B-17

[visitor]

I don't know if this is where this belongs, I found this
site a few days ago and can't stop going back, there
is a world of information!! and pictures, some are
not for the faint of heart!!

Brad

PS if this goes somewhere else, let it be moved!!

First Missions
 
She did everything what we wanted and she made it good"
General Ira C. Eaker
On Monday, 17 August 1942, at 15.20 hours 12 B-17E of the 97 Bomb Group of the 8th U. S. Air Force started under the protection of 4 Spitfire relays of the RAF to their first employment over Europe. In the machine of the Group COMM differently the Brigadier general Ira C Eaker flew also, 46 a year old, experienced occupation flier originating from Texas, commander of the 8th Bomber Command. Its machine was called more suitably wise "Yankee Doodle". The guidance machine was however the "Butcher Shop", flown from major Paul W. Tibbets, later admits become than pilot of the B-29 "Enola Gay", which dropped the first atom bomb over Hiroshima in Japan. The goal was the marshalling yard Sotteville les Rouen on the left bank of the Seine, important for Le Havre. Into 7000 meters height the Flying Fortresses their 16.5 tons of bomb load released. The accuracy of fire was relatively well, approx.. 50% of the bombs lay in the target area. All B-17 returned from its employment, whereby two escort fighters were lost, while two German hunters were shot. The principal purpose of this first employment was acclimatizing the crews. The operation confirmed the conception of the American daylight attacks, which had given both the Englishmen and the Germans up because of to high losses.

The other B-17E

[ozzy72]

Great site Brad. Thanks for the link. V.Interesting.

Mark

[Smoke2much]

Little factoid, the safest place in a B-17 was in the ball turret.  The most dangerous was in the waist.

Daylight bombing in the B-17 was relatively safe all the time they flew in at 7000 Meters (21,000 feet).  Unfortunately even the acclaimed Norden Sight was so innacurate at this altitude they had to come down to 15,000-18,000 feet and that is when the casualties started building.

Will

[Jared]

Thanks for the great link! it sure was a great plane!

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

That is a very interesting site....Thanks



Cheers....Happy Landings....Doug

[BUFFman]

Smoke2much:
  Don't forget about Gen Curtis LeMay.  The Norden Bomb sight was only badly inaccurate before Gen LeMay had the bomber formations fly straight and level from the IP to the target. LeMay changed it to where the Lead planes bombadier would aim and all planes would drop on the leads mark.  Before the planes would jag to avoid the flak and each plane's bombadier would aim for the target and bomb seperately.  Lost alot of planes but they began hitting the target flying straight and level.  Better than bombing whole towns at night like the RAF.

[Felix/FFDS]

Another tidbit in my personal "I didn't know that before" column, was that during the latter part of the bombing campaign ( I would assume from mid-1944), the ball turret of a lead/targeting ship would be replaced with radar (similar to that on the B-29s).

[echo1111]

My father, Lt. Paul F. Kisak, was a bombadier/Navigator aboard the B-17 "Big Stuff" when they were based out of Foggia, Italy.  If anybody has information on "Big Stuff" and its crew, please contact me.

Thanks,

[Sobby]

[quote]Little factoid, the safest place in a B-17 was in the ball turret.

[farmerdave]

My grandfather was a B-17 pilot, based at Foggia, too.

[Jared]

My grandfather was a B-17 pilot, based at Foggia, too.

My utmost respect for your grandfather...;-)

on another note I was able to see a replica of the Memphis Belle at the Cleveland airshow this past weekend, and am going to see another one next weekend at the school airport..:-)