Warbird Information Exchange

have any idea what these were for?


is it the 'thing' outlined in orange?

What were they for?

Did it distinguish between the 'first class' cabin and the waist gunner cabin of a B-17?:shock:


Thanks

just my own curiosity.., while viewing this photo.., it popped out and I have never seen this stenciled on the inside of a military aircraft before.,.

ahhhhh.., nobody knows do you!!!!!???

Never heard of them...
Maybe for a modesty screen for the crap"air"?

I sure couldn't imagine using the loo bucket at altitude with the wind whistling in the waistgunner's windows. <- alliteration while you wait!

Just a total shot in the dark, but could they be covers that go over the waist windows to provide some small measure of insulation for long ferry flights?

As Ozzy once said, "Just a shot in the dark".

that's along the lines of what I was thinking. Maybe a 'cover' if the glazing was shot out etc.?
I am shocked no one on here knows with all the B-17 restorations around and B-17 operational manuals...,

Rats.., it is not pressing.,. but now I am even more curious!

Like the 3" bullet/flak glass plates that were installed in front of the pilots and co-pilots on B-29's. I never heard tale of them until I finally found a photo of one in a beat up aircraft at Tucson. Then the 330th flightcrews said 'aha hah' I remember those'.
Not in any manuals anywhere.., so maybe this curtain was also an 'add' on?

Blackout curtains?

Interesting. Maybe/Maybe not.

https://www.militaryitems.com/product.p ... ctid=19187

Sully

the330thbg wrote:Like the 3" bullet/flak glass plates that were installed in front of the pilots and co-pilots on B-29's. I never heard tale of them until I finally found a photo of one in a beat up aircraft at Tucson. Then the 330th flightcrews said 'aha hah' I remember those'.
Not in any manuals anywhere.., so maybe this curtain was also an 'add' on?

I've got a pallet full of those here at Austin Acres.......and I think they're only 2" thick.

Gary

Sully wrote:Interesting. Maybe/Maybe not.

https://www.militaryitems.com/product.p ... ctid=19187

Sully

ahhhh.., very nice.., so a first generation of a kevlar material, (cross woven fabric)

Bet they wished the entire aircraft was wrapped in that stuff!!!!

Nice find!! Thanks

retroaviation wrote:

the330thbg wrote:Like the 3" bullet/flak glass plates that were installed in front of the pilots and co-pilots on B-29's. I never heard tale of them until I finally found a photo of one in a beat up aircraft at Tucson. Then the 330th flightcrews said 'aha hah' I remember those'.
Not in any manuals anywhere.., so maybe this curtain was also an 'add' on?

I've got a pallet full of those here at Austin Acres.......and I think they're only 2" thick.

Gary

I have several photos of 330th aircraft where these saved someones head from being torn off from a head on pass!