Simviation Forum

Aug 19^th, 2003 at 3:56am

X Ex Member

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´s which flew on the first mission: Peggy D, Baby Doll, Berlin Sleeper, Johnny Reb, Birmingham Blitzkrieg und Big Stuff.

First Mission | Lille-Fives | Berlin | Missing | Interned | Schweinfurt

http://www.b17flyingfortress.de

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Reply #1 - Aug 19^th, 2003 at 6:11am

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

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Posts: 37122

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

Mark Wink

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #2 - Aug 21^st, 2003 at 12:59am

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

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

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #3 - Feb 2^nd, 2004 at 10:42am

Jared Offline
Colonel
I'd rather be flying...
Uniontown, Ohio

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Posts: 12621

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

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Reply #4 - Feb 2^nd, 2004 at 3:16pm

Flying Trucker Ex Member

That is a very interesting site....Thanks

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

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Reply #5 - Jun 21^st, 2004 at 1:52pm

BUFFman Offline
Colonel
I'd rather be flying a
Big Ugly Fat F@!#er
Rancho Cordova, CA USA

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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.

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Reply #6 - Jun 21^st, 2004 at 2:16pm

Felix/FFDS Offline
Admin
FINALLY an official Granddad!
Orlando, FL

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Posts: 1000000627

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).

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #7 - Aug 29^th, 2004 at 4:08pm

echo1111 Offline
2nd Lieutenant
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 1

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,

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Reply #8 - Aug 31^st, 2004 at 12:50pm

Sobby Offline
Colonel
Scotland

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Posts: 676

Quote:

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

Can I just say, I don't agree

On some missions, B-17 came back with damaged undercarrigages and damaged ball turret hatchs, so, B-17 comes in say damage to a engine, come in a bit hard, a bit slow, landing gear cracks or breaks and poor man stuck in his ball turret gets crushed under his B-17 Shocked

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Reply #9 - Sep 2^nd, 2004 at 6:15pm

farmerdave Offline
Colonel
St. Clairsville Red Devils!
St. Clairsville Ohio

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Posts: 447

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

&&&&&&&&&&

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Reply #10 - Sep 5^th, 2004 at 10:58pm

Jared Offline
Colonel
I'd rather be flying...
Uniontown, Ohio

Gender:
Posts: 12621

Quote:

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

My utmost respect for your grandfather... Wink

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..

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