DOWNLOAD PDF YESTERDAYS DRAGONS: THE B17 FLYING FORTRESS OVER EUROPE DURING WWII

Transcription

1 Chapter 1 : Boeing B Flying Fortress - Wikipedia Yesterday's Dragons: the B17 Flying Fortress Over Europe During Wwii: a Navigat [Abel L Dolim] on blog.quintoapp.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A young adults journey during WW2. He completed 32 bombing missions over western Europe, represented by the five bronze oak leaf clusters on the blue and orange Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. He wanted to sit in the cockpit as a pilot, but a failed depth perception test found him sitting underneath the plane as a ball turret gunner on the B Flying Fortress. But while his view of the ground may have changed, his view of the bomber never waivered. Casualty rates for heavy bomber crews also reached as high as 89 percent. He is credited with 3. Most missions involved hundreds of B and B Liberator bombers targeting ball-bearing plants, rail yards, oil production facilities and aircraft manufacturing factories. Nighttime area bombing attacks by the RAF complimented the daytime precision bombing raids by the U. Bomber losses rapidly increased to a rate the Eighth could not withstand. Of the Flying Fortresses launched for the mission, 60 were shot down and Airmen were lost. I always wanted to see those puffs of flak clouds below me, way below me. The British softened them and then we really gave it to them. Eventually, the employment of the P Mustang allowed fighter escorts to reach Berlin. The bombers and fighters together destroyed the Luftwaffe and air supremacy was gained over western Germany. The B was designed as a high-altitude strategic bomber, but it was primarily used as a low-altitude night bomber in the Pacific theater. It was equipped with a pressurized cabin and had a central fire system of remotely controlled gun turrets each armed with. The Superfortress also became the first nuclear capable aircraft. Air Force photo U. Air Force photo On Aug. Six days later Japan surrendered, the war was over and the era of nuclear deterrence began. With the advent of the nuclear weapon, bombers became the first vehicle to deliver apocalyptic devastation. Hyten, commander of U. Nuclear deterrence keeps the great power conflicts down and the horrible death and destruction, like what was seen during World War II, away from the world. Despite the debate, the American bomber was born in and shepherded in a new era of aerial combat. The wars we fight today cannot be fought without bomber airpower. Alexander said the basics of bombing doctrine were established in World War II, but with a myriad of sensors helping deploy munitions with absolute precision, landing within inches from the target, the B, B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit have certainly come a long way. Alexander explained what happened in the skies of Europe was absolutely instrumental. The losses were catastrophic, but at the time the USAAF had to launch 70 aircraft to take out a facility in the hopes one got lucky to peer through the clouds and strike a target. Nowadays one B can take out that same facility, but from 1, miles away. The strategic importance of bombers is even more important today than ever in terms of our posturing, projecting power, nuclear deterrence and assuring our allies. You have your intercontinental ballistic missiles and they stay in the ground all day. The president has the ability to recall the aircraft before weapons are launched. When that happens the tone does change. No one wants to go to war. All he does know is he made his mission quota and did what he was asked to do. The two were stationed on the same base in England, but never met. He completed 25 bombing missions over western Europe. He too is the last of his crew from the th Bomb Squadron. It took 40 years for Goldstein to open up and talk about the war. He now shares these stories with fellow veterans, but his family is unaware. The pictures and documents stuffed away for decades in the back of his closet are now proudly displayed in his home. Page 1

