B-17 Lost at CT Airport

[747driver]

Here's an excellent picture to put a face on all this.

The crews always had a mission briefing before they flew. This pic was taken at one of the mission briefings.

I never thought about it during my career. But now when I look back I realize how young the face of war is.


View attachment 625191

Love all the photos you have shared !! Most wars always are fought by the young troops. Often wonder what those troops would have become had they not perished in a war.

 

[ovrszd]

It was a grand day when your 'short' calendar said 0 ! Went to the terminal at Udorn RTAFB Thailand 3 hrs before flight taking us back to the States. Just waiting and watching for the C 141 Starlifter to arrive to get us to Clark AFB for the ride back home. Those aircrews did an amazing job in shuttling us troops back and forth across the pond !

I C-130'd out of DaNang to Saigon. Tiger Airline from there to Oakland.

 

[PILOON]

That's a warm and fuzzy now, ain't it? :laughing:

Well I had an engine failure at 5000 ft over a 6000 ft freshly plowed farm field.
It started knocking and when as the knocks got louder I killed the mags.
The glide down was not as expected (I had 1000-hrs) as a stopped prop is less drag as an idling one.
Side slip and full flaps landed me further down that I planned but still OK.
Only problem was the farm fiels had been aerated and your feet sunk like 5 inches.
My nice Cessna 170B rolled about 60 ft and tipped up on its nose, balanced there for a few moments and promptly inverted itself.

The spinner did not even have a hint of a dent and the prop was as good as new.

Trucked my bird home via U-Haul and rebuilt her to new like condition over the next 3-4 months.
Also earned my A&P ticket over that.
Installed a newer engine and other mods.
That 170 still flies today! (20+ yrs later)
LOL, guess I did good work!

 

[flyerdan]

I'm sure that a lot of B-17 time was built when they were operated as borate bombers for fire suppression. I remember seeing one as a kid when they were fighting the Goat Mountain fire in northern Idaho. We could see it from a ridge on our place and would watch with binoculars when they made their runs.
I looked it up once and I think it was Sentimental Journey, the one operated by AZ CAF now, but I can't find any info anymore. I know it was one of the three that made the tours.

 

[Industrial Toys]

NTSB briefing suggests that there are private video and still images of the stricken aircraft, as I expected there would be. I don't understand why they are not available to be seen?

I always like Leno. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube