A Flight in the B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle

[@DeltaSniperZRR]

Can you imagine, leaving England in a B-17 back in 1943, and knowing there is a big chance your not coming back. Brave men, all of them.

[@darthjarjarbinks8953]

Yep, people like my grandfather were.

[@chrisfr2358]

You are in every single war plane and war movie clip trailers and vids aren't you

[@friendofcoal]

My great uncle actually did. He was a tail gunner on a B-17. He and the entire crew were reported & classified missing (MIA) until the mid - 70's, the family finally got the government to declare them as dead (KIA). They were based in England.

[@darnelacat]

Read- My Two Wars, by Moritz Thomsen.

[@xxxbbb1973]

%

[@MART847]

I was a 8 year old and looked at a hundred of them flying over my hometown in holland toward germany.Will never forget that sight

[@oldschoolgamer8278]

Must have been thinkings like "peace is near", weren't it?

[@LetThereBeLoud]

Oldschool Gamer82 Lmfaoo are you kidding?

[@FPSWordle]

That gave me chills.

[@darthjarjarbinks8953]

My grandfather may have been in one of those.

[@waltlars3687]

My Father flew in a B-17 that dropped food to Holland during Operation "chow Hound "

[@scottphillips8265]

After setting down in a cornfield with engine trouble an lost to a fire. She's being rebuilt from the ground up, before my mom passed away. She gave me a birthday present a ride on the liberty bell aircraft when it came to Bakersfield California back in the day. The photos I took during the flight were priceless a chance of a lifetime mom thank you mom. Your son Scott Phillips

[@JoshuaC923]

Really cant imagine a thousand of these babies in formation over germany, what a sight that must have been.

[@jacobtvobrien9546]

sgtmoody but the problem was that these things were shot down a lot so...yeah that was mostly a seen

[@waltlars3687]

My Father was on the 1,000 plane raid on Swinfort

[@THEVATICANTS]

Love how there’s a Garmin 430 in the cockpit. Can you imagine if our boys would’ve had that thing back in the day! All-time queen of the skies.

[@eastcoastguitar222]

To any WWII Allied vets out there: I have the utmost respect for you. Thank you for your service.

[@Blando7887]

As I watch this video, with headphones, I think about how I were a WW2 airman how utterly terrified I would be if I flew missions, my hat truly comes off to all who served

[@lyleholland5580]

My uncle Red flew these over the hump from Burma against the Japanese. He was shot down several times and Mia twice. He lived until 1995.

[@nitsujecirp6354]

Truly amazing to get a glimpse on what those crewmen saw 70 years ago. Great video. Thanks!

[@waterheaterservices]

77 years ago now

[@davidblomstrand7775]

I flew in the Sentimental Journey and will never forget that day. Love the B-17!

[@SamhainBe]

I flew on the Memphis Belle last month. B-17 was always my favorite airplane and the experience of flying in one - Awesome!

[@billchapel5248]

SamhainBe What gives, someone below you on comments, said Memphis Bell, is in piceses, right now, for a rebuild!

[@SamhainBe]

willibill c I flew in the "Memphis Belle" (B-17F) used in the movie and owned by The Liberty Foundation. If memory serves, the original Belle is not airworthy. I saw your other post about flying in one before "you die" and I had it on my bucket list when I went up (actually my first flight in any plane and I'm 55). Now I'm hooked! I'm going to see Nine-O-Nine (B-17G) this weekend (Collins Foundation aircraft) and maybe go up (?). At $400 + a flight, I'm not sure my retirement can handle the strain. My advice to you is DO IT - you'll never regret it!

[@ROCKSTARCRANE]

Absolutely amazing. These babies would come back from missions shot to pieces but still flying. God bless America!

[@viper1320]

I’ll never get to see or board this beautiful and historic aircraft but when I watch this video, I’ll feel that I’m there. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾

[@minnowpd]

My mother was a B-17 mechanic at Nellis in '45. After working on altimeter and tachometer she and the guys would take it up for a test ride.. They'd strap themselves in tight and open the bomb bay doors to look down at Nevada. Ma!

[@chevelleguyinutah]

Thank you for your words on here Sir. My Grandma worked in the assembly factory in Washington. She always loved telling the story, one day someone realized they left a wrench inside a wing after they assembled the cover panels on. They found my Grandma who was the smallest person there to climb inside this small hole and crawl through the wing to find the wrench.

[@AnthonyMalesys]

One of coolest videos i've seen !

[@padraigfuarthain2268]

GREAT VIDEO THANKS FOR SHARING...I GET GOOSE BUMPS EVERY TIME I SEE THE B-17 AT AIR SHOWS HERE ON LONG ISLAND NY.

