Warbird Information Exchange

Greetings
I was wondering outside that Swoose ( I hope that she will be restored someday during my lifetime)
What other B-17 Bombers had the longest War Tour ? Was it War weary Rally Bombers that were to worn out to still be flown in to combat ?

And on that subject Who made the call Yeah or Neah on if a Bomber was a rightoff from battle Damage to become a Hanger Queen or to be patch up and back in the Game ?

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Always Keep Em Flying !

Glen

Lookie Capt Jim! Wham! Wham! ...............................Termights

The original THUNDERBIRD had 112 missions.

http://www.303rdbg.com/thunderbird/index.shtml

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Ol Gappy in the 379th BG logged 165 missions.

Nine-O-Nine in the 91st BG logged 140 missions, I believe without an abort, but I've read some conflicting information on whether or not that is actually true.

Outhouse Mouse, also of the 91st BG logged 138 or 139 missions, IIRC.

Wee Willie, another 91st bird had 128 missions when it was shot down. That is the famous picture of the B-17 that had it's entire wing taken off.

I know many of the Pacific birds logged over 100 missions and then the survivors became armed transports. I believe "The Mustang" had the longest service record in the Pacific, entering service in 1942 and surviving to the end of the war.

"Knockout Dropper" which was part of the 303rd B.G., 359th B.S. was the first B-17 to complete 75 missions on 27 Mar 1944. I couldn't find her final total but I do know she survived the war and was scrapped in Oklahoma.

John

A number of the south pacific birds were pulled from combat and RZI for training birds in New Mexico.Mike Kelners bird has a long wartime history as well as a transport.

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Hang The Expense