Warbird Information Exchange

A wild guess - the inner bar is not red?

Randy

Not that subtle! No - look at the numbers.

Oh. It's been to the re-tail store!

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

IMG_9092 by tanker622001, on Flickr

The Buzz Number doesn’t match the tail number

The stuff in the background from the WPAFB link.

Silver tail of a P-75 Eagle, http://rob.com/bream/1947WPAFBairshow/DSC07643.jpg

B-29's, one with silver props, one with black props., http://rob.com/bream/1947WPAFBairshow/DSC07645.jpg

Olive drab B-17 with silver props., http://rob.com/bream/1947WPAFBairshow/DSC07657.jpg

Hi Mark, a gentle reminder.

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Ran into this version of the upside down star on the AT-6 on page 67 of USAAF Aircraft Markings and Camouflage 1941-1947; The history of USAAF aircraft markings, insignia, camouflage and colors by Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer, 1997, 350p. See the caption for more info.

Randy

Beautiful shots of late B-17s.

The B-36 is the static test article. It was built as an airworthy aircraft, as there was no way to get it from Fort Worth to Wright-Patterson except to fly it.
44-92004 made just two flights, a local test flight and the cross country to W-P.
There ate other photos of it later in the testing. The tail was removed and was flipped on its nose to the upside down position.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

After seeing one of the photos in the last collection, I posted a copy of the B-17 crew in a Jeep on a Jeep history website.

One of the other readers did the research on the crew and their fate.

He did an excellent job....

Just after the photo was taken on Aug 2, 1944, I'll Get By was hit by German flak over France.
7 of the crew were killed, three were captured.

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42- ... ll-get-by/

There is a monument to the men near the crash site:
https://95thbg.com/cms/2019/7/19/airan-france


The three survivors were:
Walter J. Collyer, Jr 1925-2001.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the- ... e/3483793/ … his obit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189 ... es-collyer

Barney Lipkin (1920-1986), https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/peo ... leID=23847

Donald W. Phillips (1925-2004), POW.
His obit: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the- ... 115664219/

He wrote this letter to the deceased pilot’s mother: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... r.jpeg.pdf

The crew as seen in the photo...
L to R: S/Sgt William W. Adamson–Waist Gunner; Capt. Elmer E. Bockman–Asst S-3 95th BG; 1Lt Jasper W. Kaylor Jr–Copilot; 1Lt Frank t. Sohm–Bombardier; T/Sgt Oscar C. Walrod–Engineer/Top Turret; T/Sgt Robert V. Hill–Radio Operator; Capt. Robert O. Baber–Pilot; 1Lt Raymond D. Dallas–Navigator; S/Sgt Barney Lipkin–Waist Gunner; S/Sgt Walter J. Collyer Jr–Tail Gunner; S/Sgt Donald W. Phllips–Ball Turret –Photo courtesy of National Archives Note: The 11th man in the crew photograph is not dressed for a combat mission because Command Pilot Bockman replaced him on the mission. S/Sgt. William W. Adamson, waist gunner, joined the official crew photograph even though not flying that day.

I posted that photo thinking it might be of interest for WWII MB/GPW owners would like seeing a rare color shot of a wartime Jeep.
I figured the crew survived the war and went on with their lives. I was shocked when I read what was posted. I never thought most of them would be dead a few hours later.
It's sad that the co-pilot was apparently flying his final mission with a different crew because it was supposed to be a "milk run".
Also, a Captain, a command pilot/staff officer was manning a waist gun. Him taking the mission saved the regular gunner's life.

RIP to them all...

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

The 95th crew photo was taken about two miles from where I sit typing this post.

JohnB and tankbarrel's posts have reminded me of the tragedy and "reality" of war. How sad.....

I noticed the 50 cal ammo shown hanging from the small ammo boxes, have only one exposed open link to the "gun" side. I thought the correct method was to have two open links presented to the gun, when loading a belt. Maybe this was just a staged shot, or maybe the belts were reconfigured when actually mounted?

I noticed this photo and the interesting thing about it. Behind and above the B-17 there are two flares that were shot off. Going back to my "12 O'Clock High" viewing days I think this meant there was wounded aboard. Is that right?

Yes.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.