Community Forums

Terryshirley · 08-01-2018, 11:38 AM

I took a ride on a B-17G Bomber this morning. It was on my bucket list. All I could think of was what was going through ppls minds when they were on a mission.
This is an unbelievable experience and I'll never forget. I even made it all the way up to the nose turret, unreal. Let's never forget the men and women that paid the ultimate price.
We see them on TV or in movies but to actually smell one and feel it during flight is so moving.
Have fun RVN.

TonyMac · 08-01-2018, 02:52 PM

I was a salty old LtCol in the WyANG. We had two useless Lts, copilots, I'd rather have their weight in fuel. Anyway, on the way back to the squadron after their two hour lunch downtown, they see a B-17 on the civilian side of the airport; they naturally go over to investigate. An old dude with a leather bomber jacket tells them "We're heading to Casper, wanna ride along?" They say "Heck yeah!" So they're off to Casper, about 1.5 hr up the road, in a B-17, with no idea or concern on how they'd get back to Cheyenne. Each copilot got some time at the controls, and a picture of them at the controls shot thru the windscreen from the navigator's sextant bubble. And they got their B-17 time annotated in their log books. I'd love to see the look on the Chief Pilot's face when he saw that. I'd have done the EXACT same thing.

Firewall · 08-01-2018, 06:46 PM

Lost my Dad earlier this year. He was a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17G, 351st bomb squad. He completed 35 missions almost all over Germany. To this day I cannot understand how these guys did it, just imagine going to bed (not sleep) and knowing you were going in the air the next morning with numerous anti aircraft guns and german fighters shooting at you.....amazing.

About 15 years ago my nephew paid for him and my Mom to take a flight while my nephew flew along side in a piper cub taking video, awesome day for both of them!

dons2346 · 08-01-2018, 10:27 PM

My dad flew B17s. He never talked about the war but after he passed, I got to read his flight log and diary. All I can say is those guys had guts and i understand why they were called the greatest generation

Terryshirley · 08-02-2018, 05:25 AM

The ball turret is closed off on nine 0 nine but I imagine that had to be tough to get in let alone stay in. Same for the tail gun.
Hard to imagine 35 missions. I'm sorry for your loss, he was a hero and I'm sure you are very proud of him