This B 17 was owned by John, and Ray Elgin owners of Aero Flite in Cody, Wy. "On August 18, 1970 air Tanker A-34, a B-17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash." Credit: WY Fallen Firefighters Memorial For several years after the crash John continued to fly the sister B 17 fighting fires, and he continued Aero Flite until he sold it in 1986. As a side note, John Elgin was the designated flight examiner that signed off on my pilots license, 1971.
I love the look of the A26 and never miss a chance to view one. I remember planes like the ones show here being used near where I lived being used to fight fire. I remember seeing charge up over the ridge with full loads of retardant. And I remember some not coming back. It's a tough business!
The young men who flew Fort's into aerial combat would have been lucky to have four turboprop engines pulling their aircraft, doubtless to higher altitudes and higher airspeeds. The less time over enemy territory and especially in the target area, the better!
It's a tragedy, these birds have either crashed, or those that survived have been turned into gaudy "dime a dozen" warbird "TRIBUTES". No one keeps one in Tanker colors, even though, had it NOT been for those companies, 97% of those bomber and transport planes would be soda cans or razor blades.
B-17 with Rolls Royce Silver Darts...crashed. Do not know particulars...grew up with Aviation Specialties B-17's remainders were sold to warbird interests.
These old girls (bombers) were never meant to fly the hours they did nor the missions of being a tanker. I can't remember exactly what the DoD specified for a service life in hours for these planes, but I was surprised how low it was. These WWII planes flying, even today, are well beyond their service life.
Just grab one of those whistles the school teachers used in the 1960's; the kind with the cork ball inside. One good hard blow, and you've duplicated the sound of the RR Dart.
This B 17 was owned by John, and Ray Elgin owners of Aero Flite in Cody, Wy. "On August 18, 1970 air Tanker A-34, a B-17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash."
Credit: WY Fallen Firefighters Memorial
For several years after the crash John continued to fly the sister B 17 fighting fires, and he continued Aero Flite until he sold it in 1986. As a side note, John Elgin was the designated flight examiner that signed off on my pilots license, 1971.
Did the B17 that was sold come to Geneseo to become Fuddy Duddy ?
Great historical material here,the Turboprop B-17 crashed due to smoke ingestion into the engines,very rare footage of it flying.
Turboprop B-17. I have not seen one of these before outside of a test aircraft. Never knew that one had actually flown routinly. Great video.
I'm glad you found the video. Thanks for watching and commenting.
extremely interesting video. Thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it.
airailimages >>> The turboprop B-17 was a *new one* on me.
Do you know what happened to that aircraft?
@@timbarrett866 >>> That sucks. Thanks for the info!
In Alamogordo NM in the 70s, we had a similar gathering due to fires in the mountains. I have some pictures from that event.....such great planes
I love the look of the A26 and never miss a chance to view one. I remember planes like the ones show here being used near where I lived being used to fight fire. I remember seeing charge up over the ridge with full loads of retardant. And I remember some not coming back. It's a tough business!
Love that B-17 turboprop conversion. It's real cool.
Yes, that was a rare find. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Awesome video footage. Huge thanks to whoever took the time to film it back in 1970, its such an interesting collection of aircraft!
Glad you found Airailimages. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Turbo prop B-17 PBY PB4Y F8F what a collection of historic aircraft.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The B17G N66573 crashed outside of superior Montana in the mid 70s both pilots were killed. The plane or what’s left of it is still there
The young men who flew Fort's into aerial combat would have been lucky to have four turboprop engines pulling their aircraft, doubtless to higher altitudes and higher airspeeds. The less time over enemy territory and especially in the target area, the better!
Tigercat looks like it could fight anything
Except for an engine failure at a critical moment.
It's a tragedy, these birds have either crashed, or those that survived have been turned into gaudy "dime a dozen" warbird "TRIBUTES". No one keeps one in Tanker colors, even though, had it NOT been for those companies, 97% of those bomber and transport planes would be soda cans or razor blades.
B-17 with Rolls Royce Silver Darts...crashed. Do not know particulars...grew up with Aviation Specialties B-17's remainders were sold to warbird interests.
Interesting shape and proportions with those four RR Darts.
These old girls (bombers) were never meant to fly the hours they did nor the missions of being a tanker. I can't remember exactly what the DoD specified for a service life in hours for these planes, but I was surprised how low it was. These WWII planes flying, even today, are well beyond their service life.
"Beautiful Birds"
no sound of the engines. Wanted to hear what the Rolls Royce Darts sounded like on the B-17
Just grab one of those whistles the school teachers used in the 1960's; the kind with the cork ball inside. One good hard blow, and you've duplicated the sound of the RR Dart.
Screaming Mimi.
I bet the B17 turboprop had amazing performance advantage over the original B17 withe Wrights
When I saw film like this as a kid, I thought 'Cool!' Now I cringe at the wear on those irreplaceable warbirds...
Don't cringe. They're the primary reason most of them are still around.
William L.Byers
"