The Flying Fortress B-17 Bomber

[whipper-ag]

[Dan67]

Whipper,

Thanks for shooting that. I always wondered how it would be to fly in a B17. Dad was a B17 Bombardier during WW2. Stationed in England and dropped bombs on Nazi Germany in 1945. The only story my dad told us was about his 3rd mission. On his 3rd and mission his plane was hit by flak, that did not detonate, on the return leg of their bomb run. They landed safely and upon exiting the aircraft, the flak shell detonated. Blowing my dad out of the nose of the B17. Both his lower legs where sliced up bad and his right achilles tendon was shredded. None of the crew where killed.

[john swenson]

thanks whipper, that was awesome !! always amazed me how those planes were just thin sheet metal and motors. imagine how the guys felt heading out on bombing runs. i love flying and really enjoyed the video. johnboy

[George]

Hey Whip,

LUCKY!!!!

Very cool video. I'm amazed that they let you crawl all over the plane while in flight. Can't imagine being on the catwalk when hitting an air pocket.

George and I got inside the same plane 9 years ago but we didn't get to fly in it. It's funny how big those planes are on the outside, yet so cramped on the inside.

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[countrybumpkin]

Very cool Whip! Thanks

[Andyman]

I will never get tired of hearing those engines roar .

Thanks for sharing that was a special treat

[msafi65]

Way cool, thanks for sharing. After reading the book Unbroken I'm amazed at what those old aircraft and the crews went through. Thanks again.

[JoeMeg]

Awesome stuff! Thanks for posting,Whipper. Never thought about the bugs splattered on the gun turret glass. Wonder how many were smack dab in the gunners field of view just as he was puttin a bead on a nice juicy Messerschmitt?

[Mike]

I enjoyed that, thanks for sharing. What a view from the nose!

[jerseybigfoot]

Thanks Whipper, We have to thank the flyers that took those tin cans in to battle. Wow!!!

[msafi65]

Whipper , if you haven't read the book Everything but the flack you should. It starts out in your area resirecting three B17s for filming the movie The War Lover. Great book I read it 40+ years ago and still remember parts when I hear about a B17.

[Hercules222]

Thank you for filming that! My wife and I were just talking about this the other night. Some couples have their list of celebrities they can sleep with and the other can't say no, like Bradd Pitt, or Charlize Theron, or in my wife's case, George Strait. Mine is WWII aircraft. If I ever get a chance to fly in any WWII aircraft she can't say no.. Cuz neither can I!! Really makes you appreciate the guys who had to go on bombing runs in those things though. I can't even comprehend it.

[Muscat]

Very cool. Thank you.