Capt Lay's B-17 Buzz Job!!!!

[Jack Cook]

Capt Lay OPS officer 401st BS 91st BG celebrates his 25th mission by buzzing the Bassingnborne Nov 1943

[sdennison]

Way too low!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snort, whatju think?

[Steve Nelson]

That's a little high for Snort....

[ww2John]

IMHO, dashing down the runway @ about 200' (or a "bit" lower) feels pretty darn low when you are in the nose of a B17.
Can't imagine how the crew felt during the maneuver in Jack's picture. Probably not quite as exciting as wading through flak and getting attacked by enemy a/c in combat.

[Jack Cook]

Since he's over the taxiway
and using the B-17 for refrence I'd say 50' or less

[David_Aiken]

I can hear it now, "For disregard of crew safety, they probably should be grounded"...which of course after 25 missions they surely would be grounded...

Yet 25 missions became higher in CATCH 22... thus the Switzerland solution.

THERE IS A WAY is the USAF movie about an F-105 unit trying to make it to 100 missons over North Vietnam...."There ain't no way I can get 100 missions", hence the movie title.

[Django]

Now that is a kick *ss photo.

[Starduster77]

Good photo!!
Did most of the crew finish also?
Rick

[Second Air Force]

Most Groups tried to keep the crew together so they would finish up at the same time, Starduster. It didn't work out in some cases due to illness, injury, etc., but the crews usually were all enjoying the "going home passes" at the end of their tours. We met a great gentleman who flew B-24s that didn't really enjoy low flying like most of his peers, but at the end of the tour his crew kept after him to buzz the field. Repeatedly. He did, and said he was sweating the breach of regulation for a long time after they rotated to the States. He did smile and tell me that he really enjoyed buzzing the tower that afternoon!

Here is a nice shot of Captain Miller and his crew beating up the tower at Bassingbourn at the conclusion of their 25th, from "B17 Fortress At War":


And a 92nd Bomb Group crew doing the same after 35, courtesy of the 92nd Group website:

I can't help but think these fellows are pulling up in front of their normal dispersal pad to let the ground crew know they brought her home safe and sound one more time.

And I would give good money to be able to scan the original of this photograph--I don't know all the particulars, but it is a 379th Bomb Group airplane and crew hauling a$$ at Mount Farm. Every time I see a sky like that this image pops into my mind.

Ten feet tall and bulletproof. God bless 'em all.

Scott

Last edited by Second Air Force on Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Django]

Ten feet tall and bulletproof. God bless 'em all.

Amen.

Hey Jack, I think Scott just showed you up. In fact, I'm sure of it. Hahaha!

[Second Air Force]

Not really, Chad--I had to dig in books and websites to find these three, Jack has the real deal or scans of the originals to post. I love any shot of a crew that has finished a tour!

Scott

[tulsaboy]

Scott- check your PMs and e-mail!

kevin

[Matt_in_NC]

I always liked the Hollywood version of a B-17 buzz job...ala Steve McQueen style...I know this has been posted before, but I couldn't resist. What a great scene!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=ewi-bPXFo_M

[Second Air Force]

Speaking of The War Lover, here is a photo taken from the control tower of John Crewdson at work:

From Roger Freeman's "B-17 Fortress At War".

Acknowledged, tulsaboy--I'll be in touch.
Scott