Warbird Information Exchange

Of the B-17's flying into Hawaii during the Japanese attack, how many went on from that point to see combat? I know a few of them crash landed here and there never to fly again. I think one actually landed on a gold course.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

All eight B-17Es eventually saw combat with either the 7th AF and/ or the 5th AF.
41-2429 "Why don't we do this more often"? was the 19th BG ship Harl Pease was flying when it was shot down over Rabaul. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Duane

How many B-17s flew into the attack, and what variants? Off the top of my head, the only photos I can recall were D-models. One that made an emergency landing at Bellows Field, and the famous one that burned in half landing at Hickam.

SN

4 B-17Cs and 8 B-17Es. The B-17Ds were already there, assigned to the 5th and 11th Bomb Groups.

Duane

Thanks..I didn't realize the flight was a "mixed bag" of variants.

SN

If you like to read check out the book 'FORTRESS AGAINST THE SUN'. Fascinating book about B-17 ops in the PTO.

Also check TCM occasionally for the movie 'Air Force'.


Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

There is a book "Day of Infamy" that has some accounts of the flight of B-17s that were being ferried to Hickham that day. My uncle Bruce Allen has 2-3 pages. He would never claim it or talk much about it but he was a pilot in the lead plane. The story goes that they were new planes with no equipment...radios, guns, etc. He did tell me that they all thought there was training going on at first glance but quickly realized that was not the case. He also told me he remembered 3 planes making it and the rest being lost. I am sure there are some experts here that will fill in the blanks on my uncle's small part in that day. I miss that man and wish everyday that I had "forced" him to tell me his stories!

I remember reading a book when I was a kid that had a pic of a Japenese plane taken from the waist window of one of the Forts. According yo the caption, the photographer though the Japanese pilots must have mistaken his camera for a gun, because they veered off whenever he pointed it at them.

SN

That photo was in Edward Jablonski's Flying Fortress, page 48. It was a pair of Vals.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Since we're on the subject of the Pearl Harbo B-17's here's an interview with one of the pilots. Thought you might enjoy: http://www.warbirdradio.com/2012/09/wwi ... ve-monday/

V/R
Matt

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I had the honor a few years back to be part of the crew that took Col. Reid for a flight in a T-6 and a Stearman near his home in Canton, GA. It was fascinating to hear him talk about flying into the attack that morning.

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Rod Schneider
Ball Ground, Ga