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 Post subject: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:27 pm 
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I did a search and did not see this topic posted before about this NOVA documentary.

For the history buffs....I just ran across this NOVA documentary about the last B-24 to come off the production line, it's tragic ending and the search for the MIA's on it. I just watched it on Prime but found it was recently posted in November on YouTube. It's a great watch on the story of the aircraft, it's search and how the MIA recovery and ID process goes. I've been to the JPAC Lab in Hawaii....fascinating work is done there. A tease....while working this case, they were told by a local about another missing warbird 3 miles away from the B-24.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QicD-FrxYxU


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:40 pm 
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Thanks for posting that. A powerful show and a worthy mission. Just incredible.


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 12:04 am 
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Glad ya liked it. Great underwater video and story. A little curious about the history of the second warbird. I'm sure some sleuths around here can figure out which one it might be.


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:21 am 
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Nova's production are top notch!!!!!

The mix from the historical perspective to the human side of it has always been well presented.

Thank you CoastieJohn!


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 12:06 pm 
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I totally agree Michel.
That was really well done.


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 8:47 pm 
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No educated guesses on the B-17 back story?


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:38 pm 
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The story of the Tulsamerican is one that I and a few other folks started researching about 20 years ago. We finally, with a lot of help from a number of different people, got DPAA interested and then one thing led to another. It is a bit of a sad story, but a pretty incredible one. We started off with the question of "I wonder what happened to the last B-24 made here in Tulsa?" and ultimately were able to figure out where it was, identify the wreck, get it documented and preserved, get DPAA involved, get DPAA to fund an expedition to look for remains, discover remains, and then repatriate and bury those remains at Arlington. Here in Tulsa, we have a pretty good sized exhibit about the Tulsamerican at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, complete with a virtual reality experience and a full scale fiberglass mockup of one side of the fuselage (it's not perfect by any means, but it's decent) along with photos and artifacts. If you are interested in the rest of the story of this airplane, you should swing by the museum in Tulsa! Nova did a good job, though I wish they had told more of the airplane's back story before the final mission and crash.
kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 11:35 pm 
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It looks like there are 3 bomber wrecks in that area. The 2nd link below says the B-17's number is 44-6630.

https://diving-croatia.hr/diving-locati ... ane-wrecks



https://h2oglobe.com/location/299efca9- ... g_fortress

Boeing B-17G; heavy bomber; American, 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group
Crashed: 6th November 1944 (anti-aircraft defence)
Coordinates: 43.01722° N, 16.21797° E
Location: island of Vis, cape of Polivalo
Access: 2/5 access is solely by boat (the location is about 150 m from the coast)
Visibility: 4/5 very good, occasionally excellent visibility
Current: 4/5 mostly weak
Flora and fauna: 5/5 varied life on and around the wreck, on the wreck large specimens of fish


HISTORY:

When Borut Furlan, a well-known Slovenian underwater photographer, published the news that Slovenian divers in the sea close to the island of Vis had found an untouched American flying fortress type Boeing B-17G, the news caused a sensation in the diving community. However, when it was discovered that the aircraft was at a depth of 72 m, many were disappointed realising it was unapproachable to most of today’s sport divers.

The completely new and gleaming bomber Boeing B-17G, serial number 44-6630, arrived at the Amendola base in Italy on 3rd November 1944. The mission that awaited them on 6th November was the bombing of Vienna. Vienna was completely covered by cloud, so the formation leader took them to their reserve target - Maribor. Maribor was a significant railway junction and therefore had good anti-aircraft defence. Immediately after dropping their bombs, the aircraft was hit. Engine number three had stopped and the propeller blades were turned edge-forward (to give less resistance to the wind), but engine number two then began to lose oil so it too soon had to be shut down. The explosion heavily injured the co-pilot Ernest Vienneau. With only two working engines and the aircraft losing altitude, their only goal was to return to base by the shortest route. On their way to Vis, the third engine stopped so the crew were doing everything they could to eject needless extra weight and so lighten the aeroplane.

When they started the approach to Vis airfield, a red signal flare was shot from below - “Go Around” – came the signal that the runway was busy, ordering them to circle around the airfield. While the turn was underway, the only remaining engine stopped. They flew over the coast in a steep dive and then the pilot immediately levelled out the aircraft to land it on the surface of the sea. The landing on the calm surface of the sea was soft, without any great impact. When the aircraft came to a stop, the members of the crew pulled themselves out, boarded the rubber dinghy and moved away from the aircraft which continued to float for some twenty more minutes. It sank not far away from the coast, taking the body of the co-pilot with it to the sea bottom. Soon after, some fishermen approached along with one British patrol ship, which saved the crew and transported them to the island.


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B-17 Vis Island 3.jpg
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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 11:58 pm 
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A recent vid of a nearby Ju 87......

https://youtu.be/YwedQaJDzMU


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 Post subject: Re: NOVA: The Last B-24
PostPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 1:43 pm 
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Quote:
A recent vid of a nearby Ju 87......

https://youtu.be/YwedQaJDzMU


Surprisingly well preserved!!!!!


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