Aircraft Tour! Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
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- Опубликовано: 15 мар 2020
- Tour the Planes of Fame Air Museum's B-17! If you'd like to see us do more of these types of videos, let us know! Like, subscribe, and comment below with your questions and suggestions for more videos you'd like to see.
"If I get stuck in the bombbay, ill become a permanent attraction here"
😂
@@EthanAdey lol
Until you get unlodged "it only takes 100 pounds of pressure to break the hinges"
Hes funnier then a 12 year old
One of my maternal uncles was a right waist gunner and flew multiple missions over Europe in a B-17 during WW2. He got hit in the arm during a mission and the doctors initially thought he was going to lose that arm but they managed to save it. While he was in the hospital, his plane with all his buddies went on another mission and was shot down with no survivors. The doctors were going to medically discharge him but he somehow convinced them not too and he went on to be a replacement gunner with various crews for the rest of the war. He lived to be 95 y/o.
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
It was truly a team effort of those brave courageous Yanks and Chaps going up to fight the evil hatred terroir of Nazi Germany. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧. Along with the other nations who sent their boys to fight N.Germany.
Luck was on his side
What a MAN! God rest his soul in peace.
My dad flew a B-17 that was converted to a flying hospital during WW 2. He spent much of the Pacific theatre time flying wounded soldiers from Guam to Oakland. My mom had a picture of him flying a B 17 under the Golden Gate Bridge taken from Vista Point. He told me flying PBY's was his favorite.
You mean like air ambulances which transport woundeds to a near base/hospital by 'air hospital'
PBY Catalina is actually a boat plane also civilian plane turned into military bomber
My great grandfather on my mom and dads side were both soldiers, I'm German.
My fs great gpa was a pilot in a he-111
My other gpa was one of the soldiers with the red band on his arm and the swastika on it
@@Zelurpio any pictures of them we can see?
A copy of that photo deserves to be in a museum
The giant air battles of WWII with massive formations of bombers vs swarms of fighters were a unique type of battle that never happened before the war and will never happen again. Plane technology before the WWII era wasn't advanced enough to put hundreds of bombers in the air at once, and since then technology has moved on so that you don't need hundreds of bombers with inaccurate bombs to attack a target. The battles over Europe were a unique hellscape for combat, and we should marvel at the skill and courage of all those involved.
This was what made ww2 so deadly new tech but still mostly unguided weapons. At the battle of Kursk it was basically thousands of tanks battling at once. One thing about the war it was awful but those men saw some sites that had to be insane seeing nothing but burning tanks tanks firing blowing up as far as the eye could see
Hay I donated money for that B-17 when I was at that air museum
good job! I love this bomber :))w
Bruh, worth it
Hay is for horses
@@Rascal_the_Raccoon technically, in this instance, it isn't even a pun since the OP actually said hay lol
Cool!
My Dad served with the 95th Division, part of Patton's 3rd Army. He said he saw so many bombers flying over you couldn't see the beginning or the end, just a continuous grouping of planes as far as the eye could see. Thanks to all who served and fought!
photo as proof or it never happened.
I had a late friend who was an officer in the Luftwaffe “Flak Korps,” the anti-aircraft flak batteries of 88mm and 105mm flak guns. He told me that he admired the B-17 for its durability and sturdiness in absorbing battle-damage and continued to fly in spite of the damage. Upon close inspection of shot-down B-17s, he was amazed at its sturdy construction. He said it was always a special treat for him to see the B-17s flying at air shows.
THATS GERMAN
I was actually inside a B-17 previously at an air show and this guy was correct. I stand at 6-1 and 185 at the time and I had a hard time getting around the bombay and the rest of the plane. Amazing plane. My late uncle was a co-pilot inside of 44-6619 shot down by a 109 and held prisoner for the last six months of the war. Heroes, one and all.
Was it the Texas raiders b17?
Great to see the inside of the B17 and to know what those young heroes went through. So many valuable lives lost in the fight against evil.
