A 1969 "Belly Ache from Salmon" ...

[WIX_Archive]

Originally posted by Mark Allen.

I know! knock off the cryptic thread titles ...

These are interesting photos that I found a long time ago. I can't recall where so I'm going to credit: Pilot Don Hackett and Co-Pilot Mark OConnell.

Per wiki,

Yankee Lady is a B-17G–110–VE, bearing USAAF serial number 44-85829. The airplane was built by the Vega Division of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California and was delivered to the USAAF on July 16, 1945. It went to Dallas, Texas for modifications and in September 1945 was placed in storage at South Plains Field, Texas along with other brand new B-17s. The YAM is certain that this aircraft did not fly combat missions during World War II.

In 1946 the aircraft was one of 16 “Flying Fortresses” that were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. These aircraft were re-designated PB-1Gs, “P” signifying patrol, “B” denoting designed by Boeing, “1” for the first model of the type and “G” for Coast Guard. This particular aircraft then became PB-1G serial number 77255. All of the guns and turrets were removed, and a radar dome was installed in the position formerly occupied by the chin turret. It was used for air-sea rescue and iceberg patrol duties out of Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland, Elizabeth North Carolina and San Francisco, California. At one time it carried an air droppable, 27 foot long 3300 pound wooden lifeboat under the fuselage for rescuing people stranded at sea. This aircraft was retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1958.

On May 11, 1959, the airplane was sold to Ace Smelting, Inc. for $5997.93. It was assigned the civil registration N3193G. In November 1959 Fairchild Aerial Survey Company purchased the aircraft and used it for aerial survey work. In 1966 the plane was sold to Aircraft Specialties, Inc. of Mesa, Arizona. This company used numerous B-17s as air tankers to fight forest fires and apply pesticides on crops and trees. During 1969 the aircraft was one of five B-17s flown to Hawaii and used in the filming of the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!.

After filming and back to fighting forest fires, 44-85829 (N3193G) experienced a Gear-Up Belly landing at Salmon Idaho Airport in July of 1969 with Pilot Don Hackett and Co-Pilot Mark OConnell. Two and a half days later 44-85829 was back up on her gear with the help of airbags and engines running again.

In 1985 the airplane was among four other B-17s that were put up for sale at an auction held by Globe Air, the successor company to Aircraft Specialties. The airplane remained unsold until the Yankee Air Force purchased it for $250,000 in June 1986. After several test hops, the aircraft was flown from Mesa, Arizona to Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan on July 2, 1986. It was not to fly again for nine years.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b17regis ... 85829.html


B-17's used in the filming of the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!

[Scott Rose]

I love the Avenger providing "cover"

[Stoney]

Don flew in a Catch 22 and had a PBY on the movie site for several weeks, i had my one and only flight in it then and we made a water landing with me in the nose, great fun. saw him years later in OR and he was not in good health, went West shortly there after.

[DADE]

For a few days I thought you had gone walk about, glad to see you back.

[WIX_Archive]

Here's the rest of the series. Really interesting photos.

[Chris Brame]

On behalf of all us B-17 freaks here - THANK YOU!

[Stoney]

Bill Reid also flew in Catch 22

[sledge39]

.
'Load and return' at Ontario (ONT) Sept 1975

[oscardeuce]

We need someone who can fly this plane, and more importantly didn’t eat the fish.

[menards]

It must have been really cool to see this bird fighting fires in its movie paint.

[Scott Rose]

Images restored

[C VEICH]

I remember all of the B-17s (and others) parked in storage on the east side of Falcon Field back in the early '80s. I was just a kid but still recall the odd juxtaposition of the well maintained "Sentimental Journey" receiving lots of care and attention on one side of the field while a hand full of B-17's sat neglected on the other side. Wish I would have had the presence of mind to take pictures of those birds when I had the chance.

[phil65]

80's ?

Phil