how anyone over 6' could get around in there, yet spoke with a man who said he was a tail gunner (6'3, 235). So glad I took the time to go see this wonderful piece of history.

CJS57 · 09-24-2013, 08:28 PM

I toured too awhile back, very small inside. The pilot and co-pilot sit so close they are nearly touching. The top gunner is right there too.

John Sabato · 09-25-2013, 08:46 AM

It has been a few years, but I have also toured the B-17 at one of the local air shows... Andrews AFB, I think... an amazing piece of history indeed. The oldest plane I have flown in was the DC-3... There is nothing like flying in a multi-engined prop plane!

wlyon · 09-25-2013, 09:45 AM

Many years ago, when I worked in Fire Management, we had three B-17's tanked to drop retardant. Quite an aircraft. One of these crashed in Boise. I believe that was the end of them as retardant aircraft. Bill

tudorbug · 09-25-2013, 10:59 AM

I also flew in a DC-3, or C-47, on a trip from Redstone Arsenal to Pueblo Army Depot and back when soldiers from my Perhsing Guided Missile Maintenance Detachment were there on temporary duty. I was in Saudi Arabia for a year and the national airline was using a DC-3 in an out of their more remote airports. It visited Tabuk where I was at least weekly. The pilot, an American, and I became friends, largely because I had a stock of Heiniken beer that was hard to come by since alcoholic beverages were prohibited in the country.

Many years ago.

David

ripcord810 · 09-26-2013, 02:30 PM

Cant' imagine what it would like inside with several of the guns going off, engines roaring, air flak going off all around. Really makes you think what these poor guys went through.

alanint · 09-26-2013, 03:02 PM

Add to that minus 50 degrees and wind wipping through the fuselage and the respect really increases.

GySgt1811 · 09-26-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripcord810

Cant' imagine what it would like inside with several of the guns going off, engines roaring, air flak going off all around. Really makes you think what these poor guys went through.

Once, after many years and too many beers, my dad told me his nickname was "Shoot 'n' Puke Cornwell". He told me that one time he barfed all over the bomb bay release and the doors wouldn't roll up because the mechanism was frozen solid. His pilot, Captain Peter Paul Anchelli, made him climb down and kick the damn things loose. Even for all that, he ended up with 5 air medals. (equiv. Bronze Star.)

S/Sgt James Cornwell, top turret gunner, B-24, 461st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, Foggia, Italy, 1944-45.

I was born while he was overseas.

Yes, I miss the old bastard.

Regards to all,

Gunny John

PS. Now where'd I leave the friggin' box of kleenex?

alanint · 09-26-2013, 08:20 PM

Dad was a Radio/Gunner in both the "Bad Penny" and the "Yoyo", (always comes back) in the 703rd. Bomb Sqdr. 445th. Composite Bomb Group out of Tibenham, England.

For a while the actor Jimmy Stuart was their commanding officer.

Freischütz · 09-26-2013, 10:11 PM

I took the tour of the one parked outside the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The guide said the ideal crew member was <5'7" and weighed 140 lbs max. I'm 6'1" and about 220 lbs. It was a very tight fit on the catwalk in the bomb bay (tore my shirt). I also tried the dorsal turret. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic.

CAP Black · 09-26-2013, 10:48 PM

I made a lot of trips in the "Gooney Bird"; From Orlando AFB to White Sands, NM and trips over Europe during the early 1960's. On one trip I remember, we had engine problems, so we feathered one engine and poured the coal to the other. After arriving and the mechanics checked her over, we were babying the wrong engine. She took the lickin' and kept on tickin'.
Jack

goldwing · 09-27-2013, 01:11 AM

I once in the late 50's ferried a C-47 from Sacramento to Guam. It took us a month because we had to have good wind to make some of the legs. Bill Hughes USAF 1953 til 1973.

mystical_tutor · 09-27-2013, 11:51 AM

I'm jealous. Always wanted to get up close to one of those babies.

Any of you remember the B-36? They were stationed at Fairchild AFB Spokane WA when I was a kid. We would drive to the fence at the end of the runway and watch in awe as they took off and landed.

alanint · 09-27-2013, 01:31 PM

They have a complete, early model, (single wheel landing gear, not trucks) covering the entire indoor expance of the Airforce Museum, in Dayton, Ohio.

saab-bob · 09-27-2013, 01:44 PM

Convair B-36 "Peacemaker"
Amazing plane,the size of it is most impressive!
Just checked one out at the Pima Air museum in AZ, a couple of weeks ago.
Its even larger then the B-52's parked next to it.
Great air museum if you ever get down Southern Arizona way.
Wonderful SR-71 Blackbird on display there,my personal favorite.
Bob

09-24-2013, 02:17 PM	#1
ripcord810 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 139 Thanks: 146 Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts	B-17 Flying Fortress Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing aviation brought there B-17 to town yesterday. I was able to go take a look at it today. I also took a tour of the inside of this aircraft. Amazing how small and tight things are inside. I can't imagine how anyone over 6' could get around in there, yet spoke with a man who said he was a tail gunner (6'3, 235). So glad I took the time to go see this wonderful piece of history.

