B-17 combat survivors

[Hamilton H-37500]

Thanks to all for the input.

And Scott, I love your book Final Cut. I realize that the information I'm seeking is in there but I'd have to re-read from cover to cover again and write notes on the combat survivors. I knew that the experts here could give me a list very quickly.

After reading the posts here I did go back to Final Cut to re-read the relevant chapters. Pink Lady is particularly intriguing, both for its interesting and verified combat history, and also for the fact that it is airworthy -- or at least was up until being grounded 3 years ago. Presumably if financing could be found it could be quickly put back into service as (apparently) the only airworthy true combat veteran. Well maybe not the only airworthy one; Shoo Shoo Baby evidently flew from Delaware to Ohio after restoration, but I seriously doubt the Air Force or ultimately Smithsonian will ever fly it again so it remains in the ranks of static display.

It's good to know that at least several combat survivors exist, and I very much look forward to seeing Memphis Belle and The Swoose when their restorations are completed. That should be right around the time I retire so I have something to look forward to.

Last edited by Hamilton H-37500 on Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Craig59]

A shameless plug for Final Cut, a book that details the history of all the surviving B-17s, is in order.


http://www.aerovintage.com/final.htm

An absolute "must have" for any WIXers library...

[JohnB]

A shameless plug for Final Cut, a book that details the history of all the surviving B-17s, is in order.


http://www.aerovintage.com/final.htm

An absolute "must have" for any WIXers library...

Amen to that!
Required reading/ownership for any serious student of American warbirds.

[jmkendall]

The Evergreen Bird, the famous B-17 from the James Bond movie, is a combat vet; albeit not as a bomber.

If you accept that C-47s flew combat missions then the same standard applies to this airframe. She flew intruder, and agent insertion missions with the CIA and ROCAF. Many of her stablemates were shot down with significant loss of life on these missions.

So unless you adhere to a strict "She ain't a bomber unless she bombed someone" rule, then this is the last B-17 to fly Combat missions.

[gary1954]

The Evergreen Bird, the famous B-17 from the James Bond movie, is a combat vet; albeit not as a bomber.

If you accept that C-47s flew combat missions then the same standard applies to this airframe. She flew intruder, and agent insertion missions with the CIA and ROCAF. Many of her stablemates were shot down with significant loss of life on these missions.

So unless you adhere to a strict "She ain't a bomber unless she bombed someone" rule, then this is the last B-17 to fly Combat missions.

Hey now could you please eggsplain "She flew intruder, and agent insertion missions with the CIA and ROCAF".

[The Inspector]

See utdallas.edu for the story of this B-17 (or what passes as the story, bet more's in the shade than in the light on this old girls past). INTERMOUNTAIN HELICOPTER became EVERGREEN AIRLINES, but that also is a history deep in the shade, with more double dealing than you'd get trading in a low mileage YUGO on a 'like new' TRABANT.

[Chuck Giese]

A shameless plug for Final Cut, a book that details the history of all the surviving B-17s, is in order.


http://www.aerovintage.com/final.htm

Excellent book. The only quibble I have with it is that, as with all print books, in the rapidly evolving world of B-17 restorations, it is becoming a little 'dated'. How many more do we have to sell before it's time for the 5'th edition ?

And yes, I understand that I'm woefully behind in my updates on the goings on in sleepy little Douglas (tm), I've been a little busy.... I'll update this week.

Chuck

[aerovin]

Yes, I am also surprised by the number of changes that have occurred in the two years since the 4th edition was published. I would imagine that the 5th edition will be viable after selling out the 4th. We shall see; it is not a cheap endeavor but there are some exciting restorations that are coming together. I would hate not have them included.

[Pat Carry]

Yes, I am also surprised by the number of changes that have occurred in the two years since the 4th edition was published. I would imagine that the 5th edition will be viable after selling out the 4th. We shall see; it is not a cheap endeavor but there are some exciting restorations that are coming together. I would hate not have them included.

Keep up the good work Scott.

[gary1954]

A shameless plug for Final Cut, a book that details the history of all the surviving B-17s, is in order.


http://www.aerovintage.com/final.htm

Excellent book. The only quibble I have with it is that, as with all print books, in the rapidly evolving world of B-17 restorations, it is becoming a little 'dated'. How many more do we have to sell before it's time for the 5'th edition ?

And yes, I understand that I'm woefully behind in my updates on the goings on in sleepy little Douglas (tm), I've been a little busy.... I'll update this week.

Chuck

Yup Chuck, I imagine that yer about as busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.. ..we can't wait to see the results.

[JohnH]

Scott, wish you could have been there when I let Dave Tallichet look at my hot off the presses first edition Final Cut in 1990 at Chino at lunch . I can still see him looking at it , fascinated. ( I was sitting behind him at Flo's. ) I know he appreciated your great work.

[dulei]

so are a few that technically exist but are unrecovered underwater... How is that for starters...?

[aerovin]

Scott, wish you could have been there when I let Dave Tallichet look at my hot off the presses first edition Final Cut in 1990 at Chino at lunch . I can still see him looking at it , fascinated. ( I was sitting behind him at Flo's. ) I know he appreciated your great work.

That means a lot to me...thanks for passing that along.

[F3V]

Possible:
44-8899 Assigned 8AF in February 1945, but seemingly vanishes until July 1945.

44-8889 ex F-BGSO? of the french IGN never saw combat she was only on storage with the 8th Air Force but in the 1960's and 1970's french IGN belived that she flew some war missions (and 44-8846 no missions), but they were wrong.


Do you like that?