B-17

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

Here you go Tom. Ole 909

Harrymac · September 30, 2008

What a treat to get those shots of the fortress, nice shots!

Mr. 2H2O · September 30, 2008

My most favorite plane...ever.

- Mike

NomadRip · September 30, 2008

Nice to see that one still doing well. I haven't been in it since the USAF 50th Airshow at Nellis...sheesh that was a while ago. Beautiful plane.

black mamba · September 30, 2008

Hi Jack,

I never get tired of seeing these type pictures. I go to the gatherings of these planes every chance I get. Several years back, I had a great conversation with Robert Morgan ( pilot of the " Memphis Belle " ) about what combat was really like in these planes. He wrote a great book, The Man Who Flew The Memphis Bell , that told his story but hearing it from him personally was a fascinating experience.

If you took an interior tour of the B-17, you know how tight the quarters were....especially the cockpit area. Col. Morgan said that with full flight suits on it was virtually impossible for the pilot and co-pilot to rapidly get out of the plane when it was severely damaged and going down; most went down with the ship.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Tom

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

Thanks for looking and commenting Harry, James, and Mike. It sure was a wonderful experience to get to see these old battle horses.

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

Hi Tom
I'll have to hunt up a copy of Col. Morgan's book. This experience brought back memories of my boyhood making models of these planes and hanging them from the ceiling in my room.

cmason · September 30, 2008

Jack'll do wrote:

Hi Tom
I'll have to hunt up a copy of Col. Morgan's book. This experience brought back memories of my boyhood making models of these planes and hanging them from the ceiling in my room.

Me too, loved putting plastic models together, had dogfights enacted from the ceiling

david_h · September 30, 2008

We used to have a great aviation festival here in Nashua, but it hasn't happened since '05.

pyry · September 30, 2008

Nice stuff! Love those old planes. I wonder what it would take to get to fly in one and just how far would actually flying one be...

cunarder534 · September 30, 2008

Nice shots.

iamprof40 · September 30, 2008

B-17 more info than you ever wanted, but i'm an airplane historian
Remaining B-17's in the US:
A list Of Surviving B-17's

