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“ALL AMERICAN” - The Miracle B17 (Read 569 times)
Mar 27th, 2006 at 11:40am

Theis   Offline
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The Flying Fortress was one tough bird!

An attacking Bf-109 fighter tumbled through the tail of a 97th Bomb Group B-17F named “All American” on a mission to Tunis, Tunisia, on February 1, 1943. Flyers in other B-17s were astonished to see the stricken bomber pitch up, recover, and keep flying.  An airman aboard “The Flying Flint Gun” snapped a photograph that would become  famous. It shows “All American” struggling to make it home with no port horizontal stabilizer and a terrible gash through the fuselage.

...

The photo was sent home with the following message:

"Censor, Should there be some law, rule, or regulation
against sending the  picture below to my wife, please
seal the flap above and return---it is an  unduplicateable
shot and one I should hate to lose." 

“All American” made it back to Biskra, Algeria, with all aboard safe.

Cheers Theis
 
... Bar by Mees
...
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Reply #1 - Mar 27th, 2006 at 11:48am

C   Offline
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There were some amazing recoveries in WWII... Smiley
 
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Reply #2 - Mar 27th, 2006 at 6:00pm

flyboy 28   Offline
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I remember seeing a shot of a B-17 without the entire tail section land safely. Smiley
 
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Reply #3 - Mar 27th, 2006 at 10:27pm

beaky   Offline
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Quote:
I remember seeing a shot of a B-17 without the entire tail section land safely. Smiley


ThatI'd like to see... must've fallen off on landing or something... but if any airplane could pull that off, it'd likely be a Fort, so I'll take your word for it.
That picture of "All American" is one of my favorites... what a terrifying racket that must have made...sounding like it was all going to "depart" at any moment. What an interesting flight home that must have been... Tongue
 
...
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Reply #4 - Mar 27th, 2006 at 10:31pm

flyboy 28   Offline
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Quote:
ThatI'd like to see... must've fallen off on landing or something...


From what I remember from the caption, the tail took a direct hit of flak; it was the actual shell that hit it.

Then of course, all the crew members got to go home. Tongue
 
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Reply #5 - Mar 27th, 2006 at 11:01pm
Jakemaster   Ex Member

 
I heard of a DC-3 that took a hit from a plane (collision) and made it home.  Incredible stories are out there, you just gotta find them!
 
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Reply #6 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 4:30am

C   Offline
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Quote:
I remember seeing a shot of a B-17 without the entire tail section land safely. Smiley


I've seen a famous one of a B17 with one half of the tail missing returning.

The famous Gp Capt Leonard Cheshire VC came home early in the war in his AW Whitley with the port side of the fuselage ripped right open along half its length...
 
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Reply #7 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 3:37pm

flyboy 28   Offline
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Quote:
I've seen a famous one of a B17 with one half of the tail missing returning.



That may be it.. in any case, that's one tough bird!
 
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Reply #8 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 5:19pm

C   Offline
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A few more...

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53255
 
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Reply #9 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 5:41pm

Woodlouse2002   Offline
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Stolen directly off Charlies thread but with good reason...


...


Forget the B17, that is awesome!
 
Woodlouse2002 PITA and BAR!!!!!!!!&&&&Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George the First for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God Save the King.&&&&Viva la revolution!
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Reply #10 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 6:26pm

flyboy 28   Offline
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I bet that Halifax driver was pissed. Roll Eyes
 
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Reply #11 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 7:51pm

Willit Run   Offline
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It landed safely and then broke in two not to long after.

...
...


 
...&&
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Reply #12 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 9:57pm

beaky   Offline
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Let's see that again:

Quote:
Stolen directly off Charlies thread but with good reason...


[img]


Forget the B17, that is awesome!


Damn right. Never seen that before. What a wonderful plane that was... probably my favorite fighter of all time.
 
...
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Reply #13 - Mar 28th, 2006 at 11:14pm

flyboy 28   Offline
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Quote:
It landed safely and then broke in two not to long after.

[img]
[img]

Pilot- "Okay guys! I need you to chew all these five pounds of gum.. and hurry!" Grin


 
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Reply #14 - Mar 29th, 2006 at 1:54am

Scorpiоn   Offline
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I can't help but wonder about other nation's aircraft. (besides America and Britain) Was there ever a shot of an He 111 with no wingtips coming back to base?
 
The Devil's Advocate.&&...
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