B-17 tail turret at the Smithsonian.

Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:22 am

Here is a B-17 tail turret that is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Anyone have any more info on it? Is it real or a replica? And where did the rest of the B-17 go? :lol:

Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:20 pm

Isn't that the one they took off the B-17 that went to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum?

Gary

Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:24 pm

Good observation Gary.

Here are some pics of the Savannah plane... it appears that the tail turret is not attached to the rest of the fuselage.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... c&start=60

Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:35 pm

Well, I must admit.......I cheated. :lol:

I just had a phone call today, asking if I had a B-17 tail gunner's section at Austin Acres, so that the Savannah airplane could have theirs replaced. ;-)

Gary

Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:41 pm

Just good timing I guess.

Too bad they cant replace the one at the Smithsonian and reunite the Savannah plane with its tail section.

Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:12 pm

Yes... this is the turret from the former NASM B-17... surprised it didn't go with the aircraft. I remember Scott Wood, a friend of mine at NASM, polishing this beasty... it was a very messy job!

Cheers,
Richard

Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:47 pm

What a rip-off...they didn"t get the tail! Well, at least they got the rest of the plane...

Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:14 pm

Looks like the pumpkin wrap might be fiberglass as the ejection chute are not cut out.Hey, they got the airplane so the tail gun is no big deal.

B-17 tail turret at the Smithsonian.

B-17 tail turret at the Smithsonian.

Tail gun