B-17G of the CAF

[rjs28023]

Does this B-17G fly? You bet she does.

Too busy to fly on today or tomorrow, but I will get this done.

What a Beautiful airplane !

Randy

[ChezDaJez]

I had the good fortune to fly in in CAF's B-17G "Sentimental Journey" last August. It wasn't cheap but it was an amazing experience. It's much smaller inside than I had thought. It gave me a much better insight of what it must have been like trying to get out of a burning, falling Fort.
Chez

[IslandInland]

I've seen Just Jane in the flesh, or metal, so to speak.

[IslandInland]

I'm 6'1" tall and was holding the camera in front of my face when I took the photo so that gives you some idea of how big she is.

She lives here

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/


Here is a BBC article about her

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-28245409


She was rescued from the southern Pacific where she served with the air arm of the French Navy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_s ... Lancasters

[IslandInland]

double post.

[rjs28023]

When you enter the B-17G thru the hatch under the nose and look to your immediate left you see this sight.

It is the position for the Bombardier and Navigator.

Of the officers they would have had the best chance of getting out in an emergency.

Randy

[rjs28023]

After entering thru the front belly hatch you have to make a right turn go forward stand up and move left to get to the flight deck.

There was a small chair on the left for the Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. This is the view from the rear of the flight deck.

Every instrument is original except for a GPS device on the roof of the flight deck.

[rjs28023]

Moving to the rear of the plane the Bomb Bay has a narrow cat walk, behind which you find the radio room. To the rear of that are the waist gun positions.

This is the right wait gun aimed at the concrete hardstand.

[rjs28023]

I can see why attacking from the rear of the aircraft was not the best idea. Slow closing speed relative head-on attack, and a bunch of these to look at.

[rjs28023]

Won't be much longer and I can retire. I'm volunteering for the CAF in retirement.

No surprise to the wife. Our first date was going on a tour of the U.S.S. Texas (BB-36) which traded shots with the enemy at Cherbourg.

Yes, that is me.

Hope you enjoyed the walk-around.

Randy

[Helpless]

Great pictures of planes and yourself, Randy!

Do you know what is the meaning of two swastikas on the "Texas Raider"?

[rjs28023]

That means two kills from that gun position. Bomber claims were often over-stated, but it meant something good happened (from our perspective.)

[Joel Billings]

Thanks for the walk-through. Great pics.

[Darojax]

Thanks for the tour, Randy! Very nice pictures.