[@46619TAB]

How damn cool was that!!? Several years ago my partner and I went to a local airshow, rumor had it a B1 bomber was to make a showing, and we found ourselves taking refuge from the sun under the wing of a B 17. Quite a gorgeous plane as far as an antique killing machine is concerned. The B1 didn't appear before we had to leave but midway thru the parking lot as we were headed to our car, we saw it coming in for a pass by and as it screamed overhead it set off countless car security alarms!!

[@fanofjets]

A beautiful video. Nothing compares with these radial-engine beauties. It was a sad day when Liberty Belle crashed, but the crew did a superb job bringing her down and getting everyone off safely. Top professionalism all around. Another B-17 is being rebuilt from scraps of several crashed fire bombers at the the Champaign Air Museum, Urbana, OH. Nose Art for "Champaign Lady" has already been applied, but the rebuilding will take years. Liberty Belle was a similar example of sheer determination and expertise. The people who rebuild, fly, and maintain these gallant birds are indeed a special breed. Thank you for your excellent photography.

[@rail64]

My son and I went up in this plane last year. It was the ride of our life. DO IT IF YOU CAN...

[@chevelleguyinutah]

She always loved telling the stories, and of her friend Porky who started training in his P38. He would buzz over the city and she would say Porkys back in town!. He later got lost in Holland and his aircraft was just recently found. My Grandad served in the pacific servicing mainly Hellcats and SB2Cs, I miss them both very much, they would take me to the Air Force Museum when I was a kid, once I had got to climb inside and walk the B17 there. Id love to hear your stories and talk in person Sir!

[@pastorjohnmswanson5365]

Ever since I can remember I have always been fascinated by how brave and courageous those who flew the big bomber was. Sadly, many men lost their lives fighting against a terrible threat to humanity. Thankfully we had enough airplanes and enough people to stand up to the German threat of world domination. Many were lost but enough got through and did terrible damage to Germany. When it was over, cities lay in ruin, ships were sunk, aircraft were shot down, and 5.3 million Germans perished. Those brave American men and the courageous RAF flyers together smashed and pounded until there was nothing left of the 3rd Reich. I am forever thankful to all who fought for freedom. I salute you all.

[@jetpilot3714]

The Germans were no easy foe that’s for certain. Well stated comment.

[@Skyruben]

AWSOME ! Beautiful immersive footage; takes you inside a flying museum with all of its ordinance in pristine condition. Rumble takes viewer back to former missions in WW2.

[@charlesr5210]

Great footage. Even the outside views despite some viewers not being so happy. Love the shot of the plane in it's own "sunball" shadow across the treetops.

[@mandaltby]

So cool to see, the best America could do, its like flying art.. she's like a flying Harley Davidson chopper with machine guns. The B24 was a bit more economical, but the B17 was a fine sexy ship. Thank you for letting us experience being in her, as a kid I made many models of this plane.

[@flyurway]

This is a nice video and, as far as amateur vids go, is better than most if you ask me, shows many different views. I especially liked the one at 4:44 out the dome. My Dad was a navigator in one of these late in the war, he left behind a lot of pics he took both during training and on missions over Germany, many from some cool vantage points, but none like that view looking back at the pilots!

[@EVAUnit4A]

@Gandyware These ol' war machines deserve all the respect and attention they can get these days. There is a definite grace and solidity to them even decades later. (This, of course, also applies to the men who flew them.)

[@rayman4449]

Simply outstanding video!!! It's crash landing and demise today is such a tragedy. I know the people that restored and operated her must be sick beyond words. Thank you for sharing this awesome video, this is one of the best I've seen of a B-17.

[@davidharrington3798]

My uncle flew as tail gunner over Germany. He said the flak was so thick and sitting thru it with no protection was the scariest experience one could imagine!! He would do anything to get out of it,,,One day they asked for volunteers for new project..Not even knowing what it was he jumped up...They were losing so many fighter pilots they would waive the glasses he wore and he became a "90 day wonder" P-51 pilot!!! He was shot down over Germany and became POW. HERO for sure!!!

[@yakinbama]

What a fabulous aircraft... and fabulous video too! Thanks for posting this!

[@MOBLCIBI]

I rode on her in May 2011. Great experience and i will never forget it. It is quite a shame she is gone now.

[@rmachayes]

Man oh man, the sound of those radials all in sync is waaaaaay cool.

[@Kirkdrive]

Great video. Must have been a hell of an experience.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Fantastic! Thank you very much for sharing, appreciate it a lot. Greets from the Netherlands, T.

