City of Savannah B-17 Restoration

[Chris Brame]

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.

Looks like the caption writer was way off; according to an official at the school, Eager Beaver was scrapped around 1954 except for the nose panel, which was stored until 1993 then put on display at the school until 2000 when it was donated to the museum. See the third item here:
http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news6.htm
I hope they will correct the display; anyone have a contact at the museum?

[daviemax]

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?)

According to my records (including the a/c record card from Maxwell AFB) 44-83596 was damaged in landing after a range-clearance mission on 14 February 1952 when flying out of Patrick (I think - will double-check). Repaired, it served as a support aircraft for 6550 AB Group until reclaimed (apparently dismantled for parts) at Patrick in April 1957. Aircraft has the appearance of a DB but was carried as an EB/JB. Some records indicate it was an electronics and radar test aircraft. Carried tail code number 8 in same fashion as DB's. In short - almost certain this aircraft served in support of missile test activities in Florida during the 1950's until stricken.

[daviemax]

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?)

According to my records (including the a/c record card from Maxwell AFB) 44-83596 was damaged in landing after a range-clearance mission on 14 February 1952 when flying out of Patrick (I think - will double-check). Repaired, it served as a support aircraft for 6550 AB Group until reclaimed (apparently dismantled for parts) at Patrick in April 1957. Aircraft has the appearance of a DB but was carried as an EB/JB. Some records indicate it was an electronics and radar test aircraft. Carried tail code number 8 in same fashion as DB's. In short - almost certain this aircraft served in support of missile test activities in Florida during the 1950's until stricken.

Double-checked location of 1952 accident - it was indeed at Patrick AFB. Tail wheel did not extend with the rest of the gear and flight engineer failed to check that it was in the down position prior to landing.

[Chris Brame]

Oh well. Any thoughts on which B-17 this wreck might be?

[Thomas_Mac]

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

Jim's post states they seem to be mainly working on the interior. I imagine having her level would make that easier?

[daviemax]

quote=["Chris Brame"]Oh well. Any thoughts on which B-17 this wreck might be?[/quote]

The aircraft in question is 44-83595 - one digit off from -596. I have the accident report; will dig it out to obtain more detail and report further.

[daviemax]

quote=["Chris Brame"]Oh well. Any thoughts on which B-17 this wreck might be?

The aircraft in question is 44-83595 - one digit off from -596. I have the accident report; will dig it out to obtain more detail and report further.[/quote]

Here are details of the accident report for 44-83595:

Aircraft assigned to 10 ERS, flight B, Elmendorf AFB and was on a "contour search" pattern for the lost B-25. Flight had been IFR but changed to VFR as weather improved. Pilot was 1st Lt. Robert E. Weber. Eight crew, no fatalities. Aircraft was flown into a "blind canyon with no previous reconnaissance" resulting in insufficient clearance to rising terrain. Aircraft stalled in a climbing turn while trying to avoid the crash. Report cites navigator for errors in not providing pilot with accurate information regarding the height of the terrain they were flying into; also contributing was the fact that two more senior pilots were on board but neither occupied the copilot's seat when the accident occurred (navigator was in copilot's seat at the time). Accident occurred 11 July 52 at 08:45 AST.

[ffuries]

Some pictures taken in 2009 of her.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=46466&p=466486#p466486