Warbird Information Exchange

I couldn’t tell from the pictures,but did the cockpit area get burned up?

Pretty much nothing left of the forward fuselage and cockpit. The chin turret guns are on the ground next to the debris. The ball turret is visible in the main debris.

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

Even if there had been no post-impact fire, the geometry of how the wreckage ended up suggests the entire forward fuselage -- cockpit included -- would have been severely damaged simply by the impact with the tank.

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I sent a link to this picture to Lucky52 the other day and from this angle it looked like maybe there was a small part of it left and sitting on top the tank. What I was seeing though may be part of the top turret framing along with other debris. Zoom in on it.

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Thanks everybody.

Don't Let COVID-19 Dim Our Nation's Heritage
Please Help the American Heritage Museum and The Collings Foundation
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To our loyal and dedicated supporters,

Since 1989, the 50th Anniversary of the start of World War II, the Collings Foundation has carried the torch of honoring and remembering our heroes of the Greatest Generation with our programs like the Wings of Freedom Tour which has touched millions of people across our nation. We have proudly continued this commitment for these 30 years.

During 2016, the 75th Anniversary of the beginning of that conflict, we were still very fortunate to have many of our WWII veterans among us, who were able to recount their experiences and share them with our visitors at any one of our 100 tour events that year. As the years progressed, we noticed that fewer and fewer of our veteran friends were there with us and our mission to preserve their memory became even more important.

Now we are at the 75th Anniversary year of the end of World War II, and this was to perhaps be the last major opportunity to recognize our veterans while they are still among us. Sadly, we as a nation are currently faced with fighting a different kind of war that prevents us from meeting that goal. But, we are committed to maintaining their legacy of service and sacrifice into the future with your help.

Refusing to allow COVID-19 to dim our nation’s heritage
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted us all in some way over the past two months and we still have many challenges ahead. Tragically, it has significantly affected our older citizens, especially those of the Greatest Generation we sought to honor this year.

As a result of the pandemic and the limitations of public gatherings in many states extending into the fall, we have postponed the Wings of Freedom Tour, that began its 31st year of touring in January, until 2021. Additionally, the tragic accident with the B-17 Flying Fortress in October, 2019 further restricts our ability to offer flight experiences at this time, after 30 years of safe operation.

In Massachusetts, our new American Heritage Museum featuring the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection has temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions in the state until social distancing measures can be lifted. School visits have been cancelled for the remainder of the school year, and special events have been postponed.

We can overcome, together.
Though we face many challenges ahead as an organization and as a nation, we are inspired by those of the Greatest Generation who were the foundation of our living history mission from the very start. All citizens, overseas or on the homefront, rolled up their sleeves, worked together, and fought hard until the words of Victory could be heard on every Main Street. We can do this, together.

At the Collings Foundation and the American Heritage Museum, this means that we are making plans and getting ready for when we are able to re-open, such as:
•Developing new additions and content to the museum
•Designing school programs for anticipated field trips this Fall
•Creating new experiences, such as a classic auto driving program and tank rides
•Finishing restorations of incredible veterans of the war including our original Piper L-4 “Rosie the Rocketer” flown by Maj. Charles Carpenter
•Organizing new outdoor events to showcase some of our amazing tanks and vehicles in operation

We are also working with the FAA with the goal of continuing our Wings of Freedom Tour program in 2021 and are further committing to maintaining safety as our top priority in all operations.

We are committed to our role as proud custodians of our nation’s heritage and the valor of those who have worn the uniform. We will be ready to open our doors when it is once again safe to gather.

Please join those who have stepped up to honor our past.

The dedication of supporters like you will help us continue our shared mission. Some have already answered the call. We have received a $50,000 matching grant from a donor who wishes to inspire all of us to do our part to help us continue our living history mission. This means that your generous gift today, in support of what we do, will double!

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Be well and stay safe.

Best regards,
Rob Collings

Rob Collings
Executive Director

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Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Would have been wonderful if Phil or somebody from the Collins Foundation would have posted an update on the wreckage of SB-17G 44-83575 - was she taken out and stored properly, or taken out in a dumpster and crushed.

Since the crash, nothing but dead air regarding what was done with her.

I do not work for the Collings Foundation.
Just passing on information from an email.

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Not sure if the NTSB is done with the airframe yet, then it goes to the insurance company. CollinGs might want to buy the remains, or perhaps the remains will go up for auction.

Seriously.....?
People lost their lives...

And what does it matter, it was 90% consumed by fire, there's pretty much nothing left of it re-usable for parts apart from maybe parts of the fin, tail cone, starboard tail plane, port wing tip etc., and as said, likely FAA not finished with it anyway.

What does loss of life have to do with the disposition of the remaining mechanical parts?

What is that supposed to mean? Discussing the disposition of the wreckage isn't disrespectful to whomever perished, and there are *lots* of flying warbirds that were rebuilt out of the wreckage of fatal accidents.



The "small parts" are the most useful parts in a rebuild, right behind the title of ownership and registration. Go check out that thread about the Big Beautiful Doll F-51 project, and see what the "small parts" and paperwork are worth there...and B-17s are substantially more rare than Mustangs.

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This also reminds me of the American Airpower / Clyman P-47D that was lost in the Hudson that's apparently been in storage in Jersey somewhere since the accident.

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Ma’am, Phil doesn’t work for Collings. Just giving us some info

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

I've been wondering too....

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.