1, maybe 2 new B-17s

[JimH]

So, this came across Facebook today. This will be interesting to watch unfold. Supposedly 1 fairly complete airframe and 1 partial. Very cool either way.

Jim

Attachments

IMG_9917 (1).PNG (250.81 KiB) Viewed 3678 times

IMG_9916 (1).PNG (216.61 KiB) Viewed 3678 times

[DaveM2]

Star of David on the fuse?

[mike furline]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/9261317727
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=296 ... 8815568059

[FlyingFortB17]

If I were a betting man, I'd say those are Bruce Orriss projects. One being the former Greeley, CO fuselage that hung from the ceiling of a saloon for decades, and the other being the mockup from the 1990 movie Memphis Belle (which I think he was a technical advisor for).

[JohnB]

Calling Scott Thompson...

Them not giving any information makes me a bit suspicious.

And how can a real (as opposed to a replica...which usually use parts and identity of a original airframe...or mock up) B-17 "not be a survivor of WWII"?
You would think anyone who knows anything about the B-17 survivors would know that only a few have combat history, so it really isn't necessary to say that a project/remnants don't have combat history.
Of course, it could be a matter of definitions...

The Star of David might be easy to explain..The Israeli Air Force museum has been on the hunt for a static B-17 for years. Perhaps the owner painted one on this to tempt them?

Last edited by JohnB on Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[whistlingdeath77]

Sadly, I can’t get excited about this at all. There are several flyable b-17s not in the air this year due to corona and other circumstances which I’d love to see back in the air. I’d be so glad if at least half of them returned to touring etc.

[aerovin]

B-17G nose section based on the window arrangement. The Orriss project B-17 is contained on survivior listings (44-83387) so I’m not sure how that would tie up. The statement was that it was not a veteran of WWII which implies to me it did not see combat. Should be interesting to see. I have a few ideas but nothing more than that. Funky astrodome.

The Orriss project incorporates parts of several airplanes plus some new build structure, but the heart of the project (nose and cockpit) are from 44-83387.

[mike furline]

Of the three that made it to Israel, two don't have the cheek gun fitting/astrodome combo.
https://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/201 ... esses.html

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 83811.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 83753.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 83851.html

[JohnB]

I wonder if this has anything to do with last week's post asking if there were any B-17s in Colorado?

[JimH]

My first thought was the Orriss airframes. There is a lot of hype around this to draw in viewers...but part of me would like to think there are still airframes out there none of us know about. There was a cache of P-47 bits in Nevada that was well known in certain circles...but not to the masses. 28 QEC's...airframe parts...a fuselage or two...all safely stored in a pole barn and since moved on. Every once in a while someone throws a fresh bone.

Jim

[DaveM2]

I checked some photos Bruce sent me last year- the hangar is exactly the same one as in the photos on the FB page.

[aerovin]

I checked some photos Bruce sent me last year- the hangar is exactly the same one as in the photos on the FB page.

Yes, I think that is is probably the best assessment since the reference was also made on the FB posting about the other fuselage being a Memphis Belle movie prop. The FB statement that this 'new' survivor is not on any lists might be a bit of a stretch since it is well-documented...including in Final Cut[ (Fifth Edition) which lays out the effort and the several airframes included in this project in some detail. Bruce Orriss has been keeping the project somewhat low key...perhaps this has now changed and he now welcomes putting out some information about this B-17.

[bdk]

From the B-17s on Colo thread...

https://planetags.com/products/b-17g-bomber-planetag-serial-44-83387

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

This Boeing B-17G was built at the Douglas Long Beach plant in California for delivery to the USAAF in February 1945. #44-83387 did not see combat duty, but instead spent most of its career on display and being used by 20th Century Fox for the silver screen - starring with Gregory Peck in 12 O'Clock High, as well as Tora! Tora! Tora!, and other movie and television productions. This B-17 spent almost 30 years on display at the State Armory in Greeley, Colorado before moving on to the California High Heritage Foundation for museum quality restoration.

https://gazette.com/life/b-17-wreckage- ... b5a2c.html

Is the "California High Heritage Foundation" the same as Bruce Oriss?

[aerovin]

From the B-17s on Colo thread...

Is the "California High Heritage Foundation" the same as Bruce Oriss?

Yes, pretty much. It's the organization he has put together.