CHARIOT OF HEROES (B-17)

New York Post ^ | 7/03/03 | BOB MCMANUS

[kattracks]

July 3, 2003 -- THE nation this week end celebrates the 227th anniversary of its founding, and once again young Americans are in harm's way in foreign lands.

Therein lies a tale - and an opportunity to visit history.

But first, some numbers.

[RaceBannon]

I thought the PICADILLY LILY was the most famous B-17F?

[alfa6]

Naw, you're thinking of "The Leper Colony"

Regards and Semper FI!

alfa6 ;>}

[VANHALEN2002]

My grandfathers B-17 was called "the Nedralind"

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

America's workhorse bomber in the European Theater during World War II was the B-17, of which 12,726 were built.

McManus should do some research and find out that America's workhorse bomber was actually the B-24 which was a more capable bomber. More B-24s, 18,000+, were built than any other plane.

[Oatka]

Check out "Flying Fortress" by Edward Jablonski. Almost non-stop stories of what those airmen did and suffered.

Like:
A gunner had his arm blown off at the shoulder early in the mission. He would have bled to death if he stayed aboard so they put a ripcord in his good hand and dropped him out over Germany. The chute opened and the Krauts found and fixed him up and made him a POW.

Or:
The co-pilot who had to fight a brain-dead pilot who insisted on putting the plan into a dive. Intercom was out so he couldn't call for help. Besides, the waist, tail and radio gunners were passed out as their oxygen supply was shot up. Oh yeah, the windshield on the co-pilot's side was blown out so he had to keep his feet on his pedals but lean over to see out while he was holding on to the pilot. He did this for TWO HOURS before someone came forward. They continued the bomb run and got back safely.

Or:
The later tactic was for all planes to drop their bombs when the lead aircraft did so - they had the best bombardiers. After one attack, the bombardier, stomach blown out, hung on to his bombsight and ordered "Bombs . . ." and silence. Another airman thought the intercom went out and finished "Away" and saved the mission. The bombardier had died in mid-sentence.

It goes on and on.

[Protagoras]

My uncle was a B-17 co-pilot in the eighth. He paid the ultimate price for us. God bless those courageous men.

[Bringbackthedraft]

My family lost 3 brothers in one week over the skies in Germany. A horrific loss for one of my 2nd cousin's. The insanitiy of it all was they were bombing one of my great uncles below.

[Wright is right!]

My dad was a pilot of one based in Thorpe Abbott, East Anglia. We lost him on his 18th mission. Freak accident on climbout, not combat-related. Batch of flares stored in the cockpit went off, and the acrid black smoke filled the airplane. Everyone got out OK except my dad and his co-pilot, who stayed with the plane to steer it away from people on the ground. Crashed into the Somerleyton Estate. Buried later in Cambridge Cemetery.

Never knew him. I was born five months later. But what a guy he was.

Michael

[Protagoras]

War is truly hell. Damn fascists.

[Protagoras]

Sounds like a true hero. So many deaths outside of combat. What a waste.

[Hoplite]

Neilland's "The Bomber War" has an instructive anecdote about a Luftwaffe unit lining up to attack a B-17 formation and then seeing a B-24 formation off in the distance, which they promptly flew over to and attacked instead.

[MediaMole]

The author means well, but the actual Memphis Belle is in Memphis. A B-17 painted to resemble the Memphis Belle is visiting the museum in Long Island.

The spirit of the Memphis Belle still flys today...

[yhwhsman]

A few weeks ago, there was a celebration of 100 years of flight at an old B-17 training base in Fairmont, NE. They had a beautifully restored B-17G there, with a complete ball turret. Talked to one of the crew, the ball turret had been used in the last Memphis Belle movie. When they were done with the movie, the guys restoring this particular plane were able to buy it. I believe it's the only B-17G still flying with a complete ball turret.

Awesome plane, they did some mock bombing runs (a B-25 and P-51 showed up, as well as the only flying Junkers 52). Talk about a rush when that old girl flew over!

Yhwhsman