B-17 pics for Harlan

[Emri]

Harlon,

You will like these pics if you haven't already seen them.

http://home.comcast.net/~szee1a/Al_o..._overcast.html

Emri

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[Allen Humphrey]

Not Harlan, but thanks for the link to the great photos. I've never seen the K-13 sight before. Anybody know when that was adopted?

[AZPhil]

Thanks for the Pic's !!!
My uncle was a tail gunner on the B17 42-38112 "Mrs Geezil" . They were shot down on the April 13 1944 Schweinfurt raid.. 4KIA 6POWs. My uncle spent the rest of the war as a POW at Stalag 17B.
He passed away in 1975 and never talked about that time. BUT I just made contact with the Left Waist gunner of that crew. What and awesome find. It was great listening to the vet for close to an hour( I Recorded the whole thing)telling me how he talked my uncle into coming back early from leave and were assigned to the flight for the next day.April 13th. He said my uncle was so mad at him ,that he didn't talk to him the whole time they were in Stalag 17B. It was my uncle's 25th mission( His last)
Great Story Of Great Men!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Again
Semper Fi
Phil

[Emri]

Not Harlan, but thanks for the link to the great photos. I've never seen the K-13 sight before. Anybody know when that was adopted?

I noticed it also, haven't seen it before. Must be a very late war item. All the films I've seen just show the guns without it. The US bought a lot of sporting shotguns during the war and taught the gunners "lead" by teaching them to shoot skeet.

[old crow]

Thanks for the posting - it is wonderful. I was surprised at the statement that ball-turret gunner casualty rates were about the same as for others. It has been my understanding that the enemy pilots usually eliminated the tail-gunner and ball-turret gunner ASAP in their tail-end attacks. One of my other interests is how, in box formations the gunners avoided shooting other acft in the box in the 'heat of battle'? I've always had a fascination with the ball-turret and being a short, small guy I can imagine that I would have been a likely candidate for the position. ~30% loss rate (all causes?) for the B-17 is sobering. Again, thank you for the marvelous photos and maybe, especially for the sound-track.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Thanks Emri! Those were really great photos. The Aluminum Overcast is one of the best restored B-17's flying today. Sad they didn't get more paying passengers. Money from flying people around really helps to keep these planes in the air.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Well, if they sent it around my area I'd go for a ride.

I have ridden in a B-24, it was $400 for an hour ride. Also went up in Puff. It was only $250. Both were about 7/8 years ago.

I just loved the sound. I can't imagine 50 in the air at the same time. Plus fighter escort.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thanks for a great post. My sorry town Memphis Tn. had for years the Memphis Belle. Started out stored in the elements at the local airport. We used to visit it as kids as in those days airports lacked the TSA Homeland Security and 10 foot fences. They finally moved it under a large open air canopy on Mud Island (sandbar in the Mississippi River down town) for the pidgons to use as a target.TheUSAF took it back due to the lack of proper storage and care. It showed a total disrespect for the men who flew and maintained those aircraft. Sad story. Sad town. Glad I moved. The story does appear to be headed twards a happy landing (follow the link)
Memphis Belle (aircraft) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thanks to those who served. Thanks tor those who labor to preserve the legacy.

[Emri]

[QUOTE=HOOKED ON HISTORY;206871]Thanks for a great post. My sorry town Memphis Tn. had for years the Memphis Belle. Started out stored in the elements at the local airport.QUOTE]

Well, I guess I got ya beat. I grew up in Mphs. and remember the Memphis Belle when she was sitting on a concrete pad in front of the National Guard Armory at Hollywood and Central Ave. Sat there for years with no plexiglass and pretty much stripped down. Then they "restored" her to try and make her look like an aircraft again by putting in fake plexiglass (plywood painted silver) and fake gun barrels made from wood or pipe sticking out of them. THEN they moved her to the airport and some Vo Tech avaiation mechanics school attempted a restoration but botched it up pretty much from what I heard. I agree, looks like someone if finally taking a serious interest in her again. I hope to see her again someday in full glory. Thanks for the link. ( I left Memphis in 1982 and not a day too soon.)

Emri

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I do have a memory of the Belle at the armory now that you mention it. It looks like you had the good sence to put some miles between you and Memphis. I just moved streight south a bit. Not far enough. Memphis was a good place early on. I remember gowing to an air show at the river. Do not remember what year. WWII aircraft. Jimmy Buffet concert on Mud Island. Some good memories remain.