B-18's on the ground, 4-25-41

Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:21 pm

bluedharma,
Where is that B18 located?
thanks,
John

Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:29 pm

So which are the good / important aircraft?

a) The good looking ones?

b) the ugly ones?

c) the cheap ones?

d) the expensive ones?

e) None of the above?

Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:29 pm

ww2John wrote:bluedharma,
Where is that B18 located?
thanks,
John

John,
It is at the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver Colorado.
It is in fairly good condition.

Museum Display photo of 39-0025(aprox May 1946 - Nov 1956) Bolo at Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver Colorado.

Museum Display photo (aprox 1964 Air Force Museum) of 39-0025 Bolo at Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver Colorado.

JDK... All of the above except E.

Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:36 pm

The Army bought the B-18 because they were much cheaper per unit and simpler to understand than the very complex and expensive B-17.
The B-18 and B-23 show just how more infatuated everyone in the mid to late 30's was in 'streamlining' and 'modernism' and being inspired by Gordon Beuhrig and Raymond Lowe than in pracitcality and load/range considerations and defensibility.
Foxy? Sleek? Inspiring? all yes, but totally impractical in a combat situation. The Allies learned the lesson fairly quickly, the Germans and Japanese never really 'got it' and continued to produce sleek but easily shot down aircraft right up to the very end, example XB-25 and B-25J-10 vs. Do 17 and Do 217 developed pretty equally but which one do you want to ride in if being shot at?

Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:37 pm

Considering the thousands of airmen that trained in this type of craft, ugly, funny looking, slow, outdated and obsolete it may have been, but yet useful as a stepping stone to newer, faster, more "modern" aircraft. Remember, at the beginning of the war, were were caught woefully short on frontline aircraft. To keep them from the front for training purposes was just NOT an option. They served their purpose, they served their country.

Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:24 pm

A few surviving B-18s:

B-18A 37-469 at the Air Force Museum.

B-18A 39-025 at Wings Over the Rockies.

B-18B 38-593 at Pima.

B-18 37-029 at Castle AFB.

The B-18 is ugly enough to be of real interest!

Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:33 pm

airnutz wrote:
Glen wrote:Did anybody else notice that the Same Bomber is in Both Bictures take a look ......................237 pretty cool ! Keep em coming please !

I thought that was part of the point of Res6kgcr's post?

I beleive that you are 100% correct :oops:

been home running a fever fighting the Crap .............The Temp just broke a few Hr ago ! Thanks .

Glen the Delerious !!!

Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:48 pm

Glen wrote:
airnutz wrote:
Glen wrote:Did anybody else notice that the Same Bomber is in Both Bictures take a look ......................237 pretty cool ! Keep em coming please !

I thought that was part of the point of Res6kgcr's post?

I beleive that you are 100% correct been home running a fever fighting the Crap .............The Temp just broke a few Hr ago ! Thanks .

Glen the Delerious !!!

Never too sick for Warbirds! Get well soon! :wink:

Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:55 pm

I took these when the Wings Over the Rockies B-18 Bolo was in storage at Lowrey AFB. I think this was around 1993 or 1994. Seems like there was also an F-84 and part of a B-29 nose in the same fence.

I took these on the same trip.