Warbird Information Exchange

Hi,

This crank supposedly came from a B-17 and at first I thought it was the crank for lowering the undercarriage, until I found out what that one looks like. Does someone recognize this crank as something that was carried on board B-17's? As can be seen on the photo on the handle is the following text: EMG 202. I'm assuming that EMG stands for the EMG Engineering Company?
Thanks for the help.

Roy,

Unfortunately I don't recognise what this crank is from, but it's not a B-17 hand crank.

Is it perhaps possible to find out more with the text on this crank? I would think it refers to the manufacturer?

there are two styles of cranks for the B-17. I believe MLG and flaps are the same but the tailgear looks like the one pictured.

_________________
The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

The same crank for the B-17 works for ALL positions on the aeroplane, although there are also extension bars too, but they still use the same crank.

I've hand-cranked the gear on a certain yellow-tailed B-17 a time or two, and I agree with the others that what's in your photo is not a B-17 crank. We had two identical cranks aboard, which worked the main and tail gear, as well as the flaps.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Concurring with the previous posts on the matter, the same engine starting crank handle (for that is what it primarily was), with the use of various extension sections as required, was used for manual operation of the main and tail landing gear and the flaps.
The only other detachable hand crank was the one for the bomb winch, which is a different item again to what Roy first posted.

All the best,
PB

_________________
Paul Bellamy

401BG Association Historian & Honorary Life Member
401BG Historical Society (UK) Member
1st Air Division HQ Historical Society (UK) Founder Member
Director of Archives & Collections, Airfield Research Group Archive, Alconbury
RAF Alconbury Base Historian

It also does the bomb doors utilising one of the extension bars.


Correct.
I likened it to some kind of strength testing crank handle.
You could either winch something heavy but slowly or you could winch something lighter but faster, or there was a 'middle' winding option.
The testing bit came when somebody tries to wind something heavy, but wants to wind it quickly too, not a good idea for most us!

I wish I would have had that crank handy when the Memphis Belle II was in St Louis a few weeks ago. I think that one will also crank the ball turret so that the turret door can be opened on the ground. I brought an internal ball turret crank with me but I forgot they don't work to move the azimuth and elevation on top of the turret.

_________________
Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Good job you didn't rely on it then as the crank handle for the elevation of the ball turret is a much smaller 'cast' affair.
The main cranks are tubular/cast arrangements and the winch handle is an assemblege of pressed/cast/machined components. I think I got that order right.