Closure in a B-17

Several years ago, there was a small air show here at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. It was a USAAF installation in WW2 called Harding Field. Pilots were trained mainly on P-47s and B-26s here among others, but that is not what the thread is about. Anyway, I took my dad to the airfield where a B-17 and a B-24 flew in and landed for a living history static display. We walked around and took a good look at the two old war birds. My dad wasn't able to climb up in them, so he stood outside on the tarmac and talked to some of the pilots. Of course I had to get my moneys worth and get a good look and feel at what I had been reading about all these years. There is not much space in there, either machines let me tell you. The term "lean and mean" comes to mind. I was up in the nose section of the B-17, pretending I was shooting at Bf 109s and FW 190s when an older woman climbed in by herself, and worked her way to the top turret gunner's position. She stood there, looking as if she was in deep thought or prayer, with tears coming out of her eyes. Then after a short time, she had this look of contentment come over her, and a faint smile appeared on her face. Without asking, she looked at me and told me that her older brother was a top turret gunner in a B-17 flying out of England with the 8th Air Force. He was killed in action over Germany when she was a kid she said. She then said that she had to see the inside of a B-17, and that she felt much better by seeing where his fighting position was during the war. It looked like a ton of weight was lifted off of the lady. I didn't say anything. What could anyone say? She looked away, stood there for a few more minutes, then climbed down to the ground, assisted by several younger men that I assume were her grandsons. Later, the last scene of "Saving Private Ryan" came to mind when thinking of that day in the B-17.

 

Very powerful. MY Dad experienced something similar the first time he visited the USS Arizona Memorial, and later the Punchbowl.

He was at Pearl Harbor during the attack and lost friends. I wish he had known about his brother's name on the MIA memorial for the Battle of the Atlantic in NYC Battery Park.

 

A-58

nothing needs to be said, though a hug for the gal would go a long way.

I've done this with my own customers of WW2 age, which most of them are

thanks for sharing this

E ~

 

Thanks Biak, I couldn't think of a better way to supplement the thread.

 

Hey Biak, that looks to be the Sentimental Journey B-17. Did she visit your neck of the woods recently? That is the 'Fort that visited here in Billings a while back, that I took some pics of too. I used them as my avatar for a while.

 

Yeah I sprang for the tour walk through too, but when the Aluminum Overcast B-17 came through a few years earlier I had the spare change to take the flight. Now that was a treat. Of course when I did that I had taken my little Vivitar digital with me, but while I was filling out the insurance waivers, and reading the restrictiions on where we could walk and such I set it down on the table.

Well, didn't even think about the Vivitar until I got back from the flight, and of course it was "long gone Charlie". So I ended up with no pics of the flight or the Overcast interior. Felt like a real schmuck. Not that the camera was worth anything really, I wanted a higher megpixel unit anyway, but NO photos really pissed me off.

 

I had the exact same feeling when I took that flight over Billings way back when in the Aluminum Overcast. I was surprised at the confined feeling I had in that "big" bomber. I'm a bit over 6'3", and had to do a whole bunch of watching my head when I moved around.

Here are three of the pics I took of the Sentimental Journey when it visited Billings.

 

LOL No kidding! We had one visit here in Charlotte two years ago, and as me and my two sons made our way to the back, I actually got stuck for about 15 seconds by the bomb bay doors! (I really needed to go on a diet at that time!).

Anyway, great story! If the salute button was working, I'd give you one for this story!

 

If only they knew..............

My Grandfather was a civvie worker on the Ridgewell Base in Essex. 381st BG. B-17s.

My Dad remembers him coming home in tears. he saw guys hosed, yes, hosed outta B-17s. Lads that had eaten at their dining room table, lads seeking a little piece of home in cold wet England.

They saw a B-17 crash on take off behind their house. My dad remembers the crew screaming as the petrol and bombs went off. 11 years old and seeing that. Only 2 badly burnt guys survived.

Politicans have selective memories. lets make sure we all don't!!

Big thanks to all those RAF, USAF and every other arm of the services that kept us all free!!

 

It's the thought that counts dude!

 

I had the oppertunity to tour the inside of a B-17 and B-24 that visited Akron/Canton airport. As was mentioned there is very little space inside either bomber. Just how men got out of those planes when they were torn apart and on fire is beyond me. Being inside those bombers was an awesome experiance.

The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour.

The Collings Foundation - Preserving Living Aviation History for Future Generations

 

I've flown in both. I posted plenty of pics in my gallery.

When I took the B24 ride in 1995, there was an elderly gentleman on the plane that seemed to just stare off into space. He told me that the airport we took off from, it wasn't to far away from there that he entered the USN in 1942. He then flew on PB4Y's during the war, and nearly 50 years ago to the day we were flying on this B24, he took his last ride in one as they flew from the Mariana's back to Hawaii. He was then discharged from service. Again, not to far from this airport.

He told me it was like the bookends of his life's journey was being experienced.

I shook his hand and smiled.

 

Biak ..... I first saw that B17 "Sentimental Jouney" at Chino Planes of Fame back in 1987.

Beautifully done restoration!