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Rescuing a B17
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:22 pm    Post subject: Rescuing a B17 Reply with quote

Interesting story of how a B17 managed to survive the scrapman's torch in 1945, and how it came to be rescued several decades later (USA)

http://www.aerovintage.com/rat-3.htm

R
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Old-Nail



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's amazing how many of these old birds were cut up for scrap just after the war.
I had (on my old hard drive) photo's of several hundred in rows awaiting the scrapman! Crying or Very sad

With various twisted bits of burned aluminium regularly turning up on ebay as 'part of a Messerschmitt' etc even crashed ones are worth a fortune now.

I have in mind to paint a B17 at some future time and would like to feature 'Ye Olde pub', a B17 that should never have made it home but for the gallantry of one individual.

It's a very moving and uplifting story, all the more special for having happened during a period in WWII when any thoughts of chivalry had long since faded.

Read it here: http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0197valor.asp
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sure this restaurant has had a mention before, but if not:

http://www.thebomber.com/Restaurant.asp

RJ Cool
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4751
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Next time you are on Google Earth have a look for the Davis Monthan Airbase.
It is near Tucson, Arizona.
I challenge anyone to try to count the number of disused, (some mothballed, some being dismantled) aircraft there are there.
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47p2



Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 2009
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now that's what you call a restoration job.....What a mammoth task that must be
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62rebel



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 343
Location: Charleston, South Carolina

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

have any of you seen the video/film clip of these magnificent machines being used for unpiloted remote control bombs? several were packed with explosives and flown into mountainsides to test the potential damage they could cause... heartbreaking to see otherwise functional aeroplanes destroyed thusly.
i have a deep soft spot for WWII 'planes from all theatres/combatants, but for sheer brilliance of design i'll call "Mosquito".......
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I've seen that clip. If I remember correctly, wasnt JFK's elder brother killed when one exploded?

I spent a while yesterday looking for a photo that was taken on Burtonwood airfield (in the UK) just after the war. It showed literlly hundreds of B-17's with their backs broken, being prepared for scrap. A very sad picture.

Whats even more sad though, is that there is virtually no memorial to this US base, which at one time was the biggest in Europe, and the Gateway for many US service personnel in WW2.
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pigtin



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1879
Location: Herne Bay

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember going to Burtonwood on business in the 80s, they told me they had the biggest warehouse in the world there... I think it was US army at that time?

Don.
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It had the largest covered warehousing in Europe.

Yes, it was the US Army that had it in the 80's, to be precise, the 47th ASG.
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woljags



Joined: 26 Dec 2007
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Location: Maidenhead

PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

for a short time in the 80's I was ground crew at some of the warbirds airshows,happy times
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

woljags wrote:
for a short time in the 80's I was ground crew at some of the warbirds airshows,happy times


that sounds like fun, what aircraft did you work with?

Rick
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woljags



Joined: 26 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

spitfires/p40/mustang plus we used to assemble static aircraft on the field before the public got there which was hard graft,it was mainly getting the aircraft out of the hangers before they had their preflight checks and were moved out onto the main airfield
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Drifting a little off topic, how could the B-17 in this photo possibly fly?

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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't have liked to be in the rear gunner's seat either...

R
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Neither would I Rick, neither would I! The thing that amazes me is that it actually got back to base...which must show an amazing level of pilot skill!
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