2 Chapter 2 : B Flying Fortress â Top Facts About the WWII American Bomber Related Books of yesterdays dragons the b17 flying fortress over europe during wwii a navigator from hawaii recalls his 51 missions over enemy territory by abel l dolim. Each year, the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit educational foundation based in Stow, Mass. Starting around January 20 and ending mid-november, the Wings of Freedom Tour visits about airports, staying at each airport for a few days. Thirty-year-old Rob Collings Jr. We had planned to fly on the B, which was fully booked, but there was room on the B Flying Fortress. It was named in honor of the plane that completed missions, without an abort or the loss of a crewman, during World War II with the rd Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. Our flight began with a short pre-flight briefing by flight engineer Steve Swift. The inside of the B was bare structureâ no upholstery of any sortâ with green zinc-chromate coating most of the metal bulkheads and stringers, and with occasional black paint or bare metal for some internal supports. As large as the B looked from the outside, the fuselage was relatively small inside. Facing inward along both sides of the fuselage were thin seat and back padsâ on the floor! As instructed, Bob and I took seats on opposite sides, staggered so we could stretch our legs out across the inside of the fuselage to the other side. Phil showed us how to operate the seatbelts. Once buckled in, we tightened our seatbelts and waited. We were under the two fuselage windows on each side that held a single flexible-mounted caliber machine gun and its long gun belt fed, from an ammunition drum. In combat, this model of the aptly-named Flying Fortress carried 13 caliber Browning machine guns! Then we waited as the other members of the crew took their positions for flight. After loading and stowing the various paraphernalia to be used at the next stopâ tables, chairs, items for sale, signs, posters, etc. We could look forward toward the cockpit far ahead, and back toward the tail-gunner position which was not accessible to passengers. Soon the engines cranked to life one by one and it became fairly noisy, even with the engines idling. After a short time, as the engines revved up, we could see the sunlight and shadows move, so we knew we were moving and then turning. After several minutes during which we were obviously taxiing out to the runway for takeoff, we stopped. We were taking off! The plane rumbled as we picked up speed, and in about 20 seconds the rumbling stopped as the B lifted off Runway Phil came back to tell us we could release our seatbelts and move around inside the plane. I immediately stood up, and had to grab onto the framework for support, since the plane was bouncing a bit in slight turbulence, and banking to the right. Climbing to 2, feet following visual flight rules, aircraft on westerly headings fly at even thousands plus feet and on a true heading of about degrees, we flew over the southern portion of the San Fernando Valley as I moved forward through the fuselage. First I passed around the structure supporting the ball gun turret, which extended down below the fuselage. Next I traversed the very narrow walkway above the bomb bay doors, with two dummy pound bombs hanging in their racks. You could see directly ahead and below, as well as to the sides. Maudie and Jim were at the small side windows, through which we could clearly see the two engines on each side sticking out from the front of the wing. During the time I had been moving forward through the plane, we had flown a bit north and were now flying almost directly over Victory Boulevard. Almost immediately we were over the Simi Hills, where the highest elevation, Simi Peak, at 2, feet, was north of us. Thousand Oaks, with literally thousands of homes, passed beneath our wings as we approached Camarillo. I moved back through the fuselage and got a glance out the right waist window just as the city of Camarillo appeared ahead, and the flaps were dropped in preparation for landing. I expected to hear a definite drop in power for the landing, but if the power was reduced it must have been! After a few minutes of taxiing, the engines stopped, we unbuckled and deplanedâ to find a crowd of over waiting for us! The B had preceded us, and people were already lined up to tour it, and were ready to tour the B Also, both planes were booked for several paying passenger rides before dark. Gil Rendon, a veteran of 43 years of service in the Air Force, expressed his feelings about the flight. For further information and flight schedule, call or visit [http: Page 2