09-25-2013, 08:46 AM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	It has been a few years, but I have also toured the B-17 at one of the local air shows... Andrews AFB, I think... an amazing piece of history indeed. The oldest plane I have flown in was the DC-3... There is nothing like flying in a multi-engined prop plane! __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-25-2013, 09:45 AM	#4
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 3,210 Thanked 2,613 Times in 969 Posts	Many years ago, when I worked in Fire Management, we had three B-17's tanked to drop retardant. Quite an aircraft. One of these crashed in Boise. I believe that was the end of them as retardant aircraft. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

09-27-2013, 01:44 PM	#15
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" Amazing plane,the size of it is most impressive! Just checked one out at the Pima Air museum in AZ, a couple of weeks ago. Its even larger then the B-52's parked next to it. Great air museum if you ever get down Southern Arizona way. Wonderful SR-71 Blackbird on display there,my personal favorite. Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

09-24-2013, 08:28 PM	#2
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	I toured too awhile back, very small inside. The pilot and co-pilot sit so close they are nearly touching. The top gunner is right there too.

09-25-2013, 10:59 AM	#5
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	I also flew in a DC-3, or C-47, on a trip from Redstone Arsenal to Pueblo Army Depot and back when soldiers from my Perhsing Guided Missile Maintenance Detachment were there on temporary duty. I was in Saudi Arabia for a year and the national airline was using a DC-3 in an out of their more remote airports. It visited Tabuk where I was at least weekly. The pilot, an American, and I became friends, largely because I had a stock of Heiniken beer that was hard to come by since alcoholic beverages were prohibited in the country. Many years ago. David

09-26-2013, 02:30 PM	#6
ripcord810 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 139 Thanks: 146 Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts	Cant' imagine what it would like inside with several of the guns going off, engines roaring, air flak going off all around. Really makes you think what these poor guys went through.

09-26-2013, 03:02 PM	#7
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Add to that minus 50 degrees and wind wipping through the fuselage and the respect really increases.

09-26-2013, 08:20 PM	#9
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Dad was a Radio/Gunner in both the "Bad Penny" and the "Yoyo", (always comes back) in the 703rd. Bomb Sqdr. 445th. Composite Bomb Group out of Tibenham, England. For a while the actor Jimmy Stuart was their commanding officer.

09-26-2013, 10:11 PM	#10
Freischütz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 125 Thanks: 9 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	I took the tour of the one parked outside the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The guide said the ideal crew member was <5'7" and weighed 140 lbs max. I'm 6'1" and about 220 lbs. It was a very tight fit on the catwalk in the bomb bay (tore my shirt). I also tried the dorsal turret. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic.

09-26-2013, 10:48 PM	#11
CAP Black User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairmont, WV Right here in Mountaineer country and God's country Posts: 767 Thanks: 100 Thanked 174 Times in 96 Posts	I made a lot of trips in the "Gooney Bird"; From Orlando AFB to White Sands, NM and trips over Europe during the early 1960's. On one trip I remember, we had engine problems, so we feathered one engine and poured the coal to the other. After arriving and the mechanics checked her over, we were babying the wrong engine. She took the lickin' and kept on tickin'. Jack

09-27-2013, 01:11 AM	#12
goldwing User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Upper South Carolina Posts: 92 Thanks: 9 Thanked 13 Times in 8 Posts	I once in the late 50's ferried a C-47 from Sacramento to Guam. It took us a month because we had to have good wind to make some of the legs. Bill Hughes USAF 1953 til 1973.

09-27-2013, 11:51 AM	#13
mystical_tutor User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 230 Thanks: 32 Thanked 39 Times in 25 Posts	I'm jealous. Always wanted to get up close to one of those babies. Any of you remember the B-36? They were stationed at Fairchild AFB Spokane WA when I was a kid. We would drive to the fence at the end of the runway and watch in awe as they took off and landed.

09-27-2013, 01:31 PM	#14
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	They have a complete, early model, (single wheel landing gear, not trucks) covering the entire indoor expance of the Airforce Museum, in Dayton, Ohio.