Grissom B-17 conversion to B-17F "Old Bill"

[jet1]

...if it doesn't fly do what ever

And that is what is awesome to hear after working on a plane for a few hours in the heat.

You need to get one. I never said a single thing about you or museums. i did say it doesnt much matter because it doesnt fly and doesnt need to be airworthy. 99% of the people who will see it will not know what it is. 40% will probably call it a b-24 etc etc. and I still think a yb would be a cool project

[mustangdriver]

jet 1 that is my mistake, and I appologize. I do think that a YB-40 would be cool to see in a museum.

[jet1]

jet 1 that is my mistake, and I appologize. I do think that a YB-40 would be cool to see in a museum.

I can't imagine how you would do it but a YB would be a holy grail for the warbird crowd to see especially if it was accurate and im sure you would make sure of that! it would be a he!! of a project!

[mustangdriver]

Thanks jet1. The YB would be sweet. I'd love to see some internal pics of it.

[groundpounder]

Go YB-40 !!!

[warbird1]

Somewhat off topic- Jet1- where did you get that photo of a YB-40? I am constantly on the hunt for photos of this model, and they are scarce!!! Just curious... back to lurking... (oh, and yes, a YB-40 configuration would be sweet!)

kevin

Kevin, I don't know if you know this, but that picture is not real. It is a model of the YB-40.

[Django]

A YB-40... so they can acquire MORE replica turrets?

Chris, I replied to your pm.

[jet1]

Somewhat off topic- Jet1- where did you get that photo of a YB-40? I am constantly on the hunt for photos of this model, and they are scarce!!! Just curious... back to lurking... (oh, and yes, a YB-40 configuration would be sweet!)

kevin

I was just looking for a fast pic. I had a book on the B-17 i believe it was by Jablonski and called flying fortress that had some real pics. as I recall the most significant difference was that everywhere that there was a single .50 cal the YB had twin mount .50's and two forward firing from the pglass in the nose.

[Steve Nelson]

I think the YB-40 also have a unique style tail gunner's station.

As much as us airplane geeks would think it's cool, the YB-40 is pretty much a footnote historically speaking, and a failed concept to boot. I think if you're gonna do a conversion, an F is a much better choice.

Speaking of double firepower, somebody here once posted a pic of a four-gun ball turret that's in storage (maybe with the NASM?) It was obviously experimental, but does anyone know if it was ever actually mounted on an aircraft?

SN

[tulsaboy]

Thanks for the heads-up, Warbird1. I thought that photo was too good to be true. We did all of the modifications on the YB-40 here in Tulsa at the Douglas plant, and I have some great photos of them all lined up during the modification process. Interior photos would be sweet. I've never actually seen them.

kevin

[6trn4brn]

Hey Chris...so marvelous to see your taking such an interest in "my old girl" Am I reading this right that you have found an indoor roost for her or is there a fund drive under way to build a new building to put her in? Thought it to be such a waste to see all of the empty buildings there at Grissom that some of the planes could have been put in.

I was curious if anyone has asked Rollie for any input as to the new markings? Would he be comfortable having her painted like the B-17 that he had his last encounter with? For those here who don't know, Sgt Rollie Douglas (Rollie) is a volunteer at Grissom who was initially trained as a ball turret gunner and assigned to the Bloody 100th. After the new radars were being installed on the B-17s, he sort of unofficially became a pool gunner, being assinged to various aircraft in different gunner positions. Assigned as a tail gunner on the Dec. 31, 1944 mission to Hamburg, his aircraft was hit by pieces of the aircraft directly over him which took a direct flak hit, cutting his plane in half. He managed to pull himself out of the tail gunner position while it spiraled downwards, pulled his ripcord and within seconds, hit the ground. He then became a guest of the Luftwaffe for the remainder of the war. Rollie has no animosity towards the Germans and said in fact he thought he was treated fairly...all the sawdust bread and rotten cabbage soup ya could eat A fantastic man to talk to!

At any rate....just my passing thoughts...back to lurking.

[mustangdriver]

That is correct man. The museum has a hangar on the field and we are going to move it over there. This can only take place after the bearings are checked out on the main gear. We also are waiting to find out if we got the grant. That happens in August. If we got it, it will cover the expense of a large portion of the restoration. If we didn't get it, we have a plan B. Either way it will be getting some attention. In the meantime we are working on a building fund that would allow the museum to extend the building. Hoping to allow for the B-17, B-25, and F-14 to come inside. The funds raised will dictate how large the building will be, and if we can get more than just the B-17 in. None of us like the idea of restoring the plane and then putting it right back outside.
Rollie would be a great idea, and one scheme that is being considered if it stays a G

[Django]

Was his plane named?

[ChrisDNT]

It's a G, so make it as a G.

And, PLEASE, for one time, it would be so cool to have an US warbird bomber painted with a true and accurate finish, as they are hundreds if not thousands of decorations possibilities perfectly documented for such aircrafts. It's such a waste to see all these beautifully restored aircrafts painted in wrong colors, with so-so markings and ugly modern nose arts.

[Steve Nelson]

And, PLEASE, for one time, it would be so cool to have an US warbird bomber painted with a true and accurate finish, as they are hundreds if not thousands of decorations possibilities perfectly documented for such aircrafts. It's such a waste to see all these beautifully restored aircrafts painted in wrong colors, with so-so markings and ugly modern nose arts.

Enthusiatically seconded..no matter what variant she ends up being!

SN