3 Chapter 3 : Fortress (Video ) - IMDb Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Yesterday's dragons: The B17 flying fortress over Europe during WWII: a navigator from Hawaii recalls his 51 missions over enemy territory at blog.quintoapp.com Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. No responses As a retired aircraft mechanic, Roger has always loved airplanes. Having no room to dive in the crowded formation of B bombers of the 91st Bomb Group, he pitched up. Over the intercom Morgan heard his tail gunner, Sgt. Army Air Forces photo It was January 23, Morgan began calculating if the crew should bail out and become prisoners of war before the tail tore completely off the bomber trapping the crew in a death spiral culminating in a fiery crash. A moment later, Quinlan reported that the fire in the tail had gone out. Army Air Forces base in Bassingbourn, England in Army Air Forces photo They would have to survive 17 more missions to complete the required 25 to rotate home. All would be flown during a period of World War II when the Luftwaffe was at the height of its destructive powers. Bottles of Champagne were uncorked and radio operator Tech. Hanson collapsed onto the flightline and kissed the ground. Robert J Hanson, radio operator on the Boeing B "Memphis Belle", kissed the ground on the flightline at Bassingbourn, England after the crew successfully completed its 25th mission, May 17, The B and its crew would be the first to return alive and intact to the U. The tour was also to encourage bomber crews in training that they too could make it home. During the totality of the air war over Europe more than 30, U. Airmen aboard heavy bombers, like the B, would be killed. Only the pilot, Lieutenant Robert E. Air Force photo Seventy-five years to the day after that 25th mission, the Museum of the U. Marines, they have this wonderful icon of the flag being raised over Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima and everyone recognizes that. It symbolizes service and sacrifice and tenacity and teamwork. The crews had to work together. The planes in formation had to work together. The formations had to work together with the fighter escorts. Enlarge The crew of the Boeing B "Memphis Belle" is pictured at an air base in England after completing 25 missions over enemy territory. The crew, left to right: Evans and Staff Sgt. Winchell returned to the U. There were no foxholes to be dug. So when you think the crew had to finish 25 missions to go home, statistically it was nearly impossible. It was one-in-four odds that a heavy bomber recruit would finish their 25 missions. They are faster, more efficient, and far safer for the warfighter. Army Air Forces in maintaining support for the daylight strategic bombing campaign over Europe, which was still, in fact, an experiment. German Luftwaffe models used in fighter pilot training show the fields of fire covered by the machine guns of the Boeing B Flying Fortress. The large field in front of the nose of the BF was covered by a single. This was corrected in the BG when a chin turret with twin. Army Air Forces photo While twin. Because the bomber formations had to fly straight and level to initiate their bombing run, the Luftwaffe fighter pilots began attacking the formations head on. The ensuing carnage was ghastly. No amount of machine guns or friendly fighters could counter the dense flak approaching targets while flying straight and level. Bomber crews had to just grit their teeth and pray. Hap Arnold and a Hollywood director, William Wyler, who had volunteered to serve his country in the best way he knew how. It was hoped that a film documenting a bomber crew as they successfully completed a combat tour would calm new recruits, who were hearing stories of the carnage overseas, and assuage the doubts of the public, press and politicians that strategic bombing was a failure. His staff also began interviewing and making publicity photographs of the crewmembers, as they drew closer to completing 25 missions. However, on April 17,, the reality of war spoiled the Hollywood ending during their 23rd mission to Bremen, Germany. Invasion II crashed after being hit by flak over Borhmen, Germany, setting the cockpit and wing on fire. The crew managed to bail out, but all became prisoners of war. Wyler regrouped and found a plane and crew with the th Bomb Squadron that was also close to completing their combat tour. It became the first 8th Air Force B to complete 25 combat missions. Hap Arnold of the U. National Museum of the U. Air Force photo It was a film that came with a high price tag. Tannenbaum, a veteran of World War I, was killed in action during the filming when the Page 3

