B17 in Florida Lake?

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2309

No idea which lake, but some guy pulled these out so something is down there...

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:18 pm

great news!!! i'd say the pics sum it up!! what a find!! from the looks of some of those items, i'd say fresh water rest assured, nothing brackish!! the salvor of those 50's w/ammo better keep a looooowwww low profile!!! heck of a man cave too!!

Pooner · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:38 pm

Nice find. But you may want to delete your post and knowledge of anything to do with this, lest Uncle Sugar's retained retards in the bureau of Beer, Alcoholic Tremors and foul-smelling Farts come knocking and want to know what you know and if you know and have you known about the subject. Mind you, this is one of Uncle's most worthless in a long list of stupid Agencies, yet they have the ability to ruin your life over an "artifact" or two.

You don't need a hassle from these knuckle draggin' primates as they have no concept of history nor do they display collective common sense, just the regs as they read and interpret them that day.

Just FYI. But, nice B-17 tail grouping nonetheless.....
:wink:

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:22 pm

I think I have seen the top turret shell off that airplane.I think it was the stamped steel shell for a G model.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:31 pm

Yeppers, that is great find, but as mentioned above, unless the holder of them irons has a thriple A Stamp for fully automatic stuff, this could lead to some serious...........uhhhhh.....issues?
that aside, let us discuss if you will, the lake man......take us to the lake!!!!!!!

Jay · **Joined:** Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:15 pm **Posts:** 50

The lake in question is Lake Tiger, located just east of Lake Wales, FL. The crash was deemed a navigational hazard and was 95% removed by the Army Corp of Engineers. Other items have also been recovered over the years including another 50 Cal gun.
Jaybo

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

I agree with everyone above. For your own safety as well as your friend's, you should delete this thread, unless he cleared that gun through all of the multitude of governmental agencies. The internet is not safe. They can track you down by your IP number and get in contact with you. You could possibly be implicated, if your friend broke any laws.

Just some friendly advice to avoid any hassle.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2309

No idea who the guy is or what lake. I'm in Ca & the silly sod who has them hanging on his wall in Fl posted the pics on photonucket. I did post on the thread I found the pics on, on another board, pretty much what you guys did about the ATF etc.

They've been "disappeared" from that board now, but the guy who knows who has them says "Everything was done to the letter of the law and no laws were broken."

uh huh....

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:17 am

oh face it!!! were all just jealous!!! we've all broken the 11th commandment!! thou wixers shalt not covet thy fellow warbirders twin .50 caliber machine guns w/ live ammo hanging in a cool man cave....... amen!!

TonyM · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:58 am

The airplane is B-17G # 43-37710.

The B-17G suffered a top turret fire and crashed into the lake on 11 July 44.

Five crewmembers were killed and two were seriously injured while parachuting to safety.

This was one of several fatal accidents caused by top turret fires in B-17 airplanes here and overseas. These fires were caused when an oxygen leak in the base of the top turret would be ignited by arcing chafed wiring in the base of the turret. The accident report indicates that the airplane was in compliance with a related T.O.

TonyM.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:11 am

Reminds me of the Apollo fire. Just what burned? Oxygen only makes things burn better, not flammable on its own. The insulation? Grease build up on roller track? I recall reading of a B-17 that went down in a swamp up near the St Marks lighthouse deep in a swamp. Did not hear it's status if it was cleared or not.

TonyM · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:16 am

The St. Marks B-17 was B-17G # 42-102746.

The airplane broke up in flight and crashed on 30 July 1944.

The entire crew of ten was killed.

As for the top turret fires, the accident reports say that the fires burned with "blow torch" like intensity and were impossible to extinguish, causing the loss of the aircraft. Fatal accidents of this type happened several times (not including non-fatal incidents of a similar nature).

TonyM

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B17 in Florida Lake?

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