[SAMWolf]

The Fortress crews knew that the B-17 would bring them back and many planes that should not have been flying did just that.

1st Lt. Lawrence DeLancey managed to get his B-17 back to England after a direct hit by flak killed two of his crew over Cologne, Germany.

A ground launched rocket missile caused this damage to 388BG's "Panhandle" during an attack on a V-weapon site, June 15, 1944. The missile struck number 3 engine, ricocheted into the fuselage and exploded, leaving Sgt Biggs, the top turret gunner, with nasty burns. Despite extensive damage to various control lines Lt McFarlane brought the bomber down safely at Manston.

The B-17 "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) flown by Lieutenant Kenneth R. Bragg, its tail section almost severed by a collision with an enemy fighter, flew 90 minutes back to its home base, landed safely and broke in two after landing.

"Hang the Expense Again III" was seen heavily damaged, going down over France. The pilot, however, was able to bring it out of a dive and struggled back to his home field. The blast damage blew the tail gunner out of the aircraft but he survived the incident.

April 13th 1944. Crossing the Channel coast, lone survivor of the 545th BS, B-17G Squawkin' Chicken, flown by Lt. Dewayne Bennett galantly fights back a last attempt by Luftwaffe fighters to down her after the raid on Schweinfurt.

Thanks for the tour, alfa6. :-) IMHO, the greatest plane ever built.

[alfa6]

A couple of more pics that did not make it last night.

A B-17D in the Philipines. Looks like P-35s in the right background.

This was suppose to be the lead pic on the inside pics but as I said a long story.

regards

alfa6 ;>}

[alfa6]

A salute to all the young men that the "Queen of the Skies" was not able to bring back.

Deepest Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Iris7]

I am impressed by

"The B-17 "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) flown by Lieutenant Kenneth R. Bragg, its tail section almost severed by a collision with an enemy fighter, flew 90 minutes back to its home base, landed safely and broke in two after landing."

The ONLY reason that machine broke apart on landing is that, notice, the rear landing wheel has been carried away, and all the weight is being put on the bottom of the rear gunner's station. The machine is not designed to do this with such structural damage. (I guess!!!!!!!!)

The rear surface control cables are remarkably tough. Two sets of overhead control cables can be seen in the waist photos. I wonder if there is another port and starboard set under the floor. Hard to see how they remained functional otherwise, the top of the fuselage is gone so far down.

Losing the port stabilizer left the starboard stabilizer functional, apparently. Cannot see how the machine could be controlled otherwise. This was designed in, otherwise impossible.

A machine designed, intended, for war. Makes the Stuka seem like a dilettante's toy.

You know, I never saw what you saw in the B-17 until today. Can't really put it into words.

[endthematrix]

German World War II gun camera footage shows a B-17 taking a tremendous beating

http://alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/B-17inBattle.wmv