A tiny piece of history?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:52 am

Great shots Paul. I sure love those carefully set up after pictures. Well done.

Do you suppose that air raid shelter is still there, just covered over?

Taigh

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:00 am

Thanks Taigh,

The shelter is still there, that's what the trees are growing out of.

What is no longer there is the Parachute Shop, the funny-roofed building on the right of the sub-depot photo. It was demolished just over a year ago as the structure had become unsafe.

More to come as I tidy the photos up.

All the best,
Paul

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:01 am

Ditto on what Taigh said about those photos, Paul. "Then And Now" shots are really powerful reminders of history.

I'll do some digging on your artifact next time I have the IPC in front of me.
Scott

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:24 am

It's great Paul. Keep 'em coming!

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

Great stuff Paul! Thank You!

omega7 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:19 am

Part of a nose floor door latch assembly. See item 8 attached. -Adrian

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:28 am

Good work Adrian,

that looks like the part to me!

Cheers,

David

P.S. This is a great thread. I think the conversation about the part and its history, the 'salvaged' stamp, the 'then and now' shots... it's all fantastic. WIX at it's best!

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:49 am

Great stuff!

Thanks for the parts book scans, and for conclusively identifying the part.

All the best,
Paul

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:17 am

I think that's the door for the removable ADF sense antenna. It was a long whip antenna. We were talking about it on another thread a little while ago.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:51 am

That would make sense Taigh,

Here's the antenna location from both the F and G E&M Manuals for confirmation.

B-17F, antenna 2:

From the F manual:

Quote:

RADIO COMPASS
(d) ANTENNAE. - The loop antenna, Type LP-21A, is installed on the lower side of the fuselage at station 2 to 2A.
The whip antenna is mounted on the lower side of the fuselage at station 2E to 3 and extends downward. It is approximately 55.5 inches long overall. A spare whip antenna is stowed beneath the pilots' floor and is replaceable in flight.

B-17G:

From the G manual:

Quote:

RADIO COMPASS
4. ANTENNAE. - The loop antenna, type LP-21A, is enclosed in a streamlined housing on the bottom of the fuselage forward of the bomb doors.
A whip antenna extends through the bottom of the fuselage just behind the chin turret. A spare whip antenna is stowed beneath the pilots' floor and is replaceable in flight.

I've got a few boxfulls of items I've picked up at Deenethorpe over the last 20+ years.
I've been working on an engine data plate from another, non-fatal, crash-landing at the base, I can post photos if anyone's interested.

All the best, and thanks again,
Paul

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:56 am

Post away. I love the parts ID stuff.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:14 am

B-17G-1-VE 42-39825 "Zenobia el Elephanta" engine data plate.

On the morning of Sunday, 5 December 1943 42-39825 crashed on take-off into the village of Deenethorpe, coming to rest against an unoccupied cottage.
It was believed a combination of prop wash and icing resulted in loss of power and caused the port wing to sink until it touched the runway, turning the aircraft to port and down the hill into the village.
Eight of the crew managed to scramble clear and dashed around the village to warn the inhabitants to run for their lives before the burning plane exploded.
The navigator and bombardier were in the nose of the aircraft and were badly injured. They were bravely rescued by ground personnel and recovered eventually from their injuries.
Twenty minutes after the crash, the aircraft, loaded with 6000 pounds of bombs and over 2000 gallons of aviation fuel, exploded with a tremendous roar, taking the airfield's only fire tender up with it.
The ground crew who braved the burning aircraft to rescue the injured men were M/Sgt Earl K. Williams and M/Sgt Francis F. Snider, who dragged clear Lt Carl T. Floto (the navigator), and Capt Ralph J. White and Cpl William N. Luna who rescued Lt John J. King (the bombardier).

Before:

After:

Detail before:

After:

Although most of the serial numbers are hidden in the folded part, the acceptance date of 6-23-43 came up well, as did the contract number W535AC17319 and the manufacturer's number 140783.
Partially visible is the order number AF43-65......

All the best,
Paul

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:40 am

Mighty fine work you're doing there Paul.

Cheers,

David

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:18 pm

Thanks David.

Here's a little gem I picked up this thursday.
Purely by chance I'd knelt down to pull some dead grass out of the side of my boot when I saw it under a lump of earth. If I'd been standing up I'd have never seen it....

It's a lead safety seal from a bomb fuze, a mere ½" across.
Embossed with U.S. on one side:

And the Ordnance "Flaming Bomb" on the other:

The inert .50 round is included for scale, the flag is the back cover of a repro late-war 8AF "bail-out chit" I made for my living history group.

All the best,
Paul

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:32 pm

Love those before and after photos.Great work you are doing and thank you for posting.

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