Posted on 06/13/2011 10:54:02 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at theindychannel.com ...
By a pretty good number, actually. Official USMC dead in WW2 is 19,733. 8th Air Force dead is 23,806. Counting wounded, MIA and POWs gives 67,000 Marines and 62,000 8th Air Force. Plus the 8th was a far smaller unit, manpower-wise, than the USMC. The actual air crew strength of the 8th was about 135,000, compared to the USMC's 475,000 by war's end.
The air crews were certainly more likely to become POWs than Marines, but they were also far more likely to be killed.
They built 12,000 of them. About a dozen can still fly today.
I just got word that my wifes sisters father in law had a stroke.
He is a old WW2 pilot, my father in law is a WW2 pilot also,myself I flew for money.
I find irony and greatness, The Liberty Belle went down today and so did Poppy, both will be greatly missed.
The hum of four Pratt & Whitney R-1690 engines isn’t something you hear everyday. Sounds like victory.
Prayers for Poppy. He and your father-in-law deserve our praise and gratitude.
They don’t make planes—or men—like that anymore.
I flew T-38's and King Airs.................I never did what those 2 old gentelmen did.
That seemed to be the norm for that generation. I used to ask my dad about his experience and all he would say is, “We had a job to do, we did it and we came home.”
The only time he I ever saw him get emotional about war in general was when I told him I was going to enlist in the Navy during Viet Nam. He very heatedly told me no I was not. He had fought a war so his son wouldn’t have to and I was going to college. End of argument.
I don’t suppose we will ever know the horrors these men, very young men at the time (my dad was 20 when the war started), saw and endured.
I used to live out by Indianapolis Regional Airport (nee’ Mount Comfort Airport) where they stage these shows. One day I was outside and heard the drone of the engines and looked for the plane. it took at least 5 minutes before it came into view. I remembering thinking what did a 1000 plane raid sound like? The Germans had to hear them coming when the crossed the Channel.
They are using some of these remaining planes to provide “Vet Flights” for WWII veterans. My father was privileged to go on one last year and it was quite a thrill for him. He is 92 years old. He wasn’t a pilot in the war, but did get shipped to England in a B17.
At takeoff, they sound just like they did in the movies...sent chills down my back.
Looks like an omen.
The B-17 IMHO is the best, coolest looking airplane ever made. No more powerful symbol of righteous American might ever flew.
Now she's GOT to email those of burn a CD for me. Or post them through Yahoo or somewhere else.
*** The B-17 IMHO is the best, coolest looking airplane ever made ***
Interesting. I always thought the B-24 'looked' more like a heavy bomber should. That aside I know that B-17 was more popular with the crews in the Army Air Corps.
I *knew* an older gentlemen who flew in the B-17's. He was stationed in India and 'Flew The Hump'. He and his wife would come once a week to a Lounge where I used to hang out after work. And we'd talk 'War Stuff'. He loved the B-17 and said he knew he'd always make it back in it.
Those two 'old folks' could still pound em down, LOL. But that was 11 years ago so I assume they prolly aren't around any longer.
yeah, the “Buff’’ is cool but aesthetically speaking I mean... it just say’s “Righteous American Might’’. Besides, you can’t put the kind of nose-art on a B-52 that you can on a B-17. You know, some scantilly clad Emillio Vargas style babe with a name like “Miss Bea Haven’’ or “Sack Time’’.
No problem, my computer was down the last couple of days. It’s been my privilege to know a few men who flew the B-17, one was a ball-turret gunner and the other was a pilot. Both men told me they owed their lives to the fact they were in a B-17.
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