4 bomber he was in was shot down over France on April 16, The historic aircraft came to the National Museum of the U. Air Force in October, when work began on a careful, multi-year conservation and restoration effort including corrosion treatment and the full outfitting of missing equipment. Museum restoration specialist Casey Simmons paints yellow silhouettes of bombs representing completed missions on the fuselage of the Boeing BF "Memphis Belle" during the restoration of the historic aircraft at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. From the beginning, it was apparent that priority one in the restoration was getting it right. His first assignment was to fabricate a glycol heater that was missing from inside the left wing. No visitor to the museum would ever see it. So it represents a lot of them. We have to get it right for those bomber crews. Even Morgan was eager to get back in the fight. While on a morale tour stop in Wichita, Kansas, Morgan caught a glimpse of the future of strategic bombing, the still secret B Superfortress. He volunteered immediately to train on the new bomber and earned command of his own squadron of Bs that deployed to Saipan in the Pacific Theater. He retired from the U. Air Force Reserve in as a colonel. As much as any Airman, he embodied the spirit and sense of duty shared by all the heavy bomber crews. He came overseas as a technician repairing the autopilot systems on Bs. But he put his life on the line and then was forgotten. Page 4

5 Chapter 4 : B Flying Fortress Flight Airport Journals Memphis Belle The Boeing Flying Fortress flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the Liberator, the formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it. Of the 13 YBs ordered for service testing, 12 were used by the 2nd Bomb Group of Langley Field, Virginia, to develop heavy bombing techniques, and the 13th was used for flight testing at the Material Division at Wright Field, Ohio. A 14th aircraft, the YBA, originally destined for ground testing only and upgraded with the turbochargers, [57] was redesignated BA after testing had finished. To enhance performance at slower speeds, the BB was altered to include larger rudders and flaps. While models A through D of the B were designed defensively, the large-tailed BE was the first model primarily focused on offensive warfare. The XB was an engine test bed for Allison V liquid-cooled engines, should the Wright engines normally used on the B become unavailable. The only prototype XB to fly crashed on its ninth flight, and the type was abandoned. The Allison V was allocated to fighter aircraft. Additional armament included an additional dorsal turret in the radio room, a remotely operated and fired Bendix-built "chin turret" and twin. The ammunition load was over 11, rounds. The YBs with their numerous heavy modifications had trouble keeping up with the lighter bombers once they had dropped their bombs, so the project was abandoned and finally phased out in July The BG was the final version of the Flying Fortress, incorporating all changes made to its predecessor, the BF [57], and in total, 8, were built, [64] the last by Lockheed on 28 July The operation, which involved remotely flying Aphrodite drones onto their targets by accompanying CQ "mothership" control aircraft, was approved on 26 June, and assigned to the th Bombardment Group stationed at RAF Fersfield, a satellite of RAF Knettishall. Blast damage was caused over a radius of 5 miles 8. British authorities were anxious that no similar accidents should again occur, and the Aphrodite project was scrapped in early The 19th Bombardment Group had deployed to Clark Field in the Philippines a few weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as the first of a planned heavy bomber buildup in the Pacific. Kenney when he arrived in Australia in mid The Bs were primarily involved in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign against German targets ranging from U-boat pens, docks, warehouses, and airfields to industrial targets such as aircraft factories. The defense expected from bombers operating in close formation alone did not prove effective and the bombers needed fighter escorts to operate successfully. Their first operation, against Wilhelmshaven on 8 July was unsuccessful, [75] [76] but on 24 July they attacked the Scharnhorst, anchored in Brest, and inflicted considerable damage on the vessel. A Fortress from No. They could also pose as ground controllers themselves with the intention of steering nightfighters away from the bomber streams. The bombardier essentially took over flight control of the aircraft during the bomb run, maintaining a level altitude during the final moments before release. As the raids of the American bombing campaign grew in numbers and frequency, German interception efforts grew in strength such as during the attempted bombing of Kiel on 13 June [90], such that unescorted bombing missions came to be discouraged. Eaker and the Eighth Air Force placed highest priority on attacks on the German aircraft industry, especially fighter assembly plants, engine factories, and ball-bearing manufacturers. The 8th Air Force then targeted the ball-bearing factories in Schweinfurt, hoping to cripple the war effort there. The first raid on 17 August did not result in critical damage to the factories, with the attacking Bs being intercepted by an estimated Luftwaffe fighters. The Germans shot down 36 aircraft with the loss of men, and coupled with a raid earlier in the day against Regensburg, a total of 60 Bs was lost that day. Of 2, men in the crews, about did not return, although some survived as prisoners of war. Only 33 bombers landed without damage. These losses were a result of concentrated attacks by over German fighters. At the same time, the German nightfighting ability noticeably improved to counter the nighttime strikes, challenging the conventional faith in the cover of darkness. Lieutenant General James Doolittle, commander of the 8th, had ordered the second Schweinfurt mission to be Page 5

6 cancelled as the weather deteriorated, but the lead units had already entered hostile air space and continued with the mission. Most of the escorts turned back or missed the rendezvous, and as a result, 60 Bs were destroyed. Losses to flak continued to take a high toll of heavy bombers through, but the war in Europe was being won by the Allies, and by 27 April, 2 days after the last heavy bombing mission in Europe, the rate of aircraft loss was so low that replacement aircraft were no longer arriving and the number of bombers per bomb group was reduced. The Combined Bomber Offensive was effectively complete. An onboard fire burnt the aircraft in two shortly after landing on 7 December One crewman was killed by Zero attack. Navy was giving the flight a gun salute to celebrate the arrival of the bombers, after which he realized that Pearl Harbor was under attack. The Fortress came under fire from Japanese fighter aircraft, though the crew was unharmed with the exception of one member who suffered an abrasion on his hand. Enemy activity forced them to divert from Hickam Field to Bellows Field. On landing, the aircraft overran the runway and ran into a ditch, where it was then strafed. Ten of the 12 Fortresses survived the attack. The antennae mounted upon the nose were used for radar tracking surface vessels. Brereton sent his bombers and fighters on various patrol missions to prevent them from being caught on the ground. Brereton planned B raids on Japanese air fields in Formosa, in accordance with Rainbow 5 war plan directives, but this was overruled by General Douglas MacArthur. By the time the Bs and escorting Curtiss P Warhawk fighters were about to get airborne, they were destroyed by Japanese bombers of the 11th Air Fleet. The FEAF lost half its aircraft during the first strike, [] and was all but destroyed over the next few days. Nonetheless, this deed made him a celebrated war hero. Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. One B broke up in the air, and its crew was forced to take to their parachutes. Japanese fighter pilots machine-gunned some of the B crew members as they descended and attacked others in the water after they landed. Arnold had decided that the B was unsuitable for the kind of operations required in the Pacific and made plans to replace all of the Bs in the theater with Bs and later, Bs as soon as they became available. Although the conversion was not complete until mid, B combat operations in the Pacific theater came to an end after a little over a year. Special airdrop Bs supported Australian commandos operating near the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul, which had been the primary B target in and early A number of BGs, redesignated BHs and later SBGs, were used in the Pacific during the final year of the war to carry and drop lifeboats to stranded bomber crews who had been shot down or crashed at sea. Page 6