Yeah, imagine what they could have done in life had they not had to go into warfare. But certainly fighting Hitler and his regime of hate was a worthy cause. But unfortunately the USA commited its own form of genocide against the Native Americans. Amazing cultures have been lost and destroyed as a result. There is just a great depth to many of them and how they see things in a deeply spiritual manner
It is my belief that white people have no business teaching the indigenous peoples about religion. Rather, it is white people who must learn from the indigenous peoples, who understand matters of the heart much more deeply
@@skybirdnomad why have that entire conversation? He was honoring the people who fought in ww2, not talking about spiritual beliefs and religions
Yes, they were civilians bombed to death.
37% of these planes were lost in WW2. The percentage was higher in 1943 before we had good fighter escort and dominated the skies. Also consider the casualties on the planes that were not shot down. These statistics should put in perspectives what these young men were up against on a daily basis during the war. Much respect.
amen amen
As a Veteran of the American War in Vietnam (Indochina) I have the utmost respect for the WWII flight crews. It is hard to imagine a thousand aircraft in the air at a time night after night, day after day until the Nazi's cashed it in. I toured a B-17 at Palm Springs, CA and was struck just how small the diameter of the fuselage is compared to a modern airliner. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. Thank you Planes of Fame Air Museum for your video tours.
What a beautiful bird. I'm glad its still around. I wouldn't have wanted to fly in the tail or the ball turret
Read somewhere that ball turret gunners actually had the highest survival rate. Amazing! Would not relished the thought of sitting in that confined space really not knowing what was going on in the main part of the aircraft. Nerves of steel I guess!
@@geodes4762 also if the plane had to make a belly landing, you’re body would be washed out of the turret with a hose after
@@Joe93819 That was part of the story “Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”. I’d be curious to hear how many instances they had of trapped ball turret gunners who were actually killed in this manner. Don’t know if this was a made up story, and isolated incident or what.
@@geodes4762
They did? That's definitely a shock to me cuz I heard that they were prime targets for AA fire, since they were on the bottom, and since it's really damn cramped in there, the gunner wouldn't have space to wear his Chute while in there and would have to strap it on while in a free fall, assuming he survived of course. Plus, if the bombers landing gear was shot out, the gunner would be crushed as it would have to land on its underside and there's nothing separating the ball turret from the ground (unless of course he jumps out before the plane lands)
@@Joe93819 Despite reportedly first hand accounts of this happening, the Air Force (who kept meticulous records) has no record of a Ball Gunner being crushed while trapped in the ball during a belly landing.
The man doing the talking was very respectful and eloquent, thanks for the interesting tour. It also shows the guys who flew these were much more exposed to the elements and attack than first realised.
One of the most detailed tours of a B-17 I've ever seen. Thanks for the video.
You need to watch more
Grandfather, Edwin Simon Goldwasser, 1st Lt pilot 1943-1945 (20 years old in 1943). 8th AF 92nd BG 407th Sq. 19 missions, wore the H on his dogtags so would have been summarily executed in the event of a crash landing had he survived. Finally got a chance to ask him about his experience when he was 90. Asked him if was ever afraid and the reply was "Just doing my job". Got some pretty good stories out of him before his passing. Greatest generation. Bless them all.
I have so much admiration and respect for all those American patriots who designed , built , flew , and crewed these magnificent air planes
Respect for all those Hero's!
My thoughts just cant come close as the reality in 1944.
Those man gave their live for us.
Thank you forever!!!!
Strijders!
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
It was truly a team effort of those brave courageous Yanks and Chaps going up to fight the evil hatred terroir of Nazi Germany. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧. Along with the other nations who sent their boys to fight N.Germany.
@@RichadTheLionHeat quite the patriot.
amen
I'm an aviation guy with two tours of combat with the AH64 and AH 64 D models. I have nothing but respect for those men. God bless all of those who lost their lives for our freedom.
The guys flying these weren't old enough to drink these day they were not far off childhood, very heroic.
Great Tour: My Dad was a navigator aboard a B-17 in the Pacific. This helps me understand more the perils he faced. Thank-you!
This is so awesome!!. I'm a proud grandson of a flight engineer/gunner who lived in the B17 for many many missions. (1942-44 Mst Sgt. 301BG 15AF 419th Sq) He worked for Sperry after the war too.
I worked on a model of a B17F. This video explains more about my model! Thank you
My favorite plane of all time!
