B-17 Flying Fortress Lets Down Landing Gear in Ohio Valley

WTRF-TV ^ | August 27, 2010 | Amy Wadas

[Sam_Damon]

It is history in the making.

The B-17 Flying Fortress, called the Sentimental Journey, has made its home at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport until Sunday.

7 News had the chance to go for a ride.

The plane is a takeoff back in time, back in time to the World War II era, when veterans flew on the B-17 Sentimental Journey 65 years ago. WTRF cameras had the chance to see Glendale, Shadyside and Wheeling from high in the skies on this piece of sacred history.

[Sam_Damon]

Video of the ride is at the link

[bill1952]

Dad piloted one over Germany

728th squadron, 452nd heavy bombardment Group

Rest in Peace, dad.

[ASOC]

Amen

[Lockbar]

Thats a great pic of your dad. I saw Eight, yes, 8 B-17s all flying together at one time at a air show in Michigan a few weeks back. Plus the only flying B-24 Liberator. It was absolutely amazing. When you are standing next to four of the B-17s on a taxi-way with all their engines running, it really propels you back to thinking you are in a time machine. Much like the first 10 minutes of the original “12 o’Clock High” movie.

[chris_bdba]

We have heard over the last few days all kinds of really loud planes overhead here in SE Ohio. Perhaps this is some of what we’ve been hearing?

[Young Werther]

My Dad worked at the Curtis Wtight engine plant. He made the cylinder sleeves for the engines that powered the B-17s and B-29s.

I can remember visiting an air show here in Dallas. Dad was visiting and when we went to the show Dad went to the B-29 and rubbed his hands over the nacelle. He checked the engine and said, "Yup" this one came from our factory"!

[GreyFriar]

B-17 ping. Watch the tv new video clip. The flying sequence begins with watching the takeoff from Charlie’s office in the nose. Make sure Mrs. Greyman sees it.

[Sunshine Sister]

My Dad was a middle gunner and radio operator on a B 17. I’m not sure what unit but he was in but I know he flew over Italy and maybe Australia. He too, has left us.

[Squantos]

Respect owed those men like your Dad can never be paid enough. I have flown as a passenger in the B-17 when it stopped here in the Panhandle a few years ago. Worth every bit of the 300 bucks for a 15 minute ride around the area. Of course flak, fear, danger and pucker factor your Dad and his crew experienced were not included.

God Bless em .....

[SusaninOhio]

I was able to hitch a ride in one a few years ago - flew low over Lake Erie and must have been loud because people in boats were waving -

Yes expensive ride ($400 for each of us) but damn it was worth every penny!

[llevrok]

I toured a B17 and B24 when they flew into my town. What amazed me was how "basic" they were built and how little crew comforts there were. I saw wall plugs in the interior. These were for the crew to plug their flying suit warmers into.

Otherwise, you were essentially flying in a beer can with no heat nor pressurization. The crews who flew these were iron men!!

[2sheds]

God bless your dads and all our WWII vets!

[hinckley buzzard]

My dad was a B17 pilot too. His first plane had some nice nose art and was christened the "Miss Carriage." ( a little WWII humor for you there). Started out based in North Africa, then his wing moved to Italy. Flew fifty missions, ditched once in the Adriatic, had one fall apart as he landed in Tunis. My mother told me later he was the only pilot in his class at Pocatello who survived the war.

BTW, the B-17 was the first metal clad bomber the US Army put into production. Easy to forget how brief the history of flight really is, and what ballsy pioneers these guys were.

[hoagy62]

I got a chance to look at the Sentimental Journey up close when it visited Spokane's Felts Field back about 14 years ago. It was there for an air show.

I remember when it took off. I had friends who lived on the other side of the fence on the east side of Felts and I went over to their house when the air show was done. We sat on their porch and watch the bomber get ready for takeoff. I remember that it taxied all the way to the end of the field, then held it's brakes as the pilot put the coals to her. Raised a HUGE cloud of dust behind her...and the roar those props made! The pilot finally released the brakes and that bomber took almost all the runway to get airborne.

Something I will never forget.

[Paladin2]

Do you know Eddie from Ohio? ;-)

http://eddiefromohio.com/

[Squantos]

Agree..... history lived. Even better if your Dad flew in em as yours did. Had to be awesome emotion filled flight.

[bmwcyle]

Hand Salute..........................two

[Vigilantcitizen]

There is an excellent book written by Col. Harold D. Weekly called “The Last of the Combat B-17 drivers”. He’s from Stuebenville, Ohio.

I by him a beer everytime he comes in the local legion and in return he tells stories. Great man.

[Paladin2]

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/b17_flying_fortress.php

[Aria]

A couple of months ago the Museum of Flight in Seattle had a fund raising gala in a hangar at Boeing Field in honor of the 75th anniversary of the B17. They brought a B17 over from the museum and assembled an incredible group of actual Rosie the Riviters, crew including tail gunners, pilots (2 of whom were at our table) and all sorts of other people who were involved with the B17. There were so many stories told - fascinating. Over 900 people gave a continuous standing ovation to these people as they formed sort of an Olympic opening ceremony type parade in the center of this huge space. It was so awesome - and there weren’t that many dry eyes. These people saved the world and we all knew it.

The thing that stood out to me was the raw courage of the crews - and they were only kids. They were heros - in the real meaning of the word.