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B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 5:52 am

This arrived by post this morning.

It was found in France - Brittany close to St Nazaire/Lorient.

It has been sitting in a farmyard scrap metal pile for many years - there is some corrosion.

However there is a lot of paint left as well as what is possibly an A.F. stencil.

There are multiple HT stamps confirming it is US made.

I believe to be a WW2 B17 Pilot/Co Pilot seat that was from a flying fortress lost during a raid on the naval bases nearby.

Can any one confirm its identity ?
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Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:21 am

Yes a pilots seat from a B-17, the earlier radio room seats although looked similar, had a shorter back and were angle back more. Nice find

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:42 am

It would be nice to see it find a home in one of the current B-17 rebuilds...as opposed to gathering dust in someone's collection.

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:59 am

Thank you for the confirmation.

I also would prefer it to go to a restoration.

But even a dusty collection is a better home than a farmyard!

It is corroded - looks like it was sitting upright with water pooling in the seat pan for a decade or so and rotted through at the back bottom edge - but easily recoverable.

Anyone know if there was a difference between pilot/co pilot seat ?

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:57 pm

I don't believe there is a difference between the pilots and co-pilots seats. On the drawing, it says quantity per airplane is 2. It is also the same seat for E, F and G models. What a great find, I know the Desert Rat was looking for seats, I bet they'd appreciate it if you were looking to move this item.

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:58 pm

Thanks - yes it needs to find a proper home!

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 5:55 pm

The cockpit seats were Boeing no. 75-3448. They were indeed identical, the pilot and co-pilot difference being in the seat mounts and armor. If she was shot down over St Nazaire, chances are she was an F-model lost in late-42/early-43.

I sent you a private message in regard to the restoration of B-17 Lucky Thirteen, for your consideration.

Hope all is well!

-G

Re: B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:35 pm

Desert Rat would be very interested in the seat if available, as we are currently focusing on the cockpit. Thank you.
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