Just finished reading Z.L. Leigh’s memoires “And I Shall Fly”. In this book, Leigh includes 2 snaps of Fortress 9204 prior to their departure for Prestwick from Rockcliffe on the first RCAF mail flight in December 1943.
The aircraft has me inspired on a new modeling project and there are two parts to my request here.
One: Does anyone out there have or have access to addition photographs of this Fortress – in particular whilst still wearing its painted out USAAC colours? (prior to the Fortresses acquiring RAF pattern camouflage)
Two: The F models acquired by the RCAF (of which 9204 was one) were equipped with what was referred to as “Tokyo tanks” in the outer wing panels. These caused Leigh a deal of woe on the first flight – the connections having been severed prior to delivery to the RCAF. Does anyone out there have or have access to drawings/specifications on these tanks – in particular the location of the refueling points.
Cheers, James
By: contrailjj - 14th July 2009 at 04:32
cheers!!
Wieesso, great specs, thanks for the post – I’ll be looking up the AAF site soon… although I’m still confused – were those ‘Tokyos’ filled externally or by ‘overflow’ whilst filling the mains. If the latter was the case then someone really f*cked up since the feed lines and vent lines on those Tokyos had been severed (undocumented prior to delivery to the RCAF)… (I’ll scan and post the pic of the severed lines – and I’ll quote Leigh’s memoires regarding the feeds and vents at the same time)
Al, thanks even more… I think I’ve known at least two individuals who’ve been involved with “Canada’s Wings” – mostly through my long past IPMS Ottawa days… but Stittsville is barely a 2 hour drive for me, so hopefully someone may still be around.
As a side note.. RCAF.com posts a pic of 9202 in Italy on Dec 30/43.
Leigh (O/C 168(HT) Sqn.) had left Rockcliffe (in 9204) on Dec 15/43 with stops in Dorval and Gander and onward to Prestwick. (Bruce Middleton was captain, S/L B.G. Smith (co-pilot), F/O Jimmie Irvine (engineer), F/O La Brish (nav), F/O Dickinson (w/o). The original plan was to have mail directly (via England) from Canada to the troops in Italy in time for Christmas – almost but not quite – landing at Foggia on Dec 29 in ‘9203’, having left ’04’ in the UK for repairs to those fuel lines
I’ve been doing a ton of work for CANAV Books on the latest series commemorating the Centenary of power flight in Canada. Volume 2 (barn-storming/bush-flying/early airlines and charters) will be released soon. We’ll be launching into production of Volume 3 (1924 – birth of the RCAF and wartime) in the next few weeks.
By: alvin5182 - 13th July 2009 at 18:26
RCAF Fortress
James:
See if you can source a long out of print book “Canada’s Wings 2: The Liberator and Fortress” by Carl Vincent. Published (1976) by Canada’s Wings-Stittsville, Ontario. ISBN 0-920002-01-3.
There is a complete chapter on 168 (HT) Sqn. and their aircraft. Numerous pictures of the Fortresses at various stages in their “career” . Also included is a side view drawing of 9204 showing how the American markings were painted over and colour details.
Al Davis
By: wieesso - 12th July 2009 at 17:51
‘The fuel cells and engine oil cells were rubberized fabric self-sealing tanks.
The Mains and Oil tanks were not collapsing.
There were the six main fuel cells….
no 1 and 4 were a single cell…. cap 425 US Gals
The two inbd fuel cells were split to accomadate the landing gear…the inbd tanks were 212 gals and 213 gals..total 425 US Gals.
Tokyo tanks were composed of a set of 5 for the 1 and 4 engines
(again. flexible collapsing rubberized fabric)
and and a set of 4 larger cells for the inbd tanks as the wing was thicker for the inbd….
The set of 5 for the outbd engines capacity was 270 gals
The set of 4 for the inbd engines capacity was 270 gals
Total capacity was 1080
Total fuel capacity with Tokyo tanks was 2780
1700 mains (425 x 4)
Tokyo capacity 1080 1700 + 1080 = 2780
I count a total of 24 tanks…6 mains, 18 tokyo (9 each wing) = 24 tanks
The fuel transfer system was much simplifed…there were two selector valves with 4 positions each …one for left wing, one for right wing…one transfer pump located in bomb bay. A three postion switch controlled the transfer pump..(on off on)….installed so that if the fuel flow was FROM the left wing….the switch was moved in the direction the fuel was to transfer…I.E. toward the Right wing. Transfer rate was 15 gals/minute…to transfer 90 gals.( 90 divided by 15 = 6 minutes).
To transfer from No 1 to No 2, fuel HAD to be transferred first to opposite wing tank, the Selector valves repositioned and then back to No 2.
The Tokyo tanks had a hydraulic valve (normally closed) but when the lever was actuated, the valve was positioned OPEN, and the fuel then was gravity fed into the respective tanks…the tokyo tank for the inbd tanks..sometimes marked AUX fed first into the inbd aux and had a 1″ line coupling it to the inbd main…this required when refueling, to move from the main to the aux and then back to the main as the 1″ line was also feeding fuel to the inbd tank. This process was continued until both tanks (Inbd) were filled.
In ascertaining the partially empty inbd tankage, an average had to be computed due to the arrangement of the tanks…IE 2 Aux dipped level, 130 gals…no 2 main 140 gals…average 135.
The B-17 had as an indicating system, a Liquidometer, which was composed of float and xmttr similar to auto indicating systems…the positions were 1 Main,
2 Aux,2 Main, 3 Aux,3 Main and 4 Main….there was no indication for the tokyo tanks…A note of caution, was that the Mains had to be below 150 before xfrring from the tokyos (to prevent over filling the mains.
The Bomb Bay tank capacity was 410 gals US. (each)
I hope this answers your questions ….’
http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.aspx?m=79692&high=Tokyo+Tanks
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July 12, 2009 at 5:14 pm