Author Topic: OT,....JUST GOT BUZZED TWICE,...........A B-17G is nighting over at our airport, (Read 6069 times)

SGT John Chapman · « **on:** June 27, 2005, 08:24:19 PM »

Just out mowing the lawn and I got buzzed twice,........
Can't Imagine how a sky full of those babys must have been.........shame there isn't more of them flying.

“Fuddy Duddy” built by Douglas Aircraft in 1944 at their Long Beach, Calif., plant and delivered to the Pacific Theater. It was converted for use as a VIP transport and in 1946, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower used the aircraft on his tour of the South Pacific. Gen. Douglas MacArthur also used it in the 1950s. The airplane’s paint scheme matches that of the original “Fuddy Duddy,” a B-17G assigned to the 8th Air Force’s 447th Bomb Group, 708th Bomb Squadron, during World War II.

http://www.rmrfi.org/05_B17.htm

http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_72658...y_/tm.htm#72658

http://www.planestrainsfunkythangs.com/web...7fuddyduddy.htm

http://www.b17.org/history/fuddy_duddy.asp

http://soccer.smugmug.com/gallery/207756

http://www.hockeyjimm.com/B-17.htm

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2005, 08:40:12 PM »

Sgt., tried to post on it on The Wire and something happened and I can't get it to refresh to new posts and it won't let me post anything. Thought Fuddy Duddy was at Akron Fulton a couple weekends ago, but according to their schedule, it wasn't this far east. Must've been the 17 out of Mich. Those old birds sure catch your attention when they fly over. Have a sound all their own.......Buck

Boston John Doucette · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2005, 10:56:23 PM »

Dad was a navigator in a B-17 (E, I think)...

They've always taken my breath away... Many's a man survived only because of the old girl's ability to absorb terrific punishment and still stay in the air.
The world will never see 200, 300 or 1000 planes in formation again.

Dadgummit! Now I have to go watch "12 O'Clock High" and "Memphis Belle" again!

BJD

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Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2005, 11:40:11 PM »

BJD, The early 17's didn't have the chin turret that the G's do. It was the last attempt to beef up the frontal armament( weak point in defense). The G models are the most distintive, you can tell what they are. The earlier ones are tougher to tell apart. took some real cahones to do what those men did over the skies of Europe. Toughest duty out there until they got decent fighter escorts.......Buck

Black Harris · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2005, 11:52:24 PM »

I flew on the B-17 Fuddy Duddy in April, what an experience!

If you get the chance don't pass it up!

Both the EAA http://www.b17.org/tour/

And the Collins Group B-17 Nine o Nine and the B-24 Witchcraft http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com/calendar_of_events.htm

Have flights

Black Harris

SGT John Chapman · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2005, 12:00:56 AM »

A real good friend of mine was a navigator on a B-17G,.............He's since past and we never really talked about it ,.............wished we had now,.............

Please encourage those who will share to do so.......These HEROS are a true lost treasure..........

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2005, 11:06:15 AM »

My parent's neighbor was in a bomber group in Europe, but I never got a chance to talk to him about it, wish I had..........Buck

$:-\$

Col. Riddles · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2005, 12:45:04 PM »

My mom installed radios in the B-17s during the war, & dad flew em over Europe.

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2005, 01:00:28 PM »

I believe there's maybe 4 or five of them still flying, one B-24, one B-29-maybe two. I think there's two Marauder's currently in restoration, besides one that's flying. There's a preservation group near me that's doing two SBD Dauntless's. These are history on the wing and a tribute to the men and women who built and flew them in the defense of our Country and the world. As far behind as we were in 1941, these are amazing efforts by our Nation.......Buck

Guns Garrett · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2005, 05:59:10 PM »

When I was stationed at NAS Memphis in Millington, TN in the mid-80's, I had the distinct pleasure to help in restoring the original "Memphis Belle". It had been parked out at the Memphis airport and had suffered horribly from weather and vandalism. The City of Memphis was developing the riverfront at the time and built a big pavilion for the plane on Mud Island. It looks sorta like a big parachute canopy. Anyway, many of the Navy and Marine mechs and technicians from the base at Millington volunteered on their off time to go down an help in the restoration. It was quite an experience to be close to that much history, plus we got to work with many of the Boeing engineers and factory workers from the '40's. It was absolutely amazing to learn of the types of damage the B-17 could take and keep flying. It was probably one of the most unforgetable experiences I have had. You can see the pavilion just south of the I-40 bridge on the east bank of the Mississippi River at Memphis.

SGT John Chapman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2005, 06:07:17 PM »

Guns ,......that's AWESOME,...........thanks for helping that's one bird the world will never forget..............Man that must have been cool..........

Trailrider · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2005, 06:30:25 PM »

Where do you live? They had an air show I think based at the Jefferson County, Colorado, airport last weekend. Unfortunately I had family committments in the opposite direction. They wanted $395 to take you on a ride! Even if I had the money to spare, my understanding is that they have seats set up in the bomb bay! Not much fun in that! Top turret would be a kick!

Anyhow, as my wife and I were driving, I happened to see, off in the distance, an aircraft... The visibility wasn't all that good, but there was no mistaking the tapering wings, the shape of the tail... It was a B-17!

"Here's a toast to the host of those who love,
the vastness of the sky!"

Godspeed to all in harm's way in the defense of Freedom! God Bless America!

Your obdt servant,
Trailrider

SGT John Chapman · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2005, 08:34:42 PM »

TrailRider,....
I'm over in Nebraska,.....North Platte to be exact,...........I don't get to travel too much right now in fact shooting locally has been a challenge lately too,........tryin to raise my little girl up to where she can travel and get around at these things better,.............

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2005, 08:43:28 PM »

She's gettin' big, Sarge. About two now?..........Buck

SGT John Chapman · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2005, 08:45:21 PM »

One on July 13.............

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2005, 08:55:52 PM »

Boy, I guess I lost track there. My oldest will be 35 July 22. HIS oldest just turned 16 June 10th

......Buck

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2005, 08:57:04 PM »

Boy, I guess I lost track there. My oldest will be 35 July 22. HIS oldest just turned 16 June 10th

......Buck

Boy that's funny, my first double clutch over here..........Buck

Kaycee · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2005, 11:19:45 PM »

Here is a link to a picture or two of my dad, he was a mechanic on B-17's. He is in the back row in a white shirt in the first link. We lost him in 94, hope you all enjoy

http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/BFlight832.htm
http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew9/DJump02.htm

KC

SGT John Chapman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2005, 11:32:21 PM »

Great Pictures Kaycee Thanks,..............

Four-Eyed Buck · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:11:33 PM »

If you notice, the 17 in the background of that one pic is a G model just like Fuddy Duddy. Thanks for the pics, Kaycee......Buck

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Author Topic: OT,....JUST GOT BUZZED TWICE,...........A B-17G is nighting over at our airport, (Read 6069 times)

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