B-17 tail turret at the Smithsonian.

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:22 am

Here is a B-17 tail turret that is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Anyone have any more info on it? Is it real or a replica? And where did the rest of the B-17 go? :lol:

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:20 pm

Isn't that the one they took off the B-17 that went to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum?

Gary

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:24 pm

Good observation Gary.

Here are some pics of the Savannah plane... it appears that the tail turret is not attached to the rest of the fuselage.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... c&start=60

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:35 pm

Well, I must admit.......I cheated. :lol:

I just had a phone call today, asking if I had a B-17 tail gunner's section at Austin Acres, so that the Savannah airplane could have theirs replaced. ;-)

Gary

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:41 pm

Just good timing I guess.

Too bad they cant replace the one at the Smithsonian and reunite the Savannah plane with its tail section.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:12 pm

Yes... this is the turret from the former NASM B-17... surprised it didn't go with the aircraft. I remember Scott Wood, a friend of mine at NASM, polishing this beasty... it was a very messy job!

Cheers,
Richard

APG85 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:47 pm

What a rip-off...they didn"t get the tail! Well, at least they got the rest of the plane...

hang the expense · **Posted:** Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:14 pm

Looks like the pumpkin wrap might be fiberglass as the ejection chute are not cut out.Hey, they got the airplane so the tail gun is no big deal.

Warbird Information Exchange

B-17 tail turret at the Smithsonian.

Who is online