A WWII B-17 Up Close and VERY Personal

[properchopper]

One of the few remaining, flying WWII era B-17's came to Torrance's Zamperini field today. I couldn't resist the temptation to see one of these amazing beauties up close and see if I could meet in person a pilot who flew one during the European conflict in 1944, the year I was born and orphaned before meeting my father who died in the war before I was born. I got a chance to get some photos of this glorious bird taxiing in and out. The pounding sound of the four engines was stirring, to say the least. As I was leaving I looked around to see if I could find anyone old enough to be a WWII vet. One gentlemen in a U.S. Army Air Force uniform was close by so I introduced myself. It turns out that it was Jim White, who, at the age of twenty bravely flew 18 combat missions in Europe with the 8th Air Force 398 Bomber Group. We talked. It was a moving experience and a priviledge for me to finally meet a true war hero and contemporary of the father that I never knew. What a day !

http://www.dailybreeze.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=4363316

DSC03132.JPGDSC03135.JPGDSC03141.JPG

[longballlumber]

Neat story Tony, thanks for sharing!

Later,
Mike

[m4a1usr]

There is not too many of those mighty rumblers around anymore. Especially that one. Up in this area we have an annual event at the Bremerton Airport where the Cascade War Birds bring around some of their collection and allow paying riders to get the "big" bird experience. Every fall they do a regional fly over the whole county and dazzle the folks (me for sure!) with their deep throaty roar as they pass overhead. I can hear them coming miles away and always drop what I'm doing just to watch them soar majesticly over my town. They always fly a B17 together with a B25 and make multiple passes over the sound.

Sadly the B17 that they owned crashed ane burned somewhere in the mid west some months ago. Engine failures I guess. I think no one was hurt but what a tragic loss for the avaition world. I'm glad I got a chance to see it one last time.

When I was a young buck, back in the 70's. I was an Air Crew member in a Patrol Squadron back when the last remanants of recip's (reciprocating motors) were all but almost phased out. My Squadron, VP67, had 12 SP2H aircraft that were somewhat nostalgic in nature even back then. We commonly went of 10 to 14 hour patrols over the gulf and boy did I get my fill of air time. Brings back many memories. Loved the sound of those huge motors kick off and even the exhaust smell once they lit off and got leaned out.

Glad you got a chance to see some of the simpler days of aviation. By that I mean flying with fewer worries. No flight plans. Could go do a VFR cross country and make a stop at some airport in between to get a bite or just see some ole buddies. No FAA or Homeland Security freaks getting ready to send the F18's in with sidewinders cause you deviated from your planned route. Ah, the good ole days.

John

[Fluid]

When I lived in Anchorage the Confederate Air Force would fly up a B-17 and B-24 together, spending a week each year flying out of the airport doing promos. Their flight path took them right over my house many times, at an altitude of under 1000 feet. The sound and sight were stirring indeed, even though we were used to seeing C-47s and DC-6s flying around regularly. I was able to tour the planes (no flight though) and they were much smaller inside than I had envisioned back when Twelve O'Clock High was a current TV series.....




..

[ron1950]

as a retired terminal air traiffic controller i got to work a few b-17's 24.s and 25.s and a bunch of old fighters...they were always great guys to work with and the best part is they didnt mind showing controllesr the airplanes later on lol......i was most impressed with the size of the b 17 and how small they were compared to todays fighter etc.....how 8 or 9 guys got into one of those things to fly over germany ill never know.....took real big nuts to go 20 times for sure

[properchopper]

[QUOTE=Fluid;410343]When I lived in Anchorage the Confederate Air Force would fly up a B-17 and B-24 together, spending a week each year flying out of the airport doing promos. Their flight path took them right over my house many times, at an altitude of under 1000 feet. The sound and sight were stirring indeed, even though we were used to seeing C-47s and DC-6s flying around regularly. I was able to tour the planes (no flight though) and they were much smaller inside than I had envisioned back when Twelve O'Clock High was a current TV series.....

I've been to Harlingen where the Confederate Air Force is. Pretty cool.

Between 1950-1955 I lived in Long Beach, Long Island, N.Y., close to Mitchell Field. Some days the skies were filled with enormous formations of I'm not sure what, but it was impressive and noisy. My Mother was trained as an aircraft spotter; she could identify anything in the air during those days. We had a submarine spotting tower on the beach during that time which, after it was abandoned would be a "tree house" for us juvenile delinquents. There was even an underground Nike launch tube near our Jr. High. High security; never got near it ! Interesting times

[JimClark]

Love me some old war birds great story Tony

[m4a1usr]

This weekend the WarBirds have a B17 at the Museum of flight at Boeing Field. And you can buy a ride in one of these pieces of American History. The weather is perfect too!

John

[properchopper]

This weekend the WarBirds have a B17 at the Museum of flight at Boeing Field. And you can buy a ride in one of these pieces of American History. The weather is perfect too!

John

John, if you look carefully, you might catch a momentary glimps of Rod Serling standing under the wing puffing on a Lucky

[siberianhusky]

Nice, I should scan the pics I have of the Arrow sometime, Jan Zurokowski who was the test pilot was a close family friend, flew in my grandfathers squadron during the Battle of Britain,and delivered his eulogy. When I was a kid Jan gave me copies of a number of his pictures of the Arrow.
My grandfather flew areobatics at Oshkosh a number of times, got the inside tour of lots of neat old iron. Have a picture of me sitting in his buddies Mustang with the engine running! canopy closed, Think I was 9!
Believe it or not at one point before I was born he was some kind of pilot for Noriega!
Crazy Pole would do anything to fly a plane! He was up in a trainer when Poland was invaded, first he knew about it was when his plane was being shredded by a German fighter. Left the war a confirmed ace, shot down twice, taken prisoner once and escaped with help from the Dutch, second time he ditched in the Channel.
The rest of that side of the family had an epic escape from Poland, some weren't so lucky. I ate a lot of family dinners with people who had the tattoos on the arm.