B-17

Hi again
Jules has just me this picture of himself.
Jules, can you give any information on B-17 behind you in the picture please?
Cheers
Andy

Happy New Year to all my new friends

Willy,
Unless i misunderstand you, these pics are off “Documents” on my computer. I can only transfer the pics to a persons e-mail. Andy was kind enough to send me his, hence the pics.

Hi all
here are a couple more from Jules.
The first one I posted on another thread further down and the second one is new to me from Jules tonight.
Hope you like them.
Cheers
Andy

Jules,

Would you be kind enough to paste the link to your website.

Thks very much in advance

B17 man,
Even if we had the C 1 yoke, I wouldn’t trust it, or use it. I recall when tucking the plane in real tight, it was constant throttle jockeying, especially when under fighter attack. In the last stage of the air war there was very little fighter oppostion, only flak, so I really don’t see where it would be useful

I don’t understand how it works. How can the autopilot run in sync with the other or lead plane?

Formation Stick

Jules,
From what I have read the C-1 formation sticks were connected to the auto-piolt system on late B-17, and were situated one for each pilot. This then linked the flying via the autopilot servos for tight formation flying to ease the pressure from using the control yoke.
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Vaporizerinfo

Portrait…

Hi all
Jules sent me this picture this evening.
It’s of a young man a few years ago.
Again thanks for sharing.
Andy

Oscar,
I definately remember the people lining up for scraps and the remainder of our coffee.
Also,most tents had a gofer, a young boy who lived with us. We would cut down a uniform so that the lad had a warm outfit, we also fed the youngster.
After the war in my home, there were times when food had to be discarded for one reason or another, my wife would never discard food in my presence.

My guess is that the lipsticks were used for trading.

Andy,
I was in Salina about a week or ten days.I signed for a new F model. The time was spent wringing out the plane. My best recollection was that we checked the air speed indicator,compass, variation, deviation etc.
We spent all the time flying checking many items. I don’t remember going into the city.

B17 man,
I don’t know what a C-1 formation stick is. I’ve never heard of it.

I’ve just been given an RAF survival knife that a South African pilot gave to Ed at Foggia. It is in perfect [never used ha!] condition…

Jules

Ed told me that his group [483rd] took all new G models to Italy only to have them, snaffled on arrival and exchanged for almost war weary F’s. As he said, a great way to start a war for them….he echos the camp scene as you do only saying that the Italian people used to collect and eat the scraps….

When one of his tent mates was lost on their first mission I asked him what happened. He said he and his other two buddies were grateful for the 25 lipsticks that the guy “left for them”…..work it out..

On an early mission an RAF Sargeant accidently walked into the prop of his aircraft while they were lining up for departure…a quick power check and they were off. After the mission some wag painted sargeant’s chevrons under the mission symbol.He was badly WIA over Piombino [Pisa port] on 28th April. Chief Wahoo went down on the next mission over Milan.

Formation stick

Jules,
Did you manage to fly the B-17 with the C-1 formation stick, or do you know anyone that did, just wondered if from what I have heard, it did what it was supposed to.
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perfect **** Webcam

Hi Oscar,
As I mentioned previously I flew several different planes during my tour.
The new plane that I got in Salina, KS was #393 (last 3 #), we named her Lucky Lady. After calibrating the instruments we left and flew the southern route to Rabat, Morocco where I waited to be assigned to a bomb goup.
I flew 393 a number of times midway through my tour, it was transferred to the 97th BG. I believe that it crashed later.
.

Hi Jules
I’ve got friends in Salina KS.
How long were you there and did you ever go into town and have a World famous Cozy Burger??
Cheers
Andy

Hi Oscar,
As I mentioned previously I flew several different planes during my tour.
The new plane that I got in Salina, KS was #393 (last 3 #), we named her Lucky Lady. After calibrating the instruments we left and flew the southern route to Rabat, Morocco where I waited to be assigned to a bomb goup.
I flew 393 a number of times midway through my tour, it was transferred to the 97th BG. I believe that it crashed later.
.