7 Chapter 5 : The Machines Photo Gallery Lost Images of World War II The B Flying Fortress was used in every single World War II combat zone and by the time production ended in, Boeing along with Douglas & Vega had built 12, bombers. Boeing BEs under construction. A Boeing BE in flight. Facebook Twitter Strategic bombing missions had properly begun during World War 1 and the post-war years saw a number of world powers working on the development of state-of-the-art bomber fleets. During the month of August, in anticipation of rising tensions in the Pacific, the US Army Air Corps proposed a new multi-engine bomber that would replace the outdated Martin B Enter the B Flying Fortress. Boeing competed against both Martin and Douglas for the contract to build units of such a bomber but failed to deliver as the first B Flying Fortress crashed. The Air Corps loved the design so much that they ordered 13 units for evaluation and analysis. After a string of tests, it was introduced in ; the B was now the prime bomber for all kinds of bombing raids. Initially, it could carry a payload of kg along with 5x. The company lost the tender because the model crashed but the Air Corps designated a special F1 Fund for the procurement of 13 Bs on an experimental basis. Boeing BEs under construction. This is the first released wartime production photograph of Flying Fortress heavy bombers in production. They would use any means necessary, be it carpet bombing or precision bombing. On August 17th, 18x Bs launched a bombing raid over Nazi-held territory in Europe, hitting railway networks and strategic points. Here are some notable losses: September 6th,, bombers sent out to attack a ball-bearing plant, 45 were lost. October 4th, Bs sent to the same location, 60 were lost. January 11th,, Bs sent to various industries. Bad weather brought down this number to out of which 60 were lost. Almost BGs were produced, the most of any variant because of their superior specs. A BG weighed 65, pounds and could cruise at a speed of mph, peaking at mph. It could attain a service ceiling of 35, feet, and carry a pounds payload. Drawings of the different models of B Flying Fortress. A Rugged Machine One particular B Bomber survived a bombing mission and flew back to safety with flak holes and only 2 out of 4 engines. Subsequently, Operation Aphrodite was launched, during which the US Airforce carried out a precision bombing against bunkers and hardened enemy targets. Initially, the operation was a success but as a whole, out of the 14 missions flown, none could completely neutralize their respective targets. The B was chosen by the Americans while the British primarily chose the Wellington or Lancaster bomber. The US would attack during the day while the British would carry out operations during the night. The Luftwaffe fighters managed to inflict considerable damage to the bombers but they never really recovered to their previous glory. Bs on a bombing run. Bringing it down After a detailed analysis of the fighter attacks on Bs, it was found by the Germans that on average about 20 hits with 20mm shells were required to bring down a B A B shot down by Me Captured Almost 40 Bs were captured by the Luftwaffe. They were re-painted and used by the Luftwaffe for training exercises. In addition, they were reverse engineered to improve existing German bombers. Similarly, the Soviets acquired Bs that had landed in their territories due to mechanical failure and by they had reverse engineered both the B and the B to produce their very own Tu VIP transport After the war ended, many Bs were converted into commercial aircraft and purchased for VIP transport and rescue missions. Still, Bs were used during the Korean War and for analyzing nuclear mushroom clouds for experimental purposes. They were everywhere The B was operated by almost all countries either militarily or commercially in Asia, North America, South America and Europe due to their versatility. The aircraft saw limited action during WWII as it was delivered too late in In the USA there are more flying examples. Chapter 6 : Memories take flight in B Deseret News Flying Fortress. This is a discussion on Flying Fortress within the Military History forums, part of the Armed Services category; My Son went Flying Yesterday out of Republic airport on Long Island and was right on time to see a B17 coming in for a. Page 7

8 Chapter 7 : Icon of Airmanship The Boeing B Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 12, aircraft built, approximately 4, were lost during the War. Chapter 8 : Top Ten Bombers: B Flying Fortress - World War Wings File Book- Yesterday's Dragons - The B Flying Fortress over Europe during WWII by Abel L. Dolin - Pilot, File Books - (8) Various Magazines on Planes File 22-3 "The Armed Forces Song Folio - Music Book" - Volume XXV - Numbers 1, 2, and 9. Chapter 9 : M â JOHN P. CHOPELAS / WORLD WAR II COLLECTION â Archives I have been trying to determine "where and with whom" he actually served during World War II. His original European Theater I.D. is listed as 32 nd BS BG, but he was sent home by the group surgeon from the 97 th BG (Heavy) for combat fatigue after 51 missions and operational hours. Page 8