my walk thru a B-17!!!

Hey everybody!
I thought I would share this with you, I went up to Ft. Meyers Fl. this morning and walked into a B-17G! Quite an experience! Made even better by the fact that sitting under it was a Ball Turret Gunner:
W. Harold Plunkett
49th Sqd.
2nd Bomb Group
12th A.F.
He was talking to everyone about his experiences on the 56 missions he did! He started out in North Afirca, went thru to Italy, bombed Rome, he said without breaking a single church window in the whole city! Then he went on to France.









Also met a Nick Niccoson who said he was from 101st AB, 506th PIR Easy company! But did not have time to talk! Anyway I got a little time with 2 vets there so that really made my day!!

 

Now that would be awesome. The photos are great. Envious over here.

 

Great pictures ! The one looking out the nose really makes me think how exposed you would feel with a fighter making a frontal attack !
They really went all out to get the aircraft back to original shape.
Thank you for posting them !

 

I had a similar happy experience a few years ago with the Collings Foundation B17G and B-24. Took a pile of pictures......

tom

 

Hey Tom!!
this is the very same plane! From the Collings Foundation! The were supposed to have a B-24, I think, but it blew an engine, so back to the shop!

 

sweet to meet the vets isn't it especially when they walk you around and through "their home"

good one Scott, I've been all over that 909 at least twice and had bomber vet freinds attend both and we talked for hours..........wow it was great. will try and post pics later once the digi comes from my bro next month

 

You're right Erich, Mr Plunkett really got animated when explaining all about his missions and his job! I sat there for close to an hour! I think he enjoyed it as much as I did!

 

Scott if he served through 1943 and 44 he was also in the 15th Air Force the 2nd bg was one of the stars of the heavy AF out of Italy.

 

Interesting!!

 

Hi Scott, thanks for these amazing pictures and stories. Keep them coming for us less fortunate who don't get to see some of these vets often. I'd send you more points but was told to "spread them around a bit." ;-))

 

Ha Ha. That would explain why your pictures look so much like mine! I forgot the name of it.

DOH!!

tom

 

Great photographs Scott. The closest i have been to a B-17 was a walk around the outside of the Sally B at the Duxford airshow a few years ago.

The Sally B is the only airworthy B-17 in the UK today and it was wonderful to get up close to it and see it fly later in the day.

B-17 Preservation Ltd - The Sally B Web Site

Whilst at the airshow i also had the privilege of meeting four british wartime pilots, including Battle Of Britain Spitfire pilot Geoffrey Wellum who, at the age of 17, was the youngest pilot in 92 squadron.

 

Thanks guys, I fell like a kid in a candy shop at these events!
Hey Tom! That was funny! That thing ws small inside though, didn't you think? I'm a big guy, but wow! they must have been mostly small, or THIN men!! You'll have to post yours Tom!!
Great link John!!

By the way, I found the website, (thanks to Tom for the reminder of the foundation name!) they are going to be at alot of places! Check it out and click on the "Wings Of Freedom" tour.
Tour Schedules - The Collings Foundation

 

Thanks for the pics, both the B-17 and B-24 have flown over my house

Collings has quite a collection including an 88, Fiesler Storch, a F-4 Phantom and a load of antique cars as well as race cars. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

That's really interesting. I was also struck by that fact that, for such large planes (both the Fort and the Liberator), they were quite cramped inside.

It may be a while before I post my pics 'cause I have to scan them, but I will do so. The day I was there they had a couple of jugs off of one of the engines. That interested be because I am an automotive machinist.

BTW, they offer flights in the plane for 400 bucks. I didn't go myself ($400 divorce?) but I tallked to a fella that did. They flew all over northeast Michigan. I wish I had the chance again.

tom

 

Terrific pics of '9-0-9', Scott - I'm very envious ! Like JP44, I'm familiar with 'our' B-17G, 'Sally B' ; I had a 'walk-through' a couple of years back.

As machine shop tom so rightly says, you suddenly realise just how cramped these old bombers are, and you cannot help wondering just what it must have been like to bail out in a hurry......

 

Wow Martin! I did not think of that, thanks! Yeah, nothing could really happen in a hurry in there could it!

 

Scott are they still talking of the B-24 to return to your area or is it when completed/repaired on a different circuit ? wish they would both come back here to south Oregon it has been at least 6-7 years