Key: F = Flyable, M = Museum, R = Restoration, S = Storage,
U = Status Unknown

1. B-17D 2125; 40-3097; National Air And Space Museum, Silver Hill, MD, USA; S

2. B-17E 2257; 41-2446; Travis Historical Society, Travis AFB, CA, USA; U

3. B-17F 3170: 41-24485; Mud Island Museum, millington, TN, USA, R

4. B-17E 2406; 41-2595; Michael Kellner, Crystal Lake, IL, USA, R

5. B-17E 2504; 41-9032; Archaeological Research, Cincinnati, OH, USA, R

6. B-17E 2562; 41-9090; N3142U; Aircraft Not Yet Recovered; USA; U

7. B-17E 2682; 41-9210; N12355; Flying Heritage Inc., Seattle, WA, USA, R

8. B-17F 4896; 42-29782; N17W; Museum Of Flight Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA, M

9. B-17G 7190; 42-32076; USAFM Collection, Wright - Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH USA; M,

10. B17F 8310; 42-3374; USAFM Collection, Offutt AFB, NE, USA; M

11. B-17G 9613; 43-38635; USAFM Collection, Castle AFB, CA, USA; M

12. B-17G 22616; 44-6393; USAFM Collection, March AFB, CA, USA; M

13. B-17G 31957; 44-83316; Weeks Air Museum, Tamiami, FL, USA; M

14. B-17G 32103; 44-83462; Museu Aerospacial, Comp dos Alfonsos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; M

15. B-17G 32153; 44-83512; USAFM Collection, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, USA; M

16. B-17G 32155; 44-83514; N9323Z; American Airpower Flying Heritage Museum, Midand, TX USA; F

17. B-17G 32166; 44-83525; N83525; Weeks Air Museum, Miami, FL, USA; F

18. B-17G 32183; 44-83542; Fantasy Of Flight Visitor Attraction, Polk City, FL, USA; M

19. B-17G 32187; 44-83546; N3703G; Military Air Restoration Corp., CA, USA; F

20. B-17G 32200; 44-83559; USAFM Collection, Offutt AFB, NE, USA; M

21. B-17G 32204; 44-83563; N9563Z; National Warplane Museum, Elmira, NY, USA; F

22. B-17G 32216; 44-83575; N93012; Collings Foundation, Stowe, Ma, USA; F

23. B-17G 32304; 44-83663; N47780; USAFM Collection, Dover AFB, Dover, DE, USA; M

24. B-17G 32325; 44-83684; N3713G; Air Museum, Chino, CA, USA; R

25. B-17G 32363; 44-83722; Weeks Air Museum, Tamiami, FL, USA; M

26. B-17G 32376; 44-83735; The American Air Museum In Great Britain, Duxford, Cambs., UK; M

27. B-17G 32426; 44-83735; N207EV; Evergreen Ventures Ins., McMinnville, OR, USA; F

28. B-17G 32455; 44-83814; N66571; National Air And Space Museum Smithsonian institution, Washington, D.C., USA; M

29. B-17G 32504; 44-83863; N5233V; USAFM Collection, Eglin AFB, FL, USA; M

30. B-17G 32509; 44- 83868; Royal Air Foce Museum, Hendon, London, UK; M

31. B-17G 32513; 44-83872; N7227C; American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Midland, TX, USA; F

32. B-17G 32525; 44 83884; N5230V; USAFM Collection, Barksdale AFB, LA, USA; M

33. B-17G 7943; 44-8543; N3701G; W.D. Hospers, Fort Worth, TX, USA; F

34. B-17G 8492; 4485583; FA Brasiliera Museum, Base Area Recife, Brazil; M

35. B-17G 8508; 44-85599; USAFM Collection, Dyess AFB, Abliene, TX, USA; M

36. B-17G 8627; 44-85718; N3900RW, Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame, Galveston, TX, USA; F

37. B-17G 8643; 44-85734; N390TH; Liberty Foundation Inc., Kissmmee, FL, USA; R

38. B-17G 8647; 44-85738; AMVETS Compound, Tulare, CA; USA; M

39. B-17G 8649; 44-85740; N5017N; EAA Aviation Center, Oshkosh, WI, USA; R

40. B-17G 8687; 44-85778; N3509G; Pond Warbirds LLC, Palm Springs, CA, USA; F

41. B-17G 8693; 44-85784; G-BEDF; B-17 Preservation Limited, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, UK; F

42. B-17G 8699; 4485790; Lacey's Gas Station, Lacey's Bomber Restaurant, Oregon City, OR, USA; M

43. B-17G 8722; 44-85813; Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft, Kissmmee, Fl USA; R

44. B-17G 8737; 44-85828; N9323R; USAFM Collection, Dayton, OH USA; M

45. B-17G 8738; 44-85829; N3193G Yankee Air Force Inc., Belleville, MI, USA; F

46. B-17G 8246; 448846; F-AZDX; Association Fortresse Toujours Volant en France, La Ferte-Alais, France; F

47. B-17G 8289; 44-8889; Musee de l'Air, Paris-Le Bourget, Paris, France; M

This one is #37:
Data:
N-number : N390TH
Aircraft Serial Number : 44-85734
Aircraft Manufacturer : BOEING
Model : B-17G
Engine Manufacturer : WRIGHT
Model : R-1820 SER
Aircraft Year : 1944
Owner Name : LIBERTY FOUNDATION INC
Owner Address : 231 N HOAGLAND BLVD
KISSIMMEE, FL, 34741-4531
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 22-Apr-2003
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Limited

iamprof40 · September 30, 2008

B-17 B390th
Thisis the one in the pic:
N-number : N390TH
Aircraft Serial Number : 44-85734
Aircraft Manufacturer : BOEING
Model : B-17G
Engine Manufacturer : WRIGHT
Model : R-1820 SER
Aircraft Year : 1944
Owner Name : LIBERTY FOUNDATION INC
Owner Address : 231 N HOAGLAND BLVD
KISSIMMEE, FL, 34741-4531
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 22-Apr-2003
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Limited

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

cmason wrote:

Me too, loved putting plastic models together, had dogfights enacted from the ceiling

Then when I got a little older I used to set them out on a dirt field and shoot them with a BB gun

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

pyry wrote:

Nice stuff! Love those old planes. I wonder what it would take to get to fly in one and just how far would actually flying one be...

Actually it can be done for about $400. Here's info on their schedule of appearances and flight costs.

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

cunarder534 wrote:

Nice shots.

Thanks for looking and commenting Tim.

Jack'll do · September 30, 2008

Wow iamprof40 that is a lot of info. Thanks for posting it.

crmitche · October 1, 2008

Great images and what a treat to see such a historical piece in action. There's a B-25 at the CAF near me. I got to sit in the pilot's seat and crawl up into the nose gunner space while chaperoning a field trip a few years ago. It was an amazing experience.

Cheers
Craig

moose135 · October 1, 2008

Nice shots, Jack! It seems like Long Island has been crawling with WWII bombers this summer - we had "Nine O Nine" here over the Labor Day weekend. I never get tired of shooting (or looking at) photos of these old gals! Thanks for sharing.

Jack'll do · October 1, 2008

Thanks Craig and Moose. I'm glad others appreciate the nostalgia these old birds create as much as I do.

Panther · October 2, 2008

Howdy Jack,

What wonderful images and I'll bet that was an exceptional time shooting and seeing those big birds.

Very nicely done.

B-17

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