The All American B-17 – World War II Survival Story

realverse.com ^ | 10/21/15 | KB

[Kartographer]

I conside the fact that Bragg could sit in the pilot seat with 'cojones' that big a miricale as well!

AHHH... the things you find when you have a bout of insomia

[Kartographer]

[AFreeBird]

Wow!

[real saxophonist]

bump

[ARGLOCKGUY]

If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going.

[wastoute]

Boeing...South Carolina! Boeing in libtards land can GTH.

[GreenLanternCorps]

The B-17, takes a licking and keeps on ticking...

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Thank you for posting.They repaired that bird with the ass end from another wreck and she went back into service.Tough ole bird for sure.

[Does so]

An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress

Could have been a Kamikazer.

;)

[Does so]

IIRC, the (124406) pilot wrote a message on the back, entreating mail censors to allow the photo through to family.

[Flick Lives]

The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.

Where's a roll of duct-tape when you need it!

[wally_bert]

I took a B17 ride a few years ago.

It’s a pricey but good experience.

[stylin19a]

Incredible that the tail gunner went back into that tail after being pulled out.

[Captain Rhino]

It also helps when your airliner is built by the world's foremost bomber builder:

Here is a link to the Wikipedia article on the accident:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243

[stayinyoung]

My insomnia thanks your insomnia for something interesting.

[oldvirginian]

“The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.”

Amazing what good old American ingenuity can do!
Especially when ones ass is on the line!

[Buckeye McFrog]

One of the biggest influences on me as a teen was an old guy from the neighborhood who had flown B-17’s out of England during the war.

He was alive because of the tremendous amount of flak those planes could take and still make it back to the tarmac.

Said he’d never fly in a more modern bomber. One nick of a hydraulic line and you were all done for.

[Captain Peter Blood]

There are several stories of the Storied B-17 and crews surviving the impossible.

We will never see another era like W.W.II, I often think I was born too late. I read a great deal of history from that time and I never cease to be amazed at what was accomplished.

I look at the landscape today and just shake my head, we do not have what it takes to fight a War like W.W. II again. Too many elements would destroy us from within to prevent victory.

[BlueLancer]

"There are several stories of the Storied B-17 and crews surviving the impossible."

Amazing Stories - The Mission>

[Captain Peter Blood]

That was a good episode. That series was not too bad.