Warbird Information Exchange

This was my grandfather's B-17F in during the war. He was a ball/waist turrent gunner in the 368th BS, 306th Bomb group, 8th Air Force. The B-17F was named the "Eager Beaver". It was a B-17F-10-BO S/N 41-24487 (The "Memphis Belle was 41-24485).




The aircraft survived the war and was flown stateside where it was to be scrapped:



However it was saved by a university for a short time:





The aircraft was later scrapped but the nose work was saved. Before the REAL "Eager Beaver" was put on display, the nose art was painted on a B-17 in "Twelve O'Clock High" with incorrect 91st BG markings:



Before the nose art was put on display, I always wondered what the nose art looked like in color. I contacted the original artist "Leland Kessler" through my grandfathers 8th Airforce Association and he very kindly, hand drew a reproduction for me ,I have treasured this ever since:



Later, before he passed away Leland Kessler was asked to "touch up" the original "Eager Beaver" that was later put on display at the 8th Airforce Museum:




This is what got me into aviation and Warbirds. Could the artist that did the other rendering, do one of my grandfather's A/C?

Wow that is awesome.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Thanks for sharing the info on Eager Beaver, especially those two photos from her tech school days and the artist's drawing of the artwork. I've seen the Altus photo numerous places, but the other two fill in the history of the airplane more fully. That artwork drawing is absolutely priceless!

Scott

Here is a picture of grandfather's crew. (He is in the lower row, center guy)After the war he was able to stay in contact with his radio operator through the 8th AirForce Association:



My grandfather started taking me airshows at an early age, here we are at the 1984 Madera CA "Gathering of the Warbirds":



Later when I bought my first Vultee BT-13 "project" he was there to encourage me:



Finally after A&P school when I got a chance to go for a ride in a BT-13 he was there too (I guess the circle was complete):

That is a great story, and those picstures are all awesome.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I found one more picture. Pictured are a couple of "warriors" from WWII(Left) "Nelson" my grandfather's radio operator on the "Eager Beaver", (Center) is the orginal "Eager Beaver" artist Leland Kessler and (Right) my grandfather waste gunner TSgt Robert Kenney, pictured at a 8th Air Force Reunion.

Now his family really doesn't know much about aviation and wanted to get an idea of what B-17's might have looked like on combat missions in action. I gave them some film references, and tried to give them a good idea using some movie footage along with the pictures that they had, and the ones you all found, and made. Here is what I came up with. Be honest, but gentle as I am new at this.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Friends,

The right hand side of 42-3371 “Dotte” from some where on the inter-net.

Again the base photographer at Ardmore like B-3 jackets for that “Air Force” look.





Tom

Cool pics coming out. Wonder how many aircrews trained through the average B-17 trainer (or how long they lasted in training- longer or shorter than the combat average?)

A little something for VCS1

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4997376/13296286


finished movie

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm eventually going to research that subject. The aircraft assigned to the various training stations got the crap flown out of them, that I can assure you. To take Ardmore as an example, the Base normally had somewhere in the region of sixty to sixty-five Forts assigned and a lot of crews would have trained in those machines.

The taxpayers got their moneys' worth from the aircraft doomed to a life of flying circuits and many, many more landings than a combat bird ever saw. As far as hours flown, I can only assume that a B-17 or B-24 at a combat crew training station flew many more hours than the average B-29, and I have seen records of a year-old Superfort having a 1,000 hour inspection pulled. If I ever get some good maintenance records of a trainer I'll be sure to share the numbers.

Scott

This is one of the best threads I have been in a while. Thank you guys so much for the amazing stuff you have all found, and the other stories that are here are just awesome.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

To "Holedigger" I just wanted to sincerely thank you for that beautful rendering of my Grandfather's plane. I have wanted something like that for many years and now you have made it a reality!

Thread bump... I see this is an old thread, but my dad is pictured in front of 3371, not sure where taken. He was in 34th BG...

Sorry for the stretch... Maybe someone can fix... Sorry...