B-17 Formations

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

A few pics of B-17s from the scans of the photos from the Prairie Aviation Museum in Bloomington, IL.

A question for anyone who can answer - one of the last pics is of a bomb drop and three of the bombs are trailing smoke - would there be any reason a standard bomb would smoke and if so why, or are they target markers of some kind. Just curious to know....

In looking up serial numbers on Joe Baugher's site, it was rather depressing to read just how many did not come back. Extraordinarily brave souls to go out day after day like this.

Enjoy the Day! Mark



















and why they flew....





and they did not always drop bombs - a parcel drop over Amsterdam...

[Django]

GREAT photos!

Check out the vortex in the flak burst in the one pic! Yikes!

[clangjr]

The lead bomber in formation routinely carried bombs that trailed smoke as a signal to the other planes when and where to drop

[daveymac82c]

Those are some really great pictures. Thank you for posting them.

Cheers,

David McIntosh

[Michel C-GNCJ]

What are those extended things where the belly turret normally is ? First time I ever see those.

Targeting radar ?

[Michel C-GNCJ]

What are those extended things where the belly turret normally is ? First time I ever see those.

Targeting radar ?

[shouseknecht]

The photograph is one of the food drops to the hungry Dutch population at the end of the war. I believe the drops were done over the Amsterdam race track. Turn it upside down and it will make much more sense.

[K5DH]

Finally, a question that I can definitely answer!

What are those extended things where the belly turret normally is ? First time I ever see those.

Targeting radar ?

Those are Pathfinder ships equipped with the H2X "Mickey" bombing-through-overcast radar. The radome and antenna assembly was installed in place of the ball turret. It was lowered and raised using the extendable ball turret strut assembly from a B-24. The radar operator's console was installed in the radio compartment, on the starboard side. Based on the markings, the two aircraft shown in the photo are probably Stateside training ships.

Here is a link to some Wiki information about the H2X system:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2X_radar

Here is a link to a photograph of the radar operator's console:

http://www.486th.org/photos/AC2/MkySet.htm

Our B-17, Chuckie, may have been a Pathfinder ship.

Cheers!

[warbird1]

Finally, a question that I can definitely answer!

What are those extended things where the belly turret normally is ? First time I ever see those.

Targeting radar ?

Those are Pathfinder ships equipped with the H2X "Mickey" bombing-through-overcast radar. The radome and antenna assembly was installed in place of the ball turret. It was lowered and raised using the extendable ball turret strut assembly from a B-24. The radar operator's console was installed in the radio compartment, on the starboard side. Based on the markings, the two aircraft shown in the photo are probably Stateside training ships.

Here is a link to some Wiki information about the H2X system:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2X_radar

Here is a link to a photograph of the radar operator's console:

http://www.486th.org/photos/AC2/MkySet.htm

Our B-17, Chuckie, may have been a Pathfinder ship.

Cheers!

Wow, awesome pictures and great info Dean! On the wikipedia site, it mentions B-24's being converted to have the "Mickey", but it doesn't mention the B-17. Maybe you should fix that wikipedia entry?

Also on the wiki site, it says the following: "Twelve PR Mk.XVI Mosquito aircraft of the 25th Bomb Group (Reconnaissance) of the Eighth Air Force were fitted with H2X and beginning in May 1944 flew radar mapping night missions until February 1945. The sets tended to overload the Mosquito's electrical system and occasionally exploded."

Dang, the sets exploded! Not good on a wooden aircraft. On the Mossie aircraft, I wonder how they recorded the radar images for future reconnaissance needs? I don't believe videotape was invented until the 50's. Did they take "snapshots" of the radar displays or what?

Just curious.

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Aaah !

Thanks Dean !

[hang the expense]

Finally, a question that I can definitely answer!

What are those extended things where the belly turret normally is ? First time I ever see those.

Targeting radar ?

Those are Pathfinder ships equipped with the H2X "Mickey" bombing-through-overcast radar. The radome and antenna assembly was installed in place of the ball turret. It was lowered and raised using the extendable ball turret strut assembly from a B-24. The radar operator's console was installed in the radio compartment, on the starboard side. Based on the markings, the two aircraft shown in the photo are probably Stateside training ships.

Here is a link to some Wiki information about the H2X system:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2X_radar

Here is a link to a photograph of the radar operator's console:

http://www.486th.org/photos/AC2/MkySet.htm

Our B-17, Chuckie, may have been a Pathfinder ship.

Cheers!

The H2X A/C are 490th BG over Europe.