B-17 Bomber Bound For Indiana Crashes

http://www.theindychannel.com ^ | 1:15 pm EDT June 13, 2011 | theindychannel.com

[FunkyZero]

OSWEGO, Ill. -- A B-17 bomber that dates to World War II crashed and burned in a cornfield outside Chicago on Monday as it was headed to Indiana. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said aviation officials believe the seven people on board the plane escaped uninjured.

[FunkyZero]

huge bummer...

We lost another one.

[freedumb2003]

Built for might, but so elegant in flight:

The original flying fortress.

[VeniVidiVici]

Man, that sucks.

[wastedyears]

That’s a damn shame to lose one of those. I wonder if NTSB will do a full report, considering that bird saw war.

[Clara Lou]

I hate that.

[oyez]

A total loss with lot of donated time and energy went in to that historic piece of military aviation history, but thankfully the crew walked away unhurt.

[Peter from Rutland]

Thank God it’s not the one owned by the foundation here in MA. Going to ride in it this year if it’s here.

[OCC]

I’m pretty sure it was in Cincinnati Saturday morning. Saw a big 4 engine silver plane with yellow markings climbing out and heading west. The noise and size caught my attention, but it was to far away to tell if it was a B-17.

[DJ MacWoW]

ping

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Very sad, here is her history Liberty Foundation

"Liberty Belle" was scheduled to fly June 18-19th for Father's Day at Indy Regional Airport.

[Mat_Helm]

It was the Liberty Bell based out of Miami Florida. Pilot had an engine fire shortly after takeoff and attempted to return to the field but could not make it and elected to land in a cornfield. everyone got out but with no fire equipment nearby and in a wet cornfield the plane was lost due to fire as reported.

[sillsfan]

This was the Liberty Belle.
Such a shame.

Here's a better story, apparently a fire on board:
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/5935944-417/world-war-ii-plane-goes-down-near-oswego.html

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Reportedly, this was the “Liberty Belle”.

[NavyCanDo]

Any idea which one it was? I took my son to see “Aluminum Overcast” that was visiting Seattle over the Memorial Day Weekend.

[FunkyZero]

"Man, that sucks."

big time.
If memory serves me correctly (which isn't so reliable anymore), there are only about 1/2 dozen of them flying. This is a pretty huge loss.

[Lurker]

Darn. I was looking forward to hearing about a succesful bombing run on Gary, IN.

[Yo-Yo]

Related post: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2734024/posts

[HereInTheHeartland]

Disgusting to think of how many of these we ground up into scrap after the war.

[henkster]

So sad to lose one of the few remaining “Flying Forts.” Once they filled the skies over Europe.

[ErnBatavia]

Just this weekend, I was watching a documentary about the B-17’s and the 8th Air Force......indication was made that the 8th lost more men than did the Marine Corps in the Pacific - now, that’s a new one on me.