[@friendofcoal]

My great uncle was a gunner on one of these in WWII. He and his entire crew were reported missing (MIA) after being shot down on a mission in the area of northern Germany. Witnesses stated that no one got out of the plane as it went down. Finally, in the mid-70's he and his crew were officially declared dead and listed as KIA's. I was fortunate enough to get to take a ride on the Liberty Bell a few months before she crashed landed and burned. She was a beautiful plane and an awesome ride.

[@ervinthompson6598]

There was no crash landing - they put her down in a muddy field, somehow without collapsing the gear, with no injuries aboard- but the fire was out of control and the fire trucks could not get to her through the mud - else she might have been saved. The airplane was completely intact until the fire got into the fuel tanks.

[@SimmeringPotpourri]

Such an awesome aircraft. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheCoolProfessor]

When I was a journalist I was allowed to take a short flight in this glorious aircraft. It was amazing but I was really scared because there was no roof in the center of the fuselage! I was sure I'd be pitched out and then I'd never make my deadline! She was gorgeous!

[@Sugamoto_Magazaki]

Dang it camera guy!! If i wanted to see what america looks like i'd have gone on google earth! i wanted to see a walkthrough of the b-17 as it's flying, i.e from front to back, all the turrets etc and how it looks like when flying..

[@kaldesjarlais375]

Youtub3rh4x0r easy there orville

[@surfsupusa]

Youtub3rh4x0r they wouldn't let me climb down to the turret or to the tail. I guess I could have shortened the video and cut out all the scenery. I thought the video turn out pretty nice, however.

[@Sugamoto_Magazaki]

+surfsupusa Woah this comment was made 10 months ago? :O I apologize for reading it now brother.. In any case, yes the video is pretty nice nonetheless! I hope you understood that the "criticism" was in good spirit, I never intended to imply that I'd have done a better job or that the video wasn't pleasant! (Between you and me, I think I wouldn't have even be able to film anything besides the cockpit!) Greetings and peace to you, and again sorry for reading this comment after such a while! ^^

[@jacobtvobrien9546]

Youtub3rh4x0r you wouldn't hear the guy over the engines ;-;

[@tomkirk6942]

Absolutely beautiful aircraft.

[@towringer]

I flew aboard her in August, 2009 over Charlotte, NC. Sat in the waist gunner's area on takeoff & landing and crawled into the nose bubble over Charlotte. We did not have to sing "Oh, Danny Boy" on landing. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[@800624]

Got a ride on this plane in Kissimmee FL. Once in a lifetime experience.

[@yvonnefoster4118]

I flew in the B-17 when it came to Barrie Canada in August 2016 just an amazing flight I will always remember it

[@ZorgDK]

very nice footage! it must have been an awesome ride.

[@jrcadet4]

Exactly right. I used to help pull through propeller blades on big radial engines to circulate the oil. It was an 'all-hands-to-the-pump' chore on Warbird flight lines.

[@jamesmoulton2728]

I've flown in one, pretty awesome experience.

[@BRUHMOMENT1972]

I have a friend that flew the B-17, and the B-24 over Europe.

[@waltlars3687]

My Father was a Bombideer in a B 17

[@Minecraftsniper875]

R.I.P. Liberty Belle

[@watchgoose]

terrible shame to lose her

[@waltlars3687]

Minecraftsniper875 My Father's group 390th square J

[@dlbdlb3919]

Rest in peace ? All I can think about is how many children had bombs dropped on them during the war. Never mind what Hitler did to destroy others and German themselves. I could never have dropped bombs on residential cities knowing there were children down there. I would have rather been so called dishonorably discharged

[@behindthen0thing]

@@dlbdlb3919 good thing there wasn't a pussy like you helping us lose the war

[@mikeloghry9521]

What in thunder do you mean? She Flew and Still Going. Give it a rest.

[@lummileinm1]

I love this old planes so much its just sad that they aren't in use anymore

[@carlgomm9699]

I was lucky to have seen this plane in flight twice,both times in my home state of Maine

[@richardwhite6071]

You don't relise how big the B17 is until you see one at an air show. Those things are huge and the wing width is amazing. hell of a plane

[@michaelhagler7381]

Great video! I would love to go up in one these birds sometime.

[@kenc9236]

Thanks for the ride.

[@noversibirsk]

Such a Good sounding airplane.

[@keithchrysler3732]

Awesome video! I'd love to be in the co-pilot's seat! One incredible plane!

[@robbourassaguitarist]

Thank you for your service sir.

[@jamesrecknor1826]

Great video gentlemen, thank you for KZbin upload.

[@friendofcoal]

I took a ride in this plane about a year before it crashed and burned. It was a super awesome experience. Sad to know of its ending.

