How many b17 bombers are left

Watson, please let me know. Bob in Ballinger, Tx. Most of my original crew completed their 25 missions on Sept. As far as I know this was the fastest record for a combat tour in the the 8th AF.

There are 12 Bs currently left flying in the world. Keep 'em flying. I am a journalist in Montana and I am currently working on a story with a lady who worked at Boeing Plant 2 in Seattle where Five Grand was built. Can anyone here put us in touch with anyone who was a crew member on that plane? He recently was in contact with Michael Lenahan,the son of Mr James Lenahan bombardier 5 Grand and they were able to share memories. Dad would love to hear from anyone from Snetterton Heath Airfield.

He survived and was a Pow for over 2 years. He died in , but my mom is still alive and well. Would love to hear from anyone with similar interest. Carol says: 17 Jun AM Correction on my previous post - my dad, Bill Styles, flew the "Alice from Dallas" but did not go down on that plane, he was flying a different one that day because the pilot, Bill DeSanders, was not available that day.

Dad went down on the "Duration plus Six" on July 25, Weber: John Wearing is the only surviving member of the original combat crew of 5-Grand as far as I know. He is more than alive and kicking in Detroit Just curious if any crew member might remember him. He passed away in His name was Jim.

Nose art was a skeleton riding a coffin while smoking a cigar. Chris Roberts says: 19 Apr AM I have a photo of a B crew with the names of the crew members and even their home towns, but I'm not sure how to track down what happened to them since that photo. I have tried searching the WW2db but have had know luck. If anyone has an idea on how to do this I would appreciate hearing from you. Gary Weise says: 30 Mar PM pdenomie pahrump. Weise was the co-pilot on 5 Grand when Roy Brachman was pilot.

That's the air base that 5 Grand flew from during dad's tour. We were there to participate in the dedication of a monument to all who served from there during WW II. We'd appreciate any help anybody can provide or suggestions anybody has to help make those connections. Regards, Gary V. Weise home, cell gvweise att. I was the B Liberator Hot Stuff. It completed 25 missions on Feb. The Memphis Belle was on her 10th mission. Hot Stuff was on her 30th mission.

By then the number to complete was 30; I believe it was later upped to The crash site is near a village in central France close to a village called Pressac. I am very interested to find out more of this plane and its mission etc.

We have a French holiday home near the site, and being in the RAF for some time years ago I would like to find out more. Recently a memorial has been raised to the memory of the crew on the crash site and names of all the crew are inscribed on the monument.

Would welcome any information on this plane Yours in anticipation Graham Wright. Seven of the crew were lost: 1. Bobrof, Bob B. Devono, George J. Cole, Charles D. Dell, George W. Polski, Edward F. Snyder, Thomas E. Word, Clinton S. Hitchcock, Kenneth F. Dave Cannon Jr. Are there any sites online where one could go to obtain info on crews?

Thanks in advance for any info on a direction to start. He was a ball turret gunner in a B17? I am just curious to learn any information about this, any input would be welcomed. I have a pic of him and the crew in front of a bomber named "Thumper II". Contact me please! I'm not sure what bomber group he was in, but i was told he flew 50 missions over North Africa, Sicily, possibly Italy and Ploeste.

Unfortunately my grandfather died in a commercial plane crash Feb 8 when I was 5 yrs old. He was on a bombing mission, with his bombing group, over Italy in His B collided with another B over the Adreatic Sea. Happened Feb. I don't think there were any survivors. It is well worth the trip if you had a family member in the war.

The archives up stairs at the museum will help you. My father was flight eng on Horse Fly on the first Ploesti raid. I have photos of the crew and a Rosary and youth swastika armband given to him by resistance fighters. Dave says: 19 Sep PM I am looking for any info on a B17 tail gunner named Don Hurst who claims that his B17 crash landed in Germany in just short of the Swiss border.

He claims to have killed 10 Germans, taken 2 prisoners, got 8 injured crew members safely into Switzerland and back to base in England.

I can find no record of any of these claims. I am ex-Australian Navy, and also a Radio Ham I have read a lot about the B's in WW2 and watched a good few documentaries about the gallant men who flew them over the battle skies of Europe.

I was wondering if it might be possible to make contact with any of these surviving heroes, of the sky. I know its a long shot, but it would be quiet an experience to hear from any of these men who did a great deal to create the free world we all enjoy today.

