PB-1W Flying Fortress +

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:31 pm

A bit of a tricky one for the brain trust. I am trying to find a good pic or drawing of the nose of a PB-1W so I can figure out just what is going on with the nose. It appears there is a second littler dome up on top. Have not come across a good pic to figure it out. It is a bit of a rare beast.
Thanks

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:56 pm

Chris,
I'm guessing that you have already found this website in your research, but I thought I'd try to lend a hand anyway. I actually just bought T.O. 1B-17G-1 1953 revision which also covers the PB-1W, however it's pretty much the USAF B-17G Flight Manual with an extended section on ditching procedures. :shock:

http://vw1assoc.tripod.com/pb1wdays.html

Check out the "PB-1W Days of VW-1 Page 2" pictures for some with the big radome mounted on top of the fuselage instead of below. Wow, it looks like a hunchback!

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:00 pm

Yes, that is the site with the most info on that aircraft that I have found. It is a rare beastie. Not a lot of pics out there. Saw one model conversion kit...so I am chasing that down to try and glean any details from that.

hercules130 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:25 pm

Holedigger wrote:

A bit of a tricky one for the brain trust. I am trying to find a good pic or drawing of the nose of a PB-1W so I can figure out just what is going on with the nose. It appears there is a second littler dome up on top. Have not come across a good pic to figure it out. It is a bit of a rare beast.
Thanks

Looks like the normal G model "littler dome" if we are talking about the same thing.

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:32 pm

Chris,

I don't have all of my books and pictures with me in Florida,but I'll see what I can find.In the meantime,here's a picture that seems to show a small plastic dome forward of the astrodome on top of the nose.I can't remember where this picture came from originally....LK

hercules130 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:54 pm

Holedigger thats a good shot, I can see the small cone shaped dome in front of the astro dome well. Did I miss it in your post or is it not there?

Gary

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:26 pm

I think that is about the best pic of it I have come across, hard to work from, but guess I'll just "dummy" one in and if a better pic comes along I'l change it out. Sifted the internet pretty hard and no joy. None of my books have it. Might have to try the library!!! :shock:

hercules130 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:33 pm

Pulling some photos now for you, will try to have your way tomorrow.

Gary

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:56 am

There IS an extra small dome forward of the normal astrodome as in Larry's photo. Get out your copy of the second edition of Final Cut and head to page 28. There is a nice profile photo of XD-3 that plainly shows the little dome. I confess I thought that was just another antenna until this thread.

Scott

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:21 am

Here are a few PB's--------------------------------------

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Boeing PB-1W (BuNo 77230) early warning plane of experimental squadron VX-4 in-flight, circa 1947.

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Navy Boeing PB-1W airborne early warning plane (BuNo 77235) of experimental squadron VX-4 on 25 May 1949.

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; Under a program known as Cadillac II, the U.S. Navy fitted the APS-20 radar system onto the B-17G aircraft, giving it the designation PB-1W. Date c. 1944.

USCG PHOTO
DESCRIPTION: A U.S. Coast Guard Boeing PB-1G Fortress carrying a lifeboat in 1948. The USCG used the PB-1G from 1945 to 1959.

USCG PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; A U.S. Coast Guard Boeing PB-1G Flying Fortress search and rescue plane in flight. The USCG used 18 former USAAF SB-17G from 1945 to 1959.
===========================================

Holedigger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:36 pm

It's funny, the more I dig into these oddball forts, the more different antennae variations I see. Another one I am working up, I'm looking for side hatch configuration, hinge/latch....that sort of thing. Blurry pics give me enough information to know I don't have it right yet!

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:25 pm

XD-1, Bu. No. 77235, in the second photo that Robbie posted is Texas Raiders. I've looked at a copy of that picture a number of times but never caught the little plexiglass dome before this thread.

Scott

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:34 am

Second Air Force wrote:

XD-1, Bu. No. 77235, in the second photo that Robbie posted is Texas Raiders. I've looked at a copy of that picture a number of times but never caught the little plexiglass dome before this thread.

Scott

I had no idea. TR was the first B-17 I flew in with IIRC JK West, & Van Skyles in the driver's seats. :shock:

Thanks for catching that Scott.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:47 am

Robbie Stuart wrote:

Second Air Force wrote:

XD-1, Bu. No. 77235, in the second photo that Robbie posted is Texas Raiders. I've looked at a copy of that picture a number of times but never caught the little plexiglass dome before this thread.

Scott

I had no idea. TR was the first B-17 I flew in with IIRC JK West, & Van Skyles in the driver's seats. :shock:

Thanks for catching that Scott.

Yep, and notice that she still had the top turret ring during her Navy service. It's too bad that got taken out later in life, it would certainly make it easier for the GCW to install that wonderful top turret they have.

S

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 1:26 pm

Updated PB-1w

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PB-1W Flying Fortress +

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