World War II Bomber Drops Human Munitions Over Chicago

Jalopnik ^

[nickcarraway]

The Flying Fortress was made famous in its role in the Daylight Strategic Bombing Campaign of WWII and the post-war movies, like Memphis Belle, that made it an icon. Now this B-17 is no longer avoiding anti-aircraft fire or enemy fighters but has exchanged its explosive warheads in order to drop people from the bomb bay.

The four-engine taildragger was built in 1945, too late to see combat, and now flies as part the World War II aircraft collection with the Collings Foundation. This particular B-17 has served many roles over the years including Air and Sea Rescue, a water bombing firefighter, as well a testing the effects of three different nuclear explosion. Jumpers for the Chicagoland Skydiving Center had the rare opportunity drop from the belly of the antique bomber.

The Collings B-17 is part of the Wings of Freedom Flight Experience that is currently touring the country and gives patrons the opportunity to take flights in a variety of warbirds including the B-24 and B-25 bombers as well as a P-51 Mustang. Flights aren't cheap, but the majority of the cost is a tax-deductible donation to a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit and the chance to ride in one of these vintage aircraft might be considered priceless.

[nickcarraway]

[Husker24]

I’d say flying over Chicago, there IS a good chance of running into enemy fire.

[FunkyZero]

Wow, I can’t imagine the awesome... lookup up and seeing that profile climb away from you. Let alone getting a ride in one.

[Husker24]

I’d like to eat a couple chili dogs and drop a couple of my own human munitions on Chicago.

[exit82]

Thanks,nick, great post.

Here’s a link to the video accompanying the article:

http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/world-war-ii-bomber-drops-human-munitions-over-chicago-1693833358/+Kyosuke

[mountn man]

[mad_as_he$$]

I rode in that B-17 about 15 years ago. $250 (as I recall) Louder than hell dogs! Never forget it.

[Paladin2]

It appears to have a ball turret. Nice clip.

[Paladin2]

It appears to have a ball turret. Nice clip.

[cripplecreek]

You can get a ride in a B-17 or a B-25 at the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run in Ypsilanti Mi.

"Where Heroes Have Flown" - Yankee Air Museum B-17 Flight Experience

[exit82]

Check the video link in #5 for just that view.

[ecomcon]

lol

[cong. dance leader]

My father, who just passed away last April, was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in WWII. Flew 28 missions, based out of Italy. Didn’t talk about it too much, but did comment that it was very difficult to track the German fighters, let alone hit anything. The couple of times they saw the Messerschmitt ME-262, that his turret hydraulics could even turn fast enough to track it.

[cripplecreek]

Planes planes planes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Q29FopWrY

[exit82]

Thanks,cc, gave me my aviation fix for tonight.

Great planes.

Nothing like the sound of a Merlin engine in a P-51D Mustang.

Imagine being a 20 year old Army Air Corp pilot in 1944 and being issued one of those!

[atomic_dog]

I rode it last year out of Moffet; $450. I was leery of dropping so much on a 20 minute ride but my friends talked me into and I never regretted it. It was noisy and cramped. All I could think about was twentysomething year old kids riding in one them 6-8 hours a day 2-3 times a week over Germany while getting shot at. Gives you a small understanding oh what great men they were.

Here's San Jose from the port 50.

[cripplecreek]

Blue Angels coming to town at the end of August.

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/

[Windflier]

[Oatka]

A view from outside of another B-17 courtesy Jetman. I about wet myself at 1:52 (:09 ain't bad either).

[Fiji Hill]

I’ve seen B-17’s in action. On October 15, 1967, a brush fire broke out in the Whittier Hills near Whittier, Calif. As aSanta Ana wind pushed it toward the city, B-17’s attacked it, dropping chemicals. They were joined by a couple of TBM Avenger torpedo bombers. The fire burned 2,000 acres, but no structures were lost.