"Once I get stuck in the bomb bay , I will be a permanent attraction here"
LOL
Fantastic video. When I had my house in Rhodes Ranch just south east of Las Vegas, on fine afternoon I was outside my house sipping on a cold ice tea whenI looked up to see a B-17 fly over my house. It came from Nellie Air Force base and the air show. The aircraft was low enough to wave at the guys aboard. What a sight to see and the sound it made with all four engines. I’m sure it was a fantastic aircraft to see back in the 40’s as it was today. Thanks for the video walkthrough and information.
Thanks for this video I saw one a lynchburg va airport those engines were huge man the bravery of the young men is beyond comprehension we owe them so much
My neighbor was b-17 co-pilot with 15th AAF in Italy. He still loves to talk about his experience and has a good memory. He was 100 yr old on 4/21/22. He flew 13 missions between Jan-May 1945. So few of these hero’s left.
Great video. Of interest to all is I believe this B17 was the last active USAF B17 and it was a star in the TV show 12 O’Clock High. Some of those episodes are now available on You Tube. We all miss Wilber😢
Thank you. My Dad flew in one of those B17s with the 8th Army Air Corps out of England as a Bombardier. We cherish his Wings. God Bless.
My dad was a pilot 398th bomb group our dads may have had a beer together back then. They were real men back then.
Proud Grandson of 15AF 301st BG here. His medals/awards and class A's are my prized possessions.
I can't help but notice all the little things you guys have improved since I saw Piccadilly Lilly II last, I miss pretty much everything about POF, and it has already been 5 years... I hope to visit sometime soon.
My father was a gunnery instructor and a waist gunner/flight mechanic on B-17s at Tyndall Field Florida during WW2.
Thank you for this amazing video. My dad was a tail gunner on the Down ‘N Go. They were shot down in August 1944 with two fatalities. Dad spent over 9-months in Stalag Luft 1. This video gave me more insight into what Dad and all of those other boys did for us.
Truly the greatest generation.
Had the pleasure of visiting Planes of Fame last month. Absolutely incredible collection of aircraft and equally incredible docents. Well displayed and arranged... if any of y'all are ever in the LA area, this is a must see.
Love seeing Picadilly Lilly, cant wait for her to be restored and hope she keeps her 12 oclock high name
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
Thanks Planes of Fame, for keeping history alive.
I had the good fortune to fly in 'Fuddy Duddy several years ago.
What an experience.
God imagine how horrifying it would have been to be going on a mission into hostile territory in one of these.
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
It was truly a team effort of those brave courageous Yanks and Chaps going up to fight the evil hatred terroir of Nazi Germany. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧. Along with the other nations who sent their boys to fight N.Germany.
Try night bombing in one of these
Not if youre flying over an unarmed city to kill as many citizens as possible
You know when you are that young you havnt had much time to even think about death. You really havnt even experienced life and so it almost feels like you cant die. Just about everyone feels that when they are young. Plus the rush of adrenaline.
I think about that every time I see inside one of those things. It seems almost like it was signing a death warrant to join a B-17 Crew. We owe them so much.
Thank you Planes of Fame. I was fortunate enough to be able to fly the bombardier's position on the B-17 (Sentimental Journey) that was at the museum last week. That was a fantastic experience. I am proud to be a member of the Planes of Fame Museum.
She's a beauty but she ain't no lancaster, yes I'm english 😂 your boys were extremely brave flying day bombing raids.
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
It was truly a team effort of those brave courageous Yanks and Chaps going up to fight the evil hatred terroir of Nazi Germany. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧. Along with the other nations who sent their boys to fight N.Germany.
@@RichadTheLionHeat I love it, ultra rare Japanese and German prototypes. Just down the street is yanks air museum is less than a mile AWAY, Definitely worth an hour or so drive.
Your boys were no less brave! The Brits gave the nazis hell!
Hey we Both did our part
The b17 and the lancaster did well
@@RichadTheLionHeat okay chill with emotes one's enough
My dad was a youth during WW2. He used to carve airplane models of bombers in training missions flying over his home. He had a brass Bombay doors and his mom's sewing needles on the gun turrets and carved cedar propellers that spun. He had about 4 models he made. One was a b17 and one was a b25 I think.