Hi Stephen,
I prefered the G model because of the nose turret, more armament,otherwise there was no dfference. When fully loaded, takeoff was more hairy, once in the air, it handled beautifuly. During my 50 mission tour I flew in about 7-9 different planes, nothing major about the handling except for the condition of the engines. I spent most of my tour in Tunis July ’43-Dec’43, Foggia, Dec to Feb. We lived in tents, 4 officers per tent (my tent 4 pilots), enlisted, usually the same crew 6 per tent. The food wasn;t great but we survived, on missions we had K rations which we couldn’t eat because they were frozen. At breakfast you kept coffee to a minimum to eliminate having to urinate at altitude. On off days we went to town sometimes, or trips if jeeps were available.
After returning to US, I was an instructor for B17 crews preparing to go overseas. I had put in for different schools and after 6 months I went through and completed Navigation school. Shortly after I was discharged and remained in reserve until I had 20 years.
While at Nav school at Hondo,Tx I would go to Kelly Fld and fly AT-6 in order to get my 4 hours per month so that i would get flying pay, great plane.
I’d be glad to answer any questions as long as my memory works.
I monitor a great website in US titled ARMY AIR FORCES.

Sir

My father-in-law’s B-17F that he flew with the 815th BS/483rd BG came from 99th BG on exchange for his new “G” model ‘Flak Happy’ that went to the 99th BG.. His aircraft is 42-5418 “Chief Wahoo”

his is from the 5th Wing History of Aircraft Assigned…..

a/c 42-5418 Chief Wahoo 97th BG no Sqdn #. Assigned 20 Jan 43.Transfer
to 99 BG 14 Nov 43; flew 27 missions with 99 BG ; Transfer to 483rd BG 31 Mar 44. MIA Milan 30 Apr 44…. 815 Sq..damaged by flak.and attacked by fighters; two engines out,crashed near Vanette; Hilmer Landholt crew; Daniels; Kleiner; Bowles; Landwehr; Altgelt; Gatch; Conn; Davis ; Goddard. Altgelt, Goddard evade to Switzerland ; Rest POW. (MACR 4612).

A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy 483 BG 815 Sq Original a/c. Transfer to 99 BG 31 Mar 44. To US 19 Jun 47.

A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy transfer from 483 BG 31 MAr 44; flew 87 missions ; copilot Bentley from 483rd BG flew on the 5 apr 44 mission. Eadie and Wood WIA 23 Jun 44; Transfer to depot 5 Feb 45 ; To US 19 Jun 47.

This is from “The Flying Fortress Story” by Roger Freeman and David Osborne.

a/c 42-5418 Del Tulsa 3/2/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; ass 97th BG Biskra 20/1/43 ; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43 ; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43 ;Depienne 15/6/43 ; tran 99 BG 346BS/99BG Oudna 14/11/43 ; (27m/99) ; 815BS/483BG Tortorella 31/3/44 ; MIA Milan 30/4/44 ; w/Landholt ; flak & e/a ; cr Vanette ; 8POW.2 EVD to Switz. MACR 4612 ; CHIEF WAHOO.

A/C 42-32023 Del Cheyenne 14/1/44 ; Kansas City 1/2/44 ; McDill 5/2/44 ; Morrison 9/3/44 ; ass 815BS/483BG ; Tortorella 12/3/44 ;tran 416BS/99BG 31/3/44 (87m) ;Ret US 121 BU Bradley 6/6/45 ;4104 BU Rome 28/6/45 ;Chanute 12/10/45 ;4168 BU Sth Plains 17/12/45 ;4136 BU Tinker 8/12/46 ; 4104 BU Rome 31/12/45 ; Recl Comp 19/6/47 FLAK HAPPY

undefinedPS: I have a photograph of “Flak Happy” in the 99th as well as an original WW2 cartoon strip featuring “Chief Wahoo” but I don’t know how to upload them. 😀

Mr. Horowitz,

If possible, could you share with us any memories or reflections on flying the B-17? What was it like with a full bomb load and full fuel? Did you favor a particular model (F or G) or was there a difference between the Boeing and Vega aircraft? Also, what did you do after Feb. 1944? Did you come home to instruct, or did the Air Corp release you?

Also, any insights as to what an average day was like in Foggia? Food? Quarters? Time off?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but like so many others here I’m from the movie generation. Most of what we know of the war comes from books, documentaries, and movies (12 O’Clock High being my personal favorite). Your views would be most welcome and appreciated. In return, you can fly my AT-6F Texan (built 1944 and served at Dalhart, TX). 🙂

Sincerely,

Stephen Patterson

I have a few pictures from WW 2. but I don’t know how to get them on this site. I can send them via e-mail.

Respect is too small a word sir

Couldn’t have been said any better.

Ken.

Respect is too small a word sir..