B-17 info for those interested

[kirtsjc]

Noticed the interest here on T&TTT about B-17's (beautiful plane)
and today in my local paper was this article about a B-17 starting restoration:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS01/602210338/-1/all

Also their website is : www.b17project.com.

Good Day All!

John
Cincinnati OH

[Spadinator]

SWEET!!! My grandfather flew 25 missions as a tail gunner in a B-17 called The Old Fox in WWII. 379th bomb group!!

[emiller]

I remember living in Portland and a gassing up at a station near Portland, it had a B-17 suspendid over it.

[doug hodder]

Spadinator....your G-pa was one lucky guy...tailgunner was a real tough place...my dad was a navigator on the Bad Egg...390th bomb group 35 missions....7 of which were shuttles...this was at the time when they didn't have replacements so you had to keep going....he was the one of the old guys on the plane...22 yrs old...My thanks go out to your Grandfather for his service! Doug

[Loader]

Thanks for the link. Great to see groups saving these old warbirds!

USAF, Ret (1982 - 2002)

[Spadinator]

Spadinator....your G-pa was one lucky guy...tailgunner was a real tough place...my dad was a navigator on the Bad Egg...390th bomb group 35 missions....7 of which were shuttles...this was at the time when they didn't have replacements so you had to keep going....he was the one of the old guys on the plane...22 yrs old...My thanks go out to your Grandfather for his service! Doug

35 missions WOW

All of my g-pa's missions were over Germany and France. He left England in March 1944- his plane was lost with a new crew in May of 44 after colliding with another bird that had been shot down. All souls on both birds were lost!!!

[Chris C]

My Dad flew his 25 missions over Berlin as a navigator in a 17. And another 6 in a 25. Great aircraft. Thanks for the link, John .

[doug hodder]

I'm in contact with some people of the Confederate Air Force...spoke to them when I was on the Sentimental Journey B-17...for a respectable donation to the cause...they will scatter my dads ashes out of the bomb bay on it...I think he'd like that one...I guess they do that pretty regularly for previous B-17 personnel....Doug

[Spadinator]

That is way cool Doug....I saw Sentimental Journey when it came to Utah.

Here is a crew pic from 1944

[TomS]

I had the privilege, a couple of years ago, of seeing the Collings Foundation's B-17G Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator in Norwood, Mass. We lucked out and got to see the B-24 fly over and land at the field. What a treat that was! I can't tell you how special it felt to walk through, see and touch those old warbirds.

Here's the tour schedule from the Collins foundation. I encourage you to go see them if you have a chance.

[doug hodder]

Spad.....here's Dad in his flight jacket...the only crew photo I have is mounted and can't scan it....drives me nuts...mom threw out his jacket in the early 60's...I flipped out...looks like your grandfather got a later edition of the plane..they added the chin turrets...Doug

[Spadinator]

Great photo Doug!!! I always liked the Bomber Jackets. My g-pa's is still in his closet. It is willed to my Uncle. Your right he got one of the first "G" models of the B-17.

[doug hodder]

Spad...here's where your G-pa spent his time...it's my Dad with his tailgunner...Doug

Chris...your dad was a navigator too! cool! kinda small world huh?

[Chris C]

No Kiddin', Doug. No Kiddin'.

[TomS]

Spad and Doug,

Thanks for posting those photos guys.