Another B-17 gone...as well as a piece of history. The plane caught fire and had to land in a corn field which it burn to ruins.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=241_1307990383

That was a serious loss for sure.

Once upon a time I had the privledge to go in side a B-17.

A B-17 that was still flying.

I consider it one of many Icons of not only American History, but History of the Planet...

Yeah I was aboard one. My father in law's B-17 went down over Hungary. He made safe to the ground but was captured and spend 18 months in a POW camp. I have the whole history of the plane and everything. Made me think about the Liberty Bell catching fire. That's what happen to my father in laws plane, #2 inboard engine caught fire. Come to fine out they had problems with things like the carburetors leaking catching fire or another good one is the mechanics didn't put the fuel tank cap on after filling it up. Bad stroke of luck for him.

I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I hate to see a museum piece gone up in smoke.

On the other, my attitude is that a ship belongs to her crew. A B-17 is, I'm certain, in the same category.

I don't mean to come across as harsh. But who owns that B-17? Us? Or the 20 somethings who flew it in the '40s.

Maybe it's only right she fades away with the men who flew her.

To me, if they're not flying then these pieces of history become far less then their whole. There are enough static exhibits around, so lets keep those that can still fly up there.

quote:

Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I hate to see a museum piece gone up in smoke.

On the other, my attitude is that a ship belongs to her crew. A B-17 is, I'm certain, in the same category.

I don't mean to come across as harsh. But who owns that B-17? Us? Or the 20 somethings who flew it in the '40s.

Maybe it's only right she fades away with the men who flew her.

Well I'm sure you know the mechanics owned all the planes, both fighters and bomber. Remember, they would tell the pilots that they were just letting them fly them?

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:

quote:

Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I hate to see a museum piece gone up in smoke.

On the other, my attitude is that a ship belongs to her crew. A B-17 is, I'm certain, in the same category.

I don't mean to come across as harsh. But who owns that B-17? Us? Or the 20 somethings who flew it in the '40s.

Maybe it's only right she fades away with the men who flew her.

Well I'm sure you know the mechanics owned all the planes, both fighters and bomber. Remember, they would tell the pilots that they were just letting them fly them?

Trust me. I can tell you a ton of stories about how the plane captain let me know who was in charge. Like the the time one waved at me as I was about to launch, proudly displaying a critical part without which the ejection seat wouldn't work.

I spent the whole ride wondering, did that part come out of this Tomcat?

We got along, don't get me wrong. We just spent a great deal of time figuring out how to play a joke on each other. It was a long cruise, and we were bored.

As the saying goes, you had to be there.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:

quote:

Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I hate to see a museum piece gone up in smoke.

On the other, my attitude is that a ship belongs to her crew. A B-17 is, I'm certain, in the same category.

I don't mean to come across as harsh. But who owns that B-17? Us? Or the 20 somethings who flew it in the '40s.

Maybe it's only right she fades away with the men who flew her.

Well I'm sure you know the mechanics owned all the planes, both fighters and bomber. Remember, they would tell the pilots that they were just letting them fly them?

then, as now, the aircraft is signed out and in to the crew chief.

a friend volunteers with the group that restored and maintained that 17- the good news is the crew was unhurt.

There are a lot of pieces of history that are gone.

You can't preserve everything.