What are the chances of bumping into a B-17?

[Icemaster]

It's the sound. They usually come through town once a year for a show and weekend of rides. It's an engine sound that once heard will never, ever be forgotten...they are an airborne mechanical symphony.

Gives me gooseflesh everytime...

[Rick Lee]

I wonder what it costs per year to keep those guys running.

[arcsine]

Originally posted by Ed Bighi
But nonetheless, in all that need for aluminum, it's inconceivable that a substantial number of people did not show up and say, "man, that is just too nice to turn into scrap!"

I like to think even a jaded person would pause a second before plunging a sawzall into a Spitfire

[MFAFF]

Black 6 and 'friend' at the Royal Air Force Museum...

And some guys did care enough to keep them from the scrap man....

[RPKESQ]

Hurricanes! The true hero of the Battle of Britain! By far the largest number of German planes shot down during that period were by the Hurricane. But the lovely Spitfire was given the publicity and hero worship that continues to this day.

[MFAFF]

Yup,

That's the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight....for the Queen's Official Birthday Flypast.

The Lanc leads two Spits including the MkIIa, the oldest flying Spit and two Hurricanes.

The higher profile of the Spit is a PR success as the Hurricane out- numbered the Spit during the B of B and had a better exchange ratio than the Spit..ubt its not as sexy and was retired before the end of WW2 whilst the Spit carried on well beyond.

It is only in the recent past that more Hurricanes have been restored to airworthiness as the restoration cost is in the order of twice that of a Spit.. because of all the wood work needed to renovate the airframe...to say nothing of the relative scarcity of the two airframes.

The RAF is the operator/ maintainer and funder of the BBMF, so its not enitrely surprising that they have retained a heritage flight as it were..

[Erik Mckenna]

I like the 17..... but man I really dig the B-24's....

[joehahn]

I like the 17..... but man I really dig the B-24's....

2nd!

Could carry more, fly higher and faster.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by RPKESQ
....But the lovely Spitfire was given the publicity and hero worship that continues to this day.

Other than being better looking, the Spit was clearly a better design. That's why all the worship happened.

Similar comments could be made about the B17 vs B24, the latter being higher prod numbers and AFAIK higher mission numbers than the B17.

Plane with biggest "wow" factor were the heavily modded B25's with the 8+ 50's and the recoiless 75mm cannon.

[joehahn]

Peter, I "2nd" that comment on the B-25 as well. Biggest "Wow" factor would be the fact that you could take off in one of those from aircraft carrier! Absolutely amazing.

take care,

joe.

[MFAFF]

[artplumber]

That one of the glass nose B25's. I think that round about "J" they actually had a solid nose with 8x .50's plus the 4pack on the fuselage. The G had 4 50's and the 75 mm out the front. It was insane.

[JohnC]

Here's a pic of my dad on the right, the short guy. He was a belly gunner on a B-24.....stationed in Italy (Foja?) sp......459 Bomb Group....flying over the Alps into Germany....about 36 missions....shot down twice. Pretty rough job from what he told me.

Note to turbo/supercharger lovers: Notice the two large (what I believe to be) intercoolers on either side of the motor!

[JohnC]

reorienting photo.

[artplumber]

John,
You're dad's probably a great guy, but that picture is dangerous

[joehahn]

Ok, can't help it, way too proud not to post pics. In first pic that is my G-pa on left. He was shot down on 7/29/44 piloting a B-24 over Ludwigshaven. The second pic is REALLY cool. When Patton liberated the POWs near Moosberg on 4/25/45 he ordered the Nazi Flag pulled off city hall (and Old Glory flown in it's place) and taken to the POW camp where the POWs were asked to sign it! My Grandfather was ranking officer and wrote inscription at the top speaking of Patton liberating them etc. He is now interred at West Point. I miss him.







The flag is being sent to the 8th AF Museum in Savannah. Also, I have it extra large photo size so you can read all the names if anybody knows anyone that was a POW at Stalags III, IV, and VII and may want to see it.

[Dantilla]

Hey! they stopped off at my home airport!

[Dantilla]

One for the boost fans-



I'd say building a B-17 is more labor intensive than hanging a fender on a 911.

[RPKESQ]

Small technical correction:
The cannon carrying B25s did not have a recoiless 75mm. They did have a 75mm that damn near stopped the plane everytime if fired. Recoiless normally means a rocket propelled gun. Think of a bazooka or LAW and remember the backblast. The backblast would have nowhere to go in a B25!
Sorry, I know I can nitpick!

[john70t]

An 88mm is a dang big enough artillery piece. Watch the recoil on those.