B-17 beside the highway
Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:55 pm
I have seen this B-17 before, sitting beside a highway in Texas, in the past she was damaged when a truck went outta control and struck her. Darned if I can recall where I saw her. anybody know where this B-17 is. Any pictures serial etc etc
Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:00 pm
You are probably thinking about a B-17 in California, Texas' little sister state.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:10 pm
Sounds like the AMVETS B-17 TULARE.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:16 pm
Yes it's near Tulare, and damaged twice by being run into by trucks. Not an easily photographed plane due to the fencing, but someone might have something digital handy. If not, I'll scan in a photo.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:19 pm
I would love to see this aircraft moved to a place like MAPS.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:24 pm
Were you maybe thinking of this one?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 85599.html
It used to be in a chain-link fence enclosure by the Abilene airport before it went to Dyess AFB. Don't know if any trucks hit it.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 85599.html
It used to be in a chain-link fence enclosure by the Abilene airport before it went to Dyess AFB. Don't know if any trucks hit it.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:57 pm
Like the Swoose, this B-17 could definately benefit by going to a museum like MAPs as Chris suggested or to the Mighty Eighth Museum in Georgia, the later of which has been looking to get a B-17 for a number of years.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:01 pm
I pimped the idea of getting the "extra" B-17 that the NASM has for a while, and back then, no one seemed interested in getting her for the 385th in Georgia. I would like for them to get it, and me be on the "recovery team" to get her back to GA. probably will never happen.
Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:22 am
I don't recall a hangar near this particular B-17 it is, I believe today, located near an interstate or parallel to the interstate, I googled it a long time ago, but lost the pin when my puter ca-rashed 
Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:17 pm
Gary,
The Calif. B-17 wouldn't be it then, as this hangar has been there for at least 40+ years. This plane also shares space with an F-4 Phantom.
The Calif. B-17 wouldn't be it then, as this hangar has been there for at least 40+ years. This plane also shares space with an F-4 Phantom.
Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:23 pm
A couple shots of Preston's Pride from a few years ago:
This one shows some of the damage from one of the run-away trucks that have hit it over the years:
It would really be nice to see someone give this survivor some love...
Michael
This one shows some of the damage from one of the run-away trucks that have hit it over the years:
It would really be nice to see someone give this survivor some love...
Michael
Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:33 pm
Sure would.
Back in '94, I was in the process of moving from Bakersfield to Sacramento, and made the trip up the highway several times. By chance, the owners had opened up the Fort to the public, as a way of raising money for repairs. I got to go inside, but there wasn't much to see. It's completely gutted, just an empty shell.
I'll add my voice to those who would like to see the old gate guards - all of them - brought in from the elements. Gate guard duty served its purpose - it saved a lot of the old warbirds from the smelter. But that was then. In this case, I'd like to see someone offer a trade to the AMVETS - this Fort for one of Tallichet's full scale replicas, like the one at March. Course, we'd have to get our hands on the molds to make another replica, and I don't know who has them since Tallichet passed away. But it's something to think about, anyway.
Back in '94, I was in the process of moving from Bakersfield to Sacramento, and made the trip up the highway several times. By chance, the owners had opened up the Fort to the public, as a way of raising money for repairs. I got to go inside, but there wasn't much to see. It's completely gutted, just an empty shell.
I'll add my voice to those who would like to see the old gate guards - all of them - brought in from the elements. Gate guard duty served its purpose - it saved a lot of the old warbirds from the smelter. But that was then. In this case, I'd like to see someone offer a trade to the AMVETS - this Fort for one of Tallichet's full scale replicas, like the one at March. Course, we'd have to get our hands on the molds to make another replica, and I don't know who has them since Tallichet passed away. But it's something to think about, anyway.
Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:35 am
Thats horrible to see a b-17 in such condition (for modern times). better than the smelter though
Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:09 pm
The National Museum of the USAF owns the Tulare B-17G. It has been discussed and/or threatened a number of times to have the airplane removed and the AMVETS group has managed each time to bring the airplane to the minimum display standard required by the museum.
AMVETs received the airplane on loan about 1958 or so.
The B-17 at the March Field Museum is not, but the way, a fiberglass replica. To my knowledge, there are no full scale fiberglass B-17s out there, though it's been discussed many times in the past.
AMVETs received the airplane on loan about 1958 or so.
The B-17 at the March Field Museum is not, but the way, a fiberglass replica. To my knowledge, there are no full scale fiberglass B-17s out there, though it's been discussed many times in the past.