B17 Pilots Seat - farmyard find

[FarlamAirframes]

This arrived by post this morning.

It was found in France - Brittany close to St Nazaire/Lorient.

It has been sitting in a farmyard scrap metal pile for many years - there is some corrosion.

However there is a lot of paint left as well as what is possibly an A.F. stencil.

There are multiple HT stamps confirming it is US made.

I believe to be a WW2 B17 Pilot/Co Pilot seat that was from a flying fortress lost during a raid on the naval bases nearby.

Can any one confirm its identity ?

[Fortress Fan]

Yes a pilots seat from a B-17, the earlier radio room seats although looked similar, had a shorter back and were angle back more. Nice find

[JohnB]

It would be nice to see it find a home in one of the current B-17 rebuilds...as opposed to gathering dust in someone's collection.

[FarlamAirframes]

Thank you for the confirmation.

I also would prefer it to go to a restoration.

But even a dusty collection is a better home than a farmyard!

It is corroded - looks like it was sitting upright with water pooling in the seat pan for a decade or so and rotted through at the back bottom edge - but easily recoverable.

Anyone know if there was a difference between pilot/co pilot seat ?

[bomberfan]

I don't believe there is a difference between the pilots and co-pilots seats. On the drawing, it says quantity per airplane is 2. It is also the same seat for E, F and G models. What a great find, I know the Desert Rat was looking for seats, I bet they'd appreciate it if you were looking to move this item.

[FarlamAirframes]

Thanks - yes it needs to find a proper home!

[TheBigBadGman]

The cockpit seats were Boeing no. 75-3448. They were indeed identical, the pilot and co-pilot difference being in the seat mounts and armor. If she was shot down over St Nazaire, chances are she was an F-model lost in late-42/early-43.

I sent you a private message in regard to the restoration of B-17 Lucky Thirteen, for your consideration.

Hope all is well!

-G

[Cmonroe]

Desert Rat would be very interested in the seat if available, as we are currently focusing on the cockpit. Thank you.