Thanks for your good humoured tour and insights. Appreciate it. As you say, profound respect for those who flew.
Excellent job. This guy is a great representative tour guild! Not only a beautiful plane for guys to admire but a handsome guy for the ladies!
My son and I got to go up in the Yankee Lady B-17 at Willow Run, Ypsilanti Michigan, a few years ago. An awesome experience. Whole lotta respect for the crews that flew in this aircraft.
My father flew B17 escort out of RAF Bodney. He flew P51B and D. Last aircraft was a P51D "Little Buster." Also DFC and AM. The 352nd Fighter Group also got a Distinguished Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre. 2 confirmed. Flew with Preddy, JC Meyer, and Billy Whisner. Flew air cover for Normandy and Battle of the Bulge. Died in December of '91. Both my brother and I became pilots. My brother a retired Continental Captain. Ironically, some years ago my wife (who is from Tennessee) was able to sit in the cockpit of the now restored Memphis Belle at an airshow we were attending. Life takes one down many roads.
My father flew 35 missions as an engineer / top turret gunner. After the war he flew air rescue in Panama in a repurposed B17. What an incredible machine! Thanks very much for the tour.
Thank you so much for putting this together, I know all the extra editing and scripting work that goes into something like this to get the pacing right.
Thank you!
@@planesoffame do a B-29 tour the most rarest WW2 bomber
@@planesoffame former volunteer here. What are the plans for engine replacement or overhaul?
Very nice vid on the 17. My father was a pilot flying out of Italy in 1944 (15th AAF). He was 6’1”!
In 2000 I flew in a B17 called Nine O Nine. This guy did a great job. My ride was as a passenger and lasted for 20 minutes. This was on my bucket list. The skin of the plane is as thick as a cereal box cardboard. The noise was deafening with those 4 big engines. Unpressureized cabin and plywood for seats. My respect for these men grew ten fold. Sadly the plane crashed in 2018 and several people were killed.
Excellent I just love the B17 & the B24.... the young guys who flew these unescorted daylight missions over Europe where truly the bravest of the brave their mental health must have been shot to pieces how on earth did these young men do it is beyond me.... Everyone here in the UK owes the USAF a debt of gratitude you will never be forgotten RIP and God bless you all..... When I see all those B17s flying in a box formation I get goosebumps..... Truly wonderful sight..... 🙏🙏
Thanks for this tour. My dad was a radio operator on a B-17.
I hope that one day you will do a similar report on the Grumman HU-16 Albatross. I was a crewman on those for a couple years before they were retired / replaced by HC-130 planes.
My grandad was a radio operator/gunner on B-17S and my dad was a crew chief on C-130s. I was born at Forbes AFB in Kansas.
@@btipton6899 More of the story. My job on the C-130 was radio operator, navigator and SAR aircrew. Interestingly small world.
I went inside one. The forward gunner room was hot af, and I literally had to walk on a tiny metal beam with only ropes as guardrails, then squeeze in between 2 struts just to get there. 10/10 would go in again.
Wonderful aircraft. Thanks fir taking the time to share with us all.
Nice Video! I bet a B-17 crew member would have loved serving in a B-29. What a big difference with all those open windows at 30,000 feet. Thanks for sharing
my grandpa was a pilot. its amazing what they went through
an awesome aircraft ! beautiful sound when all engines start up. so neat to watch it taxi and lift off ! watch the episodes of twelve o clock high from 1964. so kool. makes one appreciate their valiant efforts
Very informative video, those guys were #1 Heroes. Thank you.
👍Excellent tour , I was fortunate to hop a ride ($$$$) when a B-17 came to Ogden, Utah 🇺🇸
I love this pattern, the B-17 G is my favorite bomber, next to the B-29. I especially like the guidance inside the aircraft. My father had an original bomber jacket and it was electrically heated. now I also know where it was plugged in. Thanks for this video and the fun bonus material. .
Awesome to see the engunity. Simple tough and able to get the job done. A big salute to the courageous men who had the balls to take on the missions!!!
