Famous Bombers !

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:27 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:

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

The museum started in 1927, but I'm sure they were just rolling in the cash from that little building. Same as now. :roll:

spookythecat · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:07 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

Does anyone know if decals (preferably 1/72) were ever produced for "Sunshine"?

Nathan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:19 pm

gary1954 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:58 pm

I actually wanted to buy 2825B back in 1976 and came close in 1977, as she was available for 18K, but at the time I was living just across the street from the poor house and didn't have a garage big enough for that B-25. I had to suffer in silence. Ooooooohhhh the humanity *hangs head*

BattleRabbit · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:01 pm

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.

What do you mean it is the only B-25 in existence?

Pardon BattleRabbit the uneducated here...

Nathan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:06 pm

It's the only straight model B-25. No B/ C or anything. Just B-25...it is the 4th B-25 to be built.

phil65 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:58 pm

"Old 666", B-17 Flying Fortress (PTO)

Phil

gary1954 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:14 pm

Nathan wrote:

It's the only straight model B-25. No B/ C or anything. Just B-25...it is the 4th B-25 to be built.

Thank you Nathan, I was going to reply that she IS the 4th production model of the B-25. I believe it was with the 10th airframe with the famous bent wing was born to roll off the assembly line was the B-25A . So this makes 2168 aka N2825B A true rarity.

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Dauntless Dotty", the B-29. This plane was Robert Morgan's (of Memphis Belle fame), who led the first raid on Tokyo, on November 24, 1944. Many people don't realize that the Memphis Belle's pilot completed 50 missions over Japan flying the B-29 after his tour in Europe.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:35 am

warbird1 wrote:

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Dauntless Dotty", the B-29. This plane was Robert Morgan's (of Memphis Belle fame), who led the first raid on Tokyo, on November 24, 1944. Many people don't realize that the Memphis Belle's pilot completed 50 missions over Japan flying the B-29 after his tour in Europe.

Uhhhh.... Like, the Second Tokyo Raid

Glen · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:45 am

warbird1 wrote:

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Dauntless Dotty", the B-29. This plane was Robert Morgan's (of Memphis Belle fame), who led the first raid on Tokyo, on November 24, 1944. Many people don't realize that the Memphis Belle's pilot completed 50 missions over Japan flying the B-29 after his tour in Europe.

That brings up a very interesting point what pilot had the most bombing missions ? I know that their was some Germans that were in the 100's on the Russian front . But what about in the USA ? Robert Morgan for sure had 75 + any body else ?

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

gary1954 wrote:

warbird1 wrote:

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Dauntless Dotty", the B-29. This plane was Robert Morgan's (of Memphis Belle fame), who led the first raid on Tokyo, on November 24, 1944. Many people don't realize that the Memphis Belle's pilot completed 50 missions over Japan flying the B-29 after his tour in Europe.

Uhhhh.... Like, the Second Tokyo Raid

Yea, technically you're right. I meant the first B-29 bombing of Tokyo!

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:25 pm

I knew you meant the first raid on Tokyo with the B-29.I just didn't want a youngster to question was it Jimmy Doolittle and 80 brave men or Robert Morgan and his crew. I met Robert Morgan a year befoe he passed...great guy.

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

gary1954 wrote:

I knew you meant the first raid on Tokyo with the B-29.I just didn't want a youngster to question was it Jimmy Doolittle and 80 brave men or Robert Morgan and his crew. I met Robert Morgan a year befoe he passed...great guy.

No problem. Yea, I met Robert Morgan about the same time, just before his death. I felt kind of sorry for him, because he appeared to suffer from dimentia or something. He wasn't all there, unfortunately. I could tell, even then, that it wouldn't be long. It was sad to see one of my heroes in that deteriorating condition

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:01 pm

Wow

I Musta met him at just the right time, because when I met him, he was set up under a tent next to the Memphis Belle imposter, signing autographs, signing his books and photographs. I introduced my girlfriend to him and we talked about the Belle, Missions, and his stint in the B-29, he signed the book for me, as well as one of the inner page photos of the (real) Belle. When we parted ways, he called both me and my girlfriend by our names. musta been a good day for him, I know it was for me.

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