Warbird Information Exchange

Here's a little question that many of you out there might not know:

What currently flying B-17 was flown, post WWII, by a WWII Medal of Honor recipient as part of his job AND what was his name?

Good luck!

Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I come up with 5 candidates...still alive and WWII Medal of honor winners, assuming the person in question was an AAF pilot...

Leon Johnson
John Kane
Henry Erwin
William Lawley
Jay Zeamer

Any of those the guy you're talking about?

Mark

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Mark Morris

Well Mark, that's kind of like the "shotgun" answer.

One is correct, but which one and which currently flying B-17 did he use on the job?
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

EAA B-17?

I don't know if he was on the flight test team, but Jay Zeamer worked for Pratt & Whitney after he recuperated and got his engineering degree. Pratt owned 44-85734 and used it as a five-engined test bed for a time.

Pony for me
Scott

I believe he did fly the B-17 you're talking about during the engine testing, Scott.

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Dave

BINGO on the pilot!
What's the name of the B-17 now flying? (should be easy)
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Liberty Belle

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

So........ since I got the man and airplane correct do I get the pony, or must I share it with Pat since I didn't post the current name? If we have to share it, I guess I'll take the back half since that is what most people think I am.

Scott

You will have to cut the pony in half. You can decide who gets the rear fuselage!

Jay Zeamer worked at Pratt for years and was indeed the pilot of that B-17 for many of it's test flights. I met Jay at the VAC show in Florida back in the late 1980's. When he heard I was from Connecticut, he started to talk about working at Pratt and flying that B-17. When I produced a couple of photos from my bag that had the damaged B-17 in them, the conversation really got interesting.
Great guy and wonderful to talk to.
Blue skies,
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

And, we would welcome Mr. Zeamer back to fly it again for old times sake! Today, he could fly both the Curtiss-Wright and Pratt and Whitney airplanes test airplanes as one.

Unfortunately, you missed him by about a year. He passed away in march of 2007.

Here's a link to some info on him:
\http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Zeamer,_Jr.
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

What ever became of those big motors?

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Don't touch my junk!!

Well, there were several versions of the P&W T-34 that were tested in the 299Z while in Connecticut. NEAM has one of the engines on display, but I believe the cowling componets went with the airframe to Tom Rielly's when the trade was made, so I'm not sure where those are at the present time. I've been out of the daily workings of NEAM for years now, so there is a chance they still have them. It would make a nice display on engine development to have the engine cowled with info on the 299Z displayed with it.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."