Broken Boeings ...

[Mark Allen M]

Boeing B-17G-30-BO Fortress 42-31894 (MSN 7008) Accepted by USAAF 28Dec43. United Air Lines, Modification Center #10, Cheyenne Municipal Airport, WY 31Dec43. Staging Base, 21st Bomb Wing, Kearney Field, NB 14Jan44. 369th Bomb Squadron [WW*Z], 306th Bomb Group, Thurleigh (Station 111), Bedfordshire 28 Feb 44. Seriously battle damaged on a Crossbow mission to a German V-weapon site at Watten, France 26 Mar 44. Crash landed at Thurleigh on return. Salvaged 27 Mar 44.
J Baugher

[Mark Allen M]

B-17E 41-2575 MacDill Field, Tampa, FL 14 Feb 1942. 327th BS, 92nd BG Crashed after engine failure taking off.


B-17F 42-5459 February 2, 1943 stateside training accident near 7 Mi NW Pyote, TX. 384th BG.


B-17F Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30230) nicknamed "Homesick Angel", 24 August 1943

[Mark Allen M]

B-17G 42-31100 ‘The Gimp’ pranged on take off, 1st January 1945 at Rattlesden Airfield.

[quemerford]

Lovely shot as always Mark: thanks for posting. There's something about pastoral scenes like these, which really show the sharp contrast between life continuing largely unaffected by war and young men flying into battle daily.

[Ken]

Immediate flashbacks to the Shep Paine scale model dioramas of 40+ years ago.

Ken

[wendovertom]

Great shots as always Mark! I wonder what kind of building the 306th BG plane hit when they came in?

Tom P.

[Mark Allen M]

Allen Schroeder's account of the tragic accident on April 4, 1944.

[phil65]

Immediate flashbacks to the Shep Paine scale model dioramas of 40+ years ago.

Ken

Me too....

Phil

[Mark Allen M]

Below B-17G 42-107091 (MSN 22006) Douglas Aircraft- Company, Modification Center, Air Force Plant #3, Tulsa Municipal Airport, OK 17Feb44. 1377th Base Unit (North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command), Grenier Field (Station 16), Manchester, NH 7Mar44. 728th Bomb Squadron [D], 452nd Bomb Group, Deopham Green (Station 142), Norfolk 12Mar44. Named "Forbidden Fruit". {first combat mission 10Apr44}. Seriously battle damaged on a Crossbow mission to a German V-weapon site at La Glacerie, France 8May44 (1KIA). The plane was struck by flak over Belgium which peppered the tail section, destroyed the fabric surface of the lower rudder and right elevator. The tail gunner had been killed instantly by the first flak burst. The bomber lost all rudder control, most of the aileron function and all hydraulic pressure (with resultant lack of brakes). Shrapnel also badly damaged the bomb-bay, prematurely releasing the bombs. The oxygen system had been rendered inoperable, and flak had punctured much of the radio room. The pilot force landed at Rattlesden (Station 126), Suffolk; he would have preferred a crash landing but feared a fire or explosion from all the fuel that was leaking. As it was, as soon as the aircraft touched down it began skidding, ran on into a meadow, colliding with a crash truck and killing its driver. The tail wheel collapsed and the tail-gunner's position broke off. {9 missions}. 1st Strategic Air Depot, Troston (Station 595), Suffolk. Regained by Group. Severely battle damaged on a mission to the railway marshalling yard at Hamm, Germany 16Feb45 (9RTD). Flak over Hamm, Münster and Osnabrück was meagre but accurate. Salvaged 17Feb45.




B-17 43-37563 'The Lady Be Good' after being shot down on mission to Hanau... January 5th, 1945.


B-17 43-37908 'Wolfel Bear' from the 486th BG 835th BS down at Jamoigne Belgium Dec 1944.

[Mark Allen M]

2nd August 1944 - After encountering heavy flak over the primary oil target near occupied Paris and bombing a target of opportunity, the 447th Bombardment Group returned to Rattlesden without loss. Pilot Lt Phillip Zanoya brought B-17G Flying Fortress 42-31777 in to land with damage to the hydraulic systems and a brake failure occurred upon touch down. The ship swerved off the concrete, across the grass and hit a hedge. The wheels collapsed and it came to rest on its belly metres from the Control Tower. Staff in the tower at the time were seen making a hasty exit from the building when they saw the 103 foot wide bomber coming straight at them! All involved were ok.

[Chris Brame]

I'll play too. On eBay right now: This happened August 19, 1945 in Burbank, CA. Biggs AAF B-17F trainer 42-6089 takes a dip in the L.A. River; cause listed as engine failure on takeoff.

[lucky52]

On the 6th picture down, what is sticking out of the radio operators left window? You can see it in other pictures but is more clearer in the 6th.

[dollar65]

On the 6th picture down, what is sticking out of the radio operators left window? You can see it in other pictures but is more clearer in the 6th.

Chaff/window countermeasure dispender.

[Chris Brame]

Another shot of 42-6089; Los Angeles Times, August 20, 1945:

[Chris Brame]

B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30230) nicknamed "Homesick Angel", 24 August 1943

42-3374 now carries its markings:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 23374.html