I was able to ride in a B-17 a few years ago. A great experience. In take-off I was in the radio operator seat but we were able to crawl in the nose during flight. I’m amazed they did such long and high altitude flights on their missions.
I've just found your channel and I absolutely love those bloopers.
Nice plane too ;)
Good tour. Thanks. Average age of crew: 21. Breaks my heart.
What a wonderful review of this beautiful aircraft. Thank you.
i've loved the b-17 since i was six.
Great video, my mother worked repairing battle damaged B-17's in Louisiana.
I personally flew on the Yankee lady/she’s stationed at Willow run Michigan..! ✌🏼😎🇺🇸
Well done tour thank for putting this together.
Back in the 1990s I was driving between Waco and Temple Texas heading south to the city of Temple on I-35 when flying above us heading north were 2 B-17s probably a part of the then titled Confederate air Force who had so many amazing vintage airplanes. Still to this day it was an amazing sight, I can only imagine what it must of been like to see a 1,000 of them in flight. Something I will never forget.
It must have been frightening flying in these aerial coffins
They can suffer much of bullets and shrapnels and still to fly. Compared to other planes from this time it was relatively safe :V
@@mateuszgigon3724 yeah
Gliders were the real coffins
thanks for the tour from spain!
Thank you very much for making and sharing, appreciate it a lot.
Greets from the Netherlands 🌷, T.
Been in the B17 in mof in Seattle - great planes.
Mark 7:38 never knew there were Top Turret operating systems with chairs. I thought the top turrets were all operated from a standing position within a rotating ceiling to floor ‘V” frame with foot peddles on the floor. I'm always excited when the lower part of the top turret operating system is left in position. On most touring B-17's they remove the lower part of the top turret and people think the gunner just had two guns sticking out of the turret and used his muscle to turn the turret. I understand why they do it (ease of public access) but I still think it is a misrepresentation. I believe the B-17G "Nine O Nine" (N234909) had the full stand up Top turret mechanism but she crashed and was lost 10/02/2019.
Nicely done. You do great job of explaining so much complexity in a concise manner. As a pilot I enjoy your reference to what it was like for those who have dreamed about the experience and what courage those young men displayed for 25 missions or more. Bravo!
I fortunate to have gotten a ride in one back in the late 80s at the Trenton, NJ airport. I sat in every position in it except for the pilots seat. It was an experience that I'll never know the B17 is my favorite bomber.
I've been lucky enough to see the Memphis Belle and the B-29 Bock's Car, but I've never seen the insides, so this was really great!
Great video describing the b17 and the crew member's situation during flight. I've been to planes of fame air museum down in Chino, California. Fantastic air museum to visit. If you haven't, check it out. Another great one is the palm springs air museum. I do want to add though that your voice is kinda hard to hear when your away from the camera.
Thanks for the video. It is a beautiful aircraft
Thank you for making this video. I am very thankful for what those people did. It's hard to think of a more terrifying job.
My father and his twin brother flew in B-17s on missions over Germany from England during WWII. My father was the tail gunner, his brother was the ball turret gunner. My uncle was wounded by frostbite when his heated suit malfunctioned. On the next mission the plane went down over Germany. My father spent the next 20 months as a POW. Thanks for the talk. My father oftened mentioned the bicycle seat he sat on during missions. He chose the tail gunner position because it had a thick piece of armor between him and the window.
I am now reading a book about the Regensburg-Schweinfurt missions on 8/17/1943. God bless our veterans who made back home from any war. My friends Dad was a left waist gunner in the 401st Air Group who fly 35 missions. I don't know how he made it through all that fire. God bless all of our veterans and active duty personnel. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Awesome video! Thank you.
Great tour, thanks for putting this up. Perhaps some of the unusual Axis aircraft in the PoF collection could be covered like this? D4Y Judy, Bachem 349 etc
Great idea, thanks!
I am interested in touring the Planes of Fame museum. Great walk through. Very educational and inspiring. Yes, each aircrew member in my book of courage were brave beyond question. True American Warriors of Freedom. We must never forget them. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸
It was truly a team effort of those brave courageous Yanks and Chaps going up to fight the evil hatred terroir of Nazi Germany. 🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧. Along with the other nations who sent their boys to fight N.Germany.
