The following photos show the RAF Museum’s B-17G N5237V in action as ‘Tanker 65’. They were provided by Larry Hegstad, who writes:
Attached are a few photos I took back when she was fire fighting air tanker #65. These pictures were taken in the fall of 1976 when we were using a fleet of tankers on fires in northern Minnesota. I was fortunate enough at that time in my forestry career to serve as air attack boss, flying in the lead plane. The drops here are to reinforce a line on a smoldering peat fire. At the controls was George Rensenk, a WWII B-17 pilot. We aslo used B-26’s, a PB4Y2, a C-119, as well as several helicopters.
A few weeks ago I was showing my son some air tanker pictures and he asked what happened to those grand old birds once they were decommissioned or no longer serviceable. I didn’t know; hadn’t thought about it. But with clearly visible registration numbers and the internet it didn’t take long to find ol’ number 65 happily restored and retired back in England. That’s very cool! Take good care of her.
Larry Hegstad
Minnesota Forest Service
Retired.
Many thanks to Martin Claydon for forwarding the pictures.
By: ErrolC - 12th October 2014 at 10:29
Not a display of fire bombing at an airshow, but I’m sure there was a display by an Air Atlantique DC-3, spraying water
at an airshow. I don’t remember where or when though.
Displays of top-dressing or other forms of application of agricultural material are fairly common at NZ airshows. Normally specialist aircraft are used (like the locally produced FU-24), rather than anything representing the military types used for evaluation post-war.
By: Dan Johnson - 12th October 2014 at 06:32
One of me great memories of my childhood happened during a Little League Baseball game. I was playing first base and hear the sound of aircraft engines that sounded much different than the usual Cessnas and Pipers that flew from the local airfield. Looking up during a break in the action I saw a flight of 3 B-17s headed north to fight the fires. Forgot where I was for a moment and went back in time to “12 O’Clock High”. Interesting to note Mary Alice was probably one of them as I’m also from Minnesota.
By: Bomberboy - 11th October 2014 at 23:21
This is the engine swap during the Belle filming. I think this engine came from “Mother & Country”, and is going back on “Mary Alice” in this picture.
Indeed this looks like it is during the filming, but as I have already suggested and has kindly been confirmed by B-17man, this engine came from one of the american B-17’s, namely N17W, otherwise known as C-Cup.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th October 2014 at 20:49
This is the engine swap during the Belle filming. I think this engine came from “Mother & Country”, and is going back on “Mary Alice” in this picture.
By: Bomberboy - 11th October 2014 at 15:02
That is correct
Thanks for that B-17man, I thought that was the case! 😎
By: B-17man - 11th October 2014 at 09:33
Perhaps someone can confirm this, but I seem to recall that one ended up being fitted to one of the American B-17’s during the filming of Memphis Belle.
That is correct
By: Bomberboy - 10th October 2014 at 21:42
I don’t know at what point all 4 engines ended up on Sally.
Perhaps someone can confirm this, but I seem to recall that one ended up being fitted to one of the American B-17’s during the filming of Memphis Belle.
Welcome to the Forum GS!
Ditto
By: Mike J - 10th October 2014 at 21:41
They did a spray demo with the DC-6s at the final Coventry airshow.
By: AlanR - 10th October 2014 at 21:30
Not a display of fire bombing at an airshow, but I’m sure there was a display by an Air Atlantique DC-3, spraying water
at an airshow. I don’t remember where or when though.
By: DragonRapide - 10th October 2014 at 20:54
More or less – as I recall, two went straight onto Sally, and the other two were lodged on Mary Alice as was – IWM’s B17. The RAFM B-17 received two non-flying engines from Mary Alice and the two tiredest engines from Sally-B. I don’t know at what point all 4 engines ended up on Sally.
Welcome to the Forum GS!
By: Gspot - 10th October 2014 at 20:22
Nice pics. I seem to recall that after she arrived in the U.K. her engines were swapped with Sally B’s?
By: Sabrejet - 10th October 2014 at 11:17
Would be nice if a few warbirds could be preserved in the colours they wore in civilian life. If only to recognize the part these post war activities paid in preserving the air frames to this day.Not every Mustang,B-17,B-25 etc has to represent military service that many actually never saw.
Fully agreed! Or even paint a few up in the markings they actually wore (I’m thinking Buchons here especially).
By: stangman - 9th October 2014 at 20:12
Would be nice if a few warbirds could be preserved in the colours they wore in civilian life. If only to recognize the part these post war activities paid in preserving the air frames to this day.Not every Mustang,B-17,B-25 etc has to represent military service that many actually never saw.
By: ozplane - 9th October 2014 at 15:57
Looks as though it’s flying on three in the last photo. Hopefully that was at the end of the sortie.
By: Sabrejet - 9th October 2014 at 14:44
Great shots David, thanks for putting them up.
I can understand that something like a Tigercat or B17 is more desirable in military config, but it would surely be a popular act and a good way to preserve a Neptune, Privateer etc in airworthy trim.
…or a Mars?
By: Moggy C - 9th October 2014 at 14:22
Stay on topic please
Moggy
Moderator
By: SADSACK - 9th October 2014 at 13:53
I think the Blenheim using her weapons, would be an ideal option on the tight fisted individuals who travel half way across the country then watch airshows from nearby fields… do they think these events pay for themself?
By: avion ancien - 9th October 2014 at 12:52
Didn’t someone once suggest just such a water bombing display over the freeloaders field at Duxford?
By: Ant.H - 8th October 2014 at 21:58
Great shots David, thanks for putting them up.
I’ve often wondered why there isn’t some kind of historic water-bomber flight on the US airshow scene. I can understand that something like a Tigercat or B17 is more desirable in military config, but it would surely be a popular act and a good way to preserve a Neptune, Privateer etc in airworthy trim.
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October 8, 2014 at 9:08 pm