City of Savannah B-17 Restoration

[APG85]

Where did they get the ball, top and chin turrets? I know the Smithsonian retained the tail turret (or at least has one on display in another museum)...

[Steve Nelson]

This display is featured in the Smithsonian's newly-revamped Museum of American History. I don't know if the tail turret was originally part of the aircraft in Savannah or not.



When I visited the Mighty Eighth museum two years ago, they were in the process of constructing a new tail turret, using some parts from a mangled example recovered from a wreck.





A few months later (March 2013) I spotted this in the shop at the NMUSAF restoration shop..the tour guide didn't know anything about it. I think it may be from the Grissom B-17..I seem to recall hearing they were loaning the tail turret to the folks in Savannah to use as a pattern, and they would restore it as payment. I don't think it's the same one pictured above in the Smithsonian, as this one is painted inside and the Smithsonian turret is mostly bare metal.



SN

[Chris Brame]

When I visited the Mighty Eighth museum two years ago, they were in the process of constructing a new tail turret, using some parts from a mangled example recovered from a wreck.

That's very interesting to see; any ID on the Alaska wreck? (Is that 44-85505 or another one?)

[APG85]

Nice to hear that this B-17, which sat in storage for so long, is getting a full restoration and nice display...

[Steve Nelson]

That's very interesting to see; any ID on the Alaska wreck? (Is that 44-85505 or another one?)

Unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to shoot a closeup of the sign..but it doesn't look like it mentions the serial number.

SN

[Chris Brame]

Hmm. Check out this wreck at the top of Ruud Leeuw's Abandoned Plane Wrecks of the North site:
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/search116.htm
Caption says it was taken on June 28, 2014; maybe the same wreck? I don't see a tail turret. The 1952 date and location seems to tie in with 44-83596, which is listed under accident-report.com as crashed July 11, 1952 35 miles NE of Snag in the Yukon. Aviationarchaeology.com lists it as an SB-17G, which ties in with it searching for a missing RCAF Mitchell. Baugher doesn't have any info.

(Daviemax, what do you think?)

[Steve Nelson]

Looks like it could be the same wreck, although the sign in the museum says it was in Alaska (of course, the sgn could be wrong.)

Where's Scott Thompson when we need him?

SN

[Ken]

I thought a previous discussion on WIX said the American History tail was from the Savannah airplane ... but my memory may be off.

Ken

[APG85]

Not sure why a civil B-17 would have retained a wartime type tail turret...but maybe this B-17 did until the Smithsonian removed it...?

[Matt Gunsch]

pretty much all the civilian B-17s kept the tail turret, except the moving parts were removed and the pumpkin was riveted in place with the gun slots plated over. The turret was not much of a turret, it was not much more than a pipe with mounts for 2 50 caliber machine guns attached to it.

[Steve Nelson]

I think it's now fairly well established that the tail turret on display in the Smithsonian was removed from the B-17 now being restored in Savannah. The question now is: what is the ID of the arctic wreck from which the Savannah folks recovered the turret they now have? (And I'm still curious about that turret I photographed at the NMUSAF.)

SN

[JimH]

The tour is here in Savannah and I had a chance to run through the Museum today. Here are some photos...looks like they are concentrating on the interior.

Jim

[JimH]

I've been here a bunch of times and have seen this display over and over but never asked the back story. It says it was broken up in the 80's??? really? even back then a B-17 was worth it's weight in gold.

Jim

[mustangdriver]

That's wild to think. But also 909 came close to being parted out after the Beaver County accident back in the late 80's. Times have changed for sure.

[APG85]

The plane looks great...! Wonder why they have the tail wheel so high off the ground? Thanks for posting the pictures...