Famous Bombers !

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:27 am

Greetings & Happy New Year !
I was wondering out side of the Enola Gay (B-29) and the Memphis Bell (B-17) Ruptured Duck (B-25) Lady Be Good (B-24) what were some other Famous Bombers ? of their types ........were they side stepped due to political correctness :roll:

? or just didn't get the just deserve credit .
As Always thanks in advance for all that respond.
PS. any photos would be nice too :wink:

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:31 am

I still have not been able to understand why B-25 40-2168, the ONLY B-25 left in existance is not in the NASM and given that it was Henry "Hap" Arnolds Transport aircraft.

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:39 am

gary1954 wrote:I still have not been able to understand why B-25 40-2168, the ONLY B-25 left in existance is not in the NASM and given that it was Henry "Hap" Arnolds Transport aircraft.

Well, if it's privately owned, the owners should have some say in the matter. If I had it, I certainly would NOT give it to the NASM - nothing against them but I'd keep it in flying condition!

Ryan

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:47 am

I know that ya nut. The USAF should have held onto her and passed her to either the USAFM or the NASM. I fully understand the privately owned thing. Like I was born during the day, not yesterday.

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:53 am

what? send my favorite B-25 to the NASM? :shock:

keep her flying!

Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:54 am

gary1954 wrote:I know that ya nut. The USAF should have held onto her and passed her to either the USAFM or the NASM. I fully understand the privately owned thing. Like I was born during the day, not yesterday.

From what I can tell the USAF really didn't care about a lot of that stuff until it became financially profitable or otherwise worthwhile to preserve and memorialize their history - ironic isn't it!

Ryan

Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:12 am

Profit, *chuckles* Like the Military and Government know anything about that

Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:17 am

one is the B-32, there was one set aside for the AF museum, but it ws scrapped.

As for PC, that has not been a problem until recently. Now you are hearing people complaining about the name Strawberry B itch, or the complaints that came when the B-24J was painted as The Dragon and His Tail, Or having to paint a vest on the Yellow Rose.

Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:20 am

Some off the top of my head are:

"Falk-Bait", B-26 Marauder (ETO)
"Bockscar", B-29 Superfortress (Nagasaki Mission)
"Out House Mouse", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Knockout Dropper", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Betty's Dream", B-25 Mitchell (PTO)
"Chowhound", B-25 Mitchell (PTO)
"Sunshine", B-24 Liberator (MTO)
"Eager Beaver", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Eager Beaver", B-17 Flyng Fortress (PTO)

There are more, but I guess my question is what are the criteria towards making it a "famous" bomber?
"Sunshine was "infamous", "Eager Beaver" (PTO) had two Congressional Medal of Honor reciepients on the same mission. And are we allowed to include aircraft from our allies?
Lancaster "S for Suger" comes to mind.
Jerry

Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:38 am

B-25 "Ruptured Duck".

Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:39 am

"He11's Wench": B-24, 93rd BG, Double posthumous MOH on same mission (Tidal Wave)

Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:48 am

Matt Gunsch wrote:one is the B-32, there was one set aside for the AF museum, but it ws scrapped.

As for PC, that has not been a problem until recently. Now you are hearing people complaining about the name Strawberry B itch, or the complaints that came when the B-24J was painted as The Dragon and His Tail, Or having to paint a vest on the Yellow Rose.

Gawd, I can't stand these ultra sensitive people, cry me a river, build me bridge and get over it.. The only profane word I can think of that I don't think should be on a plane is the "F" bomb. I am sure there may be others, but Strawberry B itch ain't profane to me

Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:58 am

PC is worse than you think.

There are always complaints from people who think that "Witchcraft" is bad because it glorifies the occult. These are probably the same folks complaining about Harry Potter !

Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:45 pm

I will begin by stating flatly that I HATE Political Correctness and all those who demand it.

And it ain't a righty, or lefty, thing. Both sides have their nuts.

The people who complain are ignorant of historical context and couldn't care less about accuracy.

That being said, these nuts are vocal, and those who disagree, are not. Who are the congress critters and taste bureaucrats going to listen too?

Or, even those who depend on the public for donations.

Just ask the Confed....er, Commemorative Air Force.

Could be worse though. Europe or China, or the Middle East.

Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:01 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:Some off the top of my head are:

"Falk-Bait", B-26 Marauder (ETO)
"Bockscar", B-29 Superfortress (Nagasaki Mission)
"Out House Mouse", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Knockout Dropper", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Betty's Dream", B-25 Mitchell (PTO)
"Chowhound", B-25 Mitchell (PTO)
"Sunshine", B-24 Liberator (MTO)
"Eager Beaver", B-17 Flying Fortress (ETO)
"Eager Beaver", B-17 Flyng Fortress (PTO)

There are more, but I guess my question is what are the criteria towards making it a "famous" bomber?
"Sunshine was "infamous", "Eager Beaver" (PTO) had two Congressional Medal of Honor reciepients on the same mission. And are we allowed to include aircraft from our allies?
Lancaster "S for Suger" comes to mind.
Jerry

Might as well add "Friday the 13th" to that as well, and just for looks I think "A Bit O' Lace" should be in there. And didn't "He11's Angel" do 25 before the 'Belle? Maybe one of Rudel's Stukas....

I agree with Chowhound, but it would have been great had it been shipped home in its as-returned from mission state for immediate display.

interesting topic! Should we include fighters as well?.....

greg v.