I look forward to hearing from you Yours sincerely Mike from "Down-Under" my email address is: mikevk4qs gmail. Do you know the name of his plane? He was a Tailgunner and Radio Operator. Anyone out there have any information?. Bertrand L Eichelberger. I have some old negatives he took of bombing formations. Tail number configuration is six numbers over one letter. Aircraft appear to be OD Green paint scheme. Dewey no middle name Thompson from Whiteville NC.

He was a tailgunner on a flying fortress but that's all I know- we have a photo of him standing with his crew in front of the plane, but gramma circled him and wrote "MINE" over it, obliterating the name of the plane!

Trying to finish the research for Christmas for my family. Can anyone help? The plane was shot down over or neart Cologne Germany.

My understanding was that all the flight crew except my Dad were killed. Anyone having additional knowledge please contact me. At this point it is still pretty mint condition.

I'm willing to bet my grandpa is in some of those pictures as well. He was on that same plane, shot down and hid for 6 months before being caught a mile from freedom and eventually brought to Stalag Luft. Please contact me!

I have tons of info about his escape, crash, helper lines and pics. Njlorch gmail. Of course he was in the 8th Air Force but not many photos of him in England. Most probably all that knew him are now gone. Just in case some one out there may have memorabilia from then. Only then did I understand how brave those men were.

Very little room inside that aircraft. I knew a Lt. Stanley Hutchins who flew one. I know he retired to San Antonio and has since passed. Anyone know anything about him? He was a big guy, about 6'3' and lived for a long time in Alexandria, Virginia. Front row L to R Sgt. Victor L. Ruthart, Lehigh, Ia. Walter J. Nagel, Chicago, Ill. Frederick W. Meyers, Huntington Park, Calif.

Ruel d. Michael J. Santianna, New Rochelle, N. Back row L to R Lt. Leonard G. Conly, Jenkintown, Pa. Frank S. Carter, Jr. Warren B. Hansen, Waterford, Wisc. Bryce H. Jones, Payson, Utah. Thank you in advance. Geoff Markuson says: 21 Feb PM my grandpa Harold heegard was a waiste gunner in the b17 over germsny does anybody know how to get the name of his plane?

John Clevenger says: 4 May PM Did anybody know jess paul wisner co-pilot B bomber , they said collided with another B jan. However, we have not adopted the Metric System of measurement so would you please at least include SAE numbers for those of us really interested in these facts and specs. Welcome to America! Were any B 17s lost there as part of Operation Dragoon?

Thanks, Don Miner. They helped us. They also are on line too. His crew members are as follows: 2nd Lt. Wesley C. Huckins - Pilot 2nd Lt. George W. Freas - Co Pilot 2nd Lt. John R. Mink - Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas B. Burrell - Bombardier Sgt. Alan L. Reid - Engineer Sgt. Richard H. Kreckner- Radio Op Sgt. Daniel F.

Kenneth P. Downie - Gunner Sgt. Earl W. Merritt - Gunner Sgt. Robert l. Davis - Gunner Any info is appreciated. I just recently found out he was my grandpa. Cant seem to find anything on the internet. I remember seeing his ship here in ny when i was a kid. I think the ships name was the texas raiders.. I'd be interested if there are any reports on it or even the nickname of the b17 etc.

I think the pilot was Finis Harris. It was the first Boeing airplane with the distinctive — and enormous — tail for improved control and stability during high-altitude bombing. Each version was more heavily armed.

Thank you for making such a good airplane. Boeing Plant 2 built a total of 6, Bs in various models, and another 5, were built under a nationwide collaborative effort by Douglas and Lockheed Vega. But help soon arrived when the North American P Mustang began to reach the beleaguered Eighth Air Force in large enough numbers to make a difference.

The B finally had a fighter which could escort them in and out of Germany, and began to overwhelm German defenses and industry. With a renewed focus and power, the Allies finally achieved the air supremacy needed over Normandy for the D-Day landings in June By the end of the war, the B was an obsolete aircraft which had been surpassed by another Boeing bomber, the B Superfortress. The plane was pulled out of front-line service and used as a transport plane and even drones. While the US had less than at the start of the war, more than 12, Bs were produced by the end and served in every theater.

Many Bs survive today in museums, and there are some that still fly. The first bomber to hit Japan after Pearl Harbor, the B Mitchell was found in every theater of the war and was a rugged, multipurpose bomber beloved by her aircrew for its survivability and ease to fly. This article is part of an ongoing series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II made possible by Bank of America.

Main article: Boeing B Flying Fortress. Boeing model numbers. Cancel Save. Universal Conquest Wiki. Wikimedia Commons has media related to B warbirds.