Man it never gets old, the sight and sound of a B-17 overhead! Anyone get a chance to go see her? We missed out but she has been overhead all day today.
I was working @ 17th & Lewis yesterday when she made a low-n-slow pass overhead. I'm pretty sure I could read the sticker that says "Caution:Landing Gear".
Wonderful airplane. In the late 90's they brought her to Wiley Post in NW OKC for viewing and rides. I did the ride, people thought I was nuts to spend money ($225, I think) that much to go up in her, but a good friend's father was a belly gunner on one and did the whole 25 missions and survived. His dad was probably average size for that era, but I still don't see how they got in those belly turrets. Still have the T-shirt I bought after the ride. Just still amazes me 1/4inch or so of aluminum was the skin, all the cables, etc. exposed, bare minimums except the plugs for I think for radio/intercom and possibly for the cold weather heating, can't remember, and a potty place. Someone refresh my memory, but I think the crews were eleven and there are nine guns aboard and I think they told me everyone, when necessary, manned the nine guns, leaving the pilot and copilot I believe to fly and maneuver. Well worth the flight if you have the chance.
My dad flew in one of these in WWII, He was a waist gunner and Flight Engineer. He told me lots of stories about the planes and things that happened while flying. before he died there was one in Amarillo Tx. about 75 miles from where he lived, I tried to get him to come up to Amarillo and I was gonna pay for him to ride in it but he didn't wanna drive that far. I hate that he missed it and I missed a tour of the plane with him as my tour guide.
Your dad had guts, but, I believe they all did, my dad was in the south Pacific, Navy CB's, and somewhat related to your wanting your dad to go up one last time, my dad's favorite thing, above all, were the reunions of the battalion. However, I wish he, your dad, could have gone up. It is incredible what they braved on every flight, I mean every flight. 1/4 inch of aluminum was the only protection. Just amazes me.
Not only brave but tough as hell to, He told me how cold it was up there in the wintertime. He flew 53 combat missions, I can't imagine how cold it must have been up there in the winter.
An earlier post said something about the size of the turret's, my dad was 5'7" and had to stand on two wooden blocks and stand on the tips of his toes to see out!
An earlier post said something about the size of the turret's, my dad was 5'7" and had to stand on two wooden blocks and stand on the tips of his toes to see out!
I have said it before, but it bears repeating. If you ever meet a man who flew daylight bombing missions in WWII, shake his hand. He's better than you.
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Heard on TV recently (History channel or Military channel) that the US 8th air force (daylight bombing in Europe WWII) lost more people than the US Marines did in WWII