[@brentfoto]

This was a fine video and told a story. I don't understand the criticism. Have to show land below to get an idea of what things are like flying in it, to have idea of the experience.

[@Ashitaka1110]

Thank you for your service, sir.

[@thx1138y]

Gran video. es la unica forma en que creo,podré conocer uno verdadero. UN SUEÑO..felicitaciones al camarografo.

[@bryanfields5563]

Very nice work - thanks for sharing this video!

[@landlordchannel]

That vid is incredible! Enjoyed it very much! Thank you for plain awesomeness, sufsupusa!

[@richlaw1427]

Why hand spin propellers on the B-17? Radial engines cylinders are mounted in a circle around the engine case. Imagine the face of a clock with it's numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc. If a cylinder would be located at the number 6 position as in a dial face #6, that cylinder, because of gravity, could allow oil to seep past the rings of the piston within the cylinder causing serious damage if a start was attempted w/o clearing by hand cranking because of what is termed "hydraulicking" The normal air/fuel mixture is compressed when the engine rotates but oil isn't compressible. Trying to start a radial with oil accumulated in a cylinder head likely means serious damage to the internal parts of the engine. Cylinders at the bottom of the engine have raised skirts to dam oil from entering the cylinder but hand turning the engine through to be sure no oil has seeped into the bottom cylinders is always accomplished with a radial or round engine as a precaution. Common practice with any radial engine, not just the -17. Lesson over.

[@RickJones222]

Thanks for that!

[@dealit3370]

Thanks for the lesson. I recently went flying in a B-17 and notice the ground tech man rotating the blades. I obviously knew there was a good reason, but wondered why?

[@colinrunciman5166]

Thanks Richard! I'm a deisel mechanic but was wondering why they are cranking the props, question now answered..

[@pizzasubs]

I actually used to have a resturant called the Liberty Belle, and it was a very popular place to eat, we were so upset when they closed it down and tore it down later on......

[@EVAUnit4A]

I JUST saw a video on KZbin saying this very plane crashed in June 2011! It didn't specify what caused the accident, but there was fire and smoke shortly after take-off, and she crashed in a corn field in Illinois 5mi from the airfield. All 7 aboard escaped, but the "Liberty Belle" herself was a total loss. So sad to hear that. This would have been an awesome experience!

[@mreid08]

I met one of the guys that is rebuilding this plane, at least he said it was Liberty Belle, I didn't see nose art but still he's and a partner are building her piece by piece.

[@ChevyBM]

Lucky you, that must have been a nice experience!

[@traffety]

very nice thanks for the ride.

[@GGKevin]

Absolutely amazing. Kinda sad the power up and first part of the takeoff roll was cut out tho ngl.

[@lilsteve68]

GOD BLESS U AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

[@flylooper]

Very nice video. Great resolution and you had some really interesting shots (like from the bombadeer's blister toward the windshield. I think that's the Collings Foundation B-17, no? It comes out here to the Pacific Northwest every now and then.

[@MrSammy5442]

only if i could just get a 1-3 hour flight in that i would be so HAPPY!!! my favourite plane ever made and i mean IT!

[@_ShaDynasty]

I just learned why this bomber was so awesome. It was all in the highly advanced turbo-super charger that allowed this aircraft to fly much higher then previous models

[@_ShaDynasty]

unless the other 3 are not working.

[@jayyoutube8790]

My father served in ww2.. I remember him telling me how classified the bomb sights were.. I thought that was amazing.. Beautiful plane

[@leydenhumphries4158]

Wow! Great video!!

[@VancouverIsland1]

Some cool shots,

[@vtr1000kiwi]

love the sound of those engines...!

[@emersonhorton5400]

this was real good thanks Lee

[@slambo239]

This was very cool to see.

[@timmayer8723]

What a beast! Loaded to its take off limit almost every mission, those powerful radials had all they could do to heave that monster into the air with a full load of bombs, 50 cal ammo, full fuel tanks and a ten man crew. An engine misfire or an improperly set mixture control either meant a crash on take off or a return to base. Both of which could and were deadly to most if not all of the crew members. Returning to base meant landing an overloaded bomber full of high octane fuel and all its bombs. Many of the pilots and co pilots were inexperienced, very young men in their late teens or early twenties possibly on their first or second mission with a minimum number of flight hours. The B-17 had no way to jettison its enormous fuel load. You either had a maximum fuel load at take off with no way to dump it or you returned from a mission with just enough fuel to Return to base, if the plane had sustained no critical damage from flak or fighters. B-17s fell out of the sky by the hundreds and subsequently were built by the thousands. Many were built by car and truck manufacturers with no knowledge of aircