B-17 Bombers Heavily Damaged But Returned | 1
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Pictures of heavily damaged B-17 Flying Fortresses but returned to England.
== B-17G-45-DL 44-6158 „Sky Monster“ - 92nd BG; 327th BS
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A direct flak hit in the radio room blew the Radio Operator (T/Sgt. William B. Post) out of the plane. He was lucky to be wearing his chute and became POW.
Less lucky were S/Sgt. Robert L. Shackelford (Ball Turret Gunner), who was killed by the blast and S/Sgt. Frank S. Wisilosky (Waist Gunner), who was fatally wounded. The rest of Lt. Elvin E. Hendrickson’s crew retuned to base with the plane.
== B-17F-15-BO 41-24496 „Chennault’s Pappy“ - 306th BG; 423rd BS
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Despatched with Capt. Robert C. Williams’ Crew along with 12 other B-17s to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France on 17 November 1943. Hit by enemy fighters and flak. Three crew members were wounded. Top Turret Gunner T/Sgt. Kenneth R. Aulenbach was killed.
== B-17G-45-BO 42-97376 "Aunt Callie's Baby" aka "Lucky Lady“ - 95th BG; 335th BS
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Piloted by Lt. Stacy J. Tavis. Mid-Air-Collision caused by prop wash with B-17 #42-102450 (Lt. Robert L. Duncan Crew). All members of Lt. Tavis’ Crew returned safely. The entire 9 man crew of Lt. Duncan’s plane perished.
== B-17G-80-BO 43-38172 „Lovely Julie“ - 398th BG; 601st BS
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The aircraft was hit by flak after bombs away, then a shell exploded in the nose killing togglier/bombardier. S/Sgt George E. Abbott. Pilot Lt. Lawrence M. DeLancey managed to bring his battered ship home, making a safe landing despite no brakes.
== B-17G-50-BO 42-102459 "Little Kenny" - 384th BG; 544th BS
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Hit twice by flak and flew all the way back from Germany in spite of a useless rudder and extensive damage to the entire tail assembly, as well as less obvious damage to nose and wing. The pilot, 2nd Lt. Verlin D. Reed, and the co-pilot, 2nd Lt. Howard K. Johnson, did not budge the plane from formation. One piece of flak had gone through the left horizontal stabilizer and exploded against the vertical stabilizer, while another was exploding in the nose. The tail gunner Ernest J. Gariepy was wounded.
== B-17F-65-BO 42-29673 „Old Bill“ - 305th BG; 422nd Bomb Squadron
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Piloted by Capt. William D. Whitson. Suffered damage by enemy aircraft and flak. The nose was shot off by FW 190 and Navigator Lt. Douglas R. Venable Jr. was killed by flak. Capt. Whitson and his co-pilot Lt. Harry L. Holt were wounded.
== B-17G-10-VE 42-39988 "Lace's Aces" aka "The Iron Ass" - 96th BG; 339th BS
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Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Charles A. Haywood, stands beside the 3 by 6 ft. hole torn in the tail by 20 mm shells that barely missed his head. Rest of the crew unknown.
== B-17F-80-BO 42-29997 „Sack“ - 379th BG; 527th BS
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Hit by fragments of a German 21 CM (8.3 inch) Rocket on 28 July 1943. No other information available.
== B-17F-27-BO 41-24610 „Joe Btfsplk II“ - 303rd BG; 427th BS
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A 6-foot-4-inch navigator, 1st Lt. H. E. Miller, who saw a German FW-190 fighter nearly, blow the tail off the Flying Fortress flying ahead of him, thought at the time that the hole was wide enough for him to walk through. Back at the home station he had a chance to prove it. The pilot was 1st Lt. Donald D. Stockton.
== B-17G-40-BO 42-97061 „General Ike“ - 91st BG; 401st BS
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One of the giant three-bladed propellers was torn from its hub on "General Ike" by a near-hit flak burst on a bombing mission over Germany. The heavy blades scarred the engine cowling and ripped into the metal fuselage, before plumeting earthward. The plane was forced to leave the formation and returned to Bassingbourne, England, alone.
== B-17G-90-BO 43-38594 „Lady B Good“ - 457th BG; 749th BS
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The aircraft was piloted by 1Lt. Craig P. Greason. Attacked by jet-propelled Messerschmitt Me 262 on the 18 March 1945 mission to Berlin.
== B-17G-85-VE 44-8811 - 398th Bomb Group; 600th BS
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Just after bombs-away a direct hit by flak completely tore the tail gunner position away and disabled the rudder controls. The tail gunner, S/Sgt. Wallace E. Kasch, was carried away without his chute, his remains were never found. Lt. Col. Edwin B. Daily and 1st Lt. John L. Hahn, get the aircraft back to base using the engines for directional control. Rest OK.
#B17 #B17FlyingFortress
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Music: Go On Without Me by Bryan Teoh, Public Domain
The B-17 was darn tough but the crews were tougher still. God Bless those courageous young men.
Very moving pictures. A testament to all aircrews that went over Germany.
B-17's seem to have the attitude of, "I will do everything in my power to get you back home. Even if I have to sacrifice myself." B-24's on the other hand had the attitude of, "I can take you further and faster. But if you screw up, I just may kill you."
Both are effective airplanes. The B-17 looks more beautiful :)
God bless all those boys who gave it all.
I cannot even imagine the horror and terror that these crews knew when they were attacked.....
a lot of these horrors and terrors were not captured in photographs. However, described in the MACR by eyewitnesses.
Had the opportunity to fly in a B-17G in the late 90’s, the Liberty Belle! As we flew around Palm Springs, CA, we were allowed to move around the aircraft. As I did, I thought of those boys, heroes, and what it must have been like flying over Germany, with flak bursts and fighters trying to kill you? Watching other B-17’s being blasted out of the sky, wondering if your next? What heroes these boys were!! And what an incredible airplane! If you love the B-17, put your money down and take a ride in one, while the few remaining B-17’s are still flying?
Excellent video, especially liked the description of what happened!!🫡✈️🇺🇸🇺🇸
We shall not see their like again, it takes a special kind of courage to face these threats time after time...
2:03 that bomber damage looks a lot the damage the YE OLD PUB told when it got escorted by a German pilot
I don't think so. Because the B-17 at @2:03 has a different radio call sign (Q on the tail) than "Ye Old Pub" (S). Actually, I've never seen an original picture of the damaged "Ye Old Pub". I only know of artwork and paintings.
@@B17FlyingFortress I know im not well versed in world war two aircraft
No problem. :) thank you for watching my video.
@@B17FlyingFortress any time Im a fan of history, more armor then planes tho
@@unwantedspirt I am a fan of history too. :) Focus of course B-17 and Airwar in WW2. Also read a lot about WW1, Korean War. Familiar with basics.
I can't imagine the stress and fear they had to overcome.
So very very brave men what a waste
that's true.
I always thought the phrase
"she'll bring you home"
Was because of all the females who helped build the the plane wanted their love ones to come home safe.
Which is why i always thought that the planes were so tough.
The Flying Forts is a great book written by Martin Caiden.
thank you for the suggestion. I add this book to my wishlist. My dream is to write and publishing my own book about the B-17. :D But it's a bunch of work :D
It is just incredible what people do to each other over and over again. Why can't people just live in peace? So many young lives lost, so much precious material and funds wasted. This needs to stop.
think its said that the B17 could sustain the most damage of any bomber and still complete its mission,truly amazing..
yes, that's what I heard and read too during all the years of researches about the history of the B-17 :)
@@B17FlyingFortress great vid,music was fitting,thinking of the utmost respect i have for these young american men,laying down there lives for our freedoms today..
thank you! :) I am just starting to create videos about the B-17 beside my website and need to learn to create good and better videos :) But I am happy, that you like the videos so far :)
Great insight and great video about one of the greatest bombers of all time B17 Flying Fortress.
thank you! :)
This generation was true hero's. We can't ever show our appreciation for their sacrifices. I thank God every day for these sacrifices. Not like today, I wonder just how many would be able to do what they did.
The wars of today are completely different. More digital and drone attacks. Not like 1000 planes raid and close dogfights in the air. These guys in WW 2 were truely the greatest generation.
Last one was so close to War’s end in Europe
There are many losses closer to VE-Day. The last B-17 was lost on 08 May 1945. I will creating a video about it in the future.
God bless all especially those that didn't return 😢💔🙏🇺🇸
Thank you for the incredible work you do in remembering and memorializing the aircraft and crew on your website and this channel. Your contributions are incredibly appreciated. Have you had the opportunity to see a B-17 there in Germany? I hope so and if not, I hope you can one day. If anyone deserves a free ride, it's you.
thank you very much :) I flew in a B-17 in a video game. But never saw a B-17 in real life. The only B-17 parts in Germany are wreckages somewhere in the German soil. But one day I want to visit Duxford Musuem to see a B-17 in real. Maybe they are still in flight active flight status in air shows. :)
@@B17FlyingFortress Duxford would a real treat to see! Thanks for replying and thank you again for your work.
@@jonathanbaird8109 Thank you. I can do a Live stream, when I am at Duxford, Haha :)
My uncle was the waist Gunner kia in the first video. S/N 44-6158 "Sky Monster" I'm very honored to have been named after him.
I am very sorry about your family's loss.
These planes were alot more airworthy than modern day passenger jets, a bird can take out a entire plane and all aboard much less keep flying with the whole front literally gone.
I would say, to compare a passenger jet of today with a B-17 or WW 2 aircraft is unfair. Because the modern jet flies faster and has an higher speed. An impact of the bird can cause a higher damage to a modern jet, that an WW 2 aircraft. It's simply physics.
Tough, beautiful birds. Hard to grasp how some of them stayed in the air with the damage they sustained.
that's true! That's almost impossible to the airplanes today ^^
Iff those are the birds/crews that RTB wonder what the planes that didn't return looked like???. Read A HIGHER CALL or the Franz Sieglier story on RUclips
There are only few picture of B-17s, which did not returned. Some were totally destroyed, other not much different from those ships returned to base.
Franz Stiegler's story, is a different one. But yes, also returned to base. But I could not find original images of this B-17 yet. Only known some arts.
Surviving this damage and returning to base has to be testament to the hardworking skills of the mainly women who built them, the ground crews who maintained and repaired them, and the bravery, determination, skills, teamship, and guts of the brave men who carried out the mission, I hope and pray that those killed on missions or who where lucky and went home have found eternal peace..
Never was a plane named more aptly than the B-17 "Flying Fortress". What a machine! The amount of damage this thing can take and still limp home is mind blowing. RIP to the crewmen that lost their lives in the line of duty.
And even though it's a bit off-topic, "Old Bill" has a pretty cool piece of art on the side.
A lot of aircraft has cool nose arts :) I should create a video of these kind of arts. I am working on a video about a damaged B-17 returned to England.
@@B17FlyingFortress Ooh yeah! A video on B-17 nose-art would be pretty sweet!
@@h.a.9880 on my todo list :)
Salute to all the brave men. My Dad was one. As a pilot their plane was shot down and ditched into the North Sea. All lived.
I can remember, that we located the area, where your father ditched the B-17 :)
@@B17FlyingFortress Are You a german pilot?
@@CheateRsz no, I am not a German pilot.
@@B17FlyingFortress Sorry for being curious. Your videos are very interesting to watch.
@@CheateRsz no problem :)
The personal information about injuries & killed bring these stories closer to home. Most RUclips videos only show the damaged aircraft. It is important to know who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. One of my uncles was killed in a B-24.
I am telling the story behind the images. That's the different of most other RUclips videos to damaged B-17s. I am sorry for your families loss.
Roger that RT
I really appreciated this video.
My Dad flew a B17 in WWII. Co-Pilot.
Which unit?
@@B17FlyingFortress my Dad was in the 8th Air Force, 487th bomber group, 836 squadron. He was a 2nd Lieutenant Co-Pilot. He went in at 19. Can't believe the babyface pics of him and his crew. I was chasing tail at 19 and he's over there with an entire generation saving democracy.
@@donaldculp3759 19 and flying a 4 engine heavy bomber. He was co-pilot of William R. Gillette Crew.
@@B17FlyingFortress Wow! How did you find about Gillette? Is there a site you can link me to? Dad talked highly of him.
@@donaldculp3759 oh, I thought you knew about the site/photo. I've found the crew photo on 487th BG web site, with the information, that your dad was co-pilot of William R. Gillette's Crew :) Your dad looks really young! Here is the photo/site: www.487thbg.org/Photos/GilletteCrew.shtml
Glad I didn’t have to fight that war
Why the horrible corny music instead of talking to us?
Thanks for your feedback.
That was my fourth video. And I didn't dare not to speak. I'm not a native English speaker, so I was a bit shy.
But I learned and a little later I also speak in my videos. Also turned off the background music.
That shot at 1:12 of "Lovely Julia" is horrendous! The Toggler was killed yet the Navigator apparently survived??
yes, navigator Raymond Joseph LeDoux was only slightly injured and survived.
@@B17FlyingFortress Has to be one of THE worst battle-damaged B17s that made it back! Lucky crew! RIP to George Abbott.
My Dad's brother flew as a crew member. Unfortunately his plane never return. I have a lot of respect for those men. My Grandmother had 3 sons in WW2. Only my Dad survived.
How the he'll did they fly them back
Pilot's skills, a lof of luck and a prayer
Those guys were so brave, but my heart goes out to those who were blown out of the plane, still conscious. That thought makes me very sad that a few of these guys probably met this fate. You're sitting there concentrating on your job, then suddenly you're outside, in the air, 30k feet up, just you.
Sometimes, they had no time to think, while doing their job.
Especially the one who died just a month away from the end of the war. Heartrending.
I wonder how today's young men would stand up to this?
Your panning and scanning sucks, half the time you’re cutting and obscuring much of the photo. Can’t you just leave it alone and keep your hands off if you don’t know what you’re doing?
Thank for your critics. :) This is one of my very first videos. I am still learning and next videos will be better and you will have time to see the pictures without any text.
No one starts with perfect results :)
😢😢🙏🙏
Just wondering, Lady be good. Is that the same one that ran out of fuel, and crashed in Libera. Thanks from.St. Paul Minnesota.
No, the Lady be Good, which you mean was a B-24 bomber, that crashed in Liberia and discovered in 1958.
@@B17FlyingFortress He my friends, recheck where Libera is located and where Libya is !
This is almost as good as Ronald Reagan believed Libya is located in the Middle East.
@@bubiruski8067 oh, I am sorry, I mixed up Liberia with Lybia. How ever, the B-24 Lady Be Good crashed in Lybia. The B-17 "Lady B Good" in the video (s/n 43-38594), was return to US after war and scrapped. No records found, that this B-17 crashed because ran out of fuel.
@@B17FlyingFortress , no problem !
The only message is, prepare your kids hard to avoid another such unnecessary incident like Lady be Good.!
@@bubiruski8067 thank you! I will do and I am not perfect :) But yeah, I was embarrassed :D