Hats off to those bave men who flew those missions during the war.
Great work and very interesting! thanks for sharing this :)
greetings from germany
Great video guys.
I'm just surprised to see it has a B-24 top turret with the seat and not a B-17 turret where the gunner stood up.
Great to see her being restored.
The cold was so bad in the B-17’s that the crews at times got frostbite. The waist gunners were standing at huge OPEN windows. I can’t imagine how cold those guys were. Over 30,000.00 bomber crewmen gave their lives in WWII. Statistically there was no more dangerous position in which to serve in the Allied forces than to be a member of a heavy bomber crew. 🇺🇸 May you all Rest In Peace. You earned it. God bless your families.🇺🇸
I lived near Chino Airport some decades ago, and used to take the family to Flo's Restaurant for Sunday breakfast, and then we toured the B-17 and other aircraft exhibitions at Chino. Great place. I remember one tour guide telling me that when they finished refurbishing a B-17, the USAF would come and reclaim it. That was a huge problem at the time. I never saw this specific B-17 (the Kismet) at Chino, so I suspect it is a more recent addition and wonder if the USAF is still a problem for planes that have been refurbished.
Every time I travel from Australia to LA I have to spend a day at Planes of Fame. 😀🇦🇺
Thanks for putting out the video
beautiful aircraft! looks like you need to build a roof over it though.
just got to see the memphis belle up close again at the airforce museum last weekend.
Thankyou, very clear and concise video 👍
If you're ever in Palm Springs California, go to the Air Museum there. Very nice. I could barely fit through the bomb bay sideways.
Kids were flying these..easy to move around for them. We were pumping out 16 planes a DAY at the height of production. No country could compete with our war machine production toward the end of WWII.
All these years later, still a beautiful aircraft.
Beaut video mate, thank you.
Love your videos! Also your Museum is great! Keep up the good work!😎
I've been on a tour of both the B17 and the Lancaster, that was late 70's here in England.
I was about 18 at the time and was struck at just how unpleasant it was in both bombers, the Lancaster wasn't as bad, but still very cramped.
We owe these men a debt of gratitude which can never be met.
I'd just like to say the Germans were also very young, the FW190 was so tight the young pilots had to be forcibly helped onto the cockpit, God only knows how they managed to bail out.
Films like this should be shown to all the whinging whiny kids that complain about anything,
Here you go sonny hop in this and don't move for eight hours.
Great bit of video, thanks.
The B-17 was classified as a heavy bomber during WWII. I saw one at an airshow parked next to an F-14 Tomcat and the two aircraft were about the same size.
A very informative tour. Some great strides have been made in the restoration of the former "Picadilly Lilly" since we saw her on a visit to the Planes of Fame museum in June, 2016. I was told the plan was to restore her to flying condition, but I've read that it may not be possible due to corrosion in the main wing spar--Is that true? Regarding crewmen moving around the interior in flight--I once attended a seminar on flying in combat in the B-17 at an EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI about 20 years ago One panel member flew 14 missions before being shot down and made a prisoner of war with the Germans. The plane was hit and they heard the bail-out bell. He was the flight engineer and had to leave the top turret, find and clip on his parachute, then try and crawl forward because a wing and bomb bay were on fire. It was a tight fit with his heavy sheepskin flying suit, parachute and harness catching on everything. He and the navigator were able to get out of the front escape hatch and they were the only ones to make it out. He landed OK and was captured right away. The navigator had serious fractures from parachuting and landing and spent a couple of months in a German hospital. The man spent something like 20 months in one of the Stalag Luft camps before he was liberated. He figured when he was escaping the burning plane, it took al of about a minute and a half. I remember he said when he deployed his 'chute, the force ripped one of his sheepskin boots right off of his foot!
Wow!
Thank you for the video! I can’t wait to look through your channel and I hope you have one on the b-24 and 29!
Also, I believe that, on a percentage basis, USAAF personnel had the highest percentage chance of being KIA, WIA, MIA, or a POW if you were in the US military!
I think the personnel that had an even higher percentage were crews on Liberty ships but I don’t believe they were considered in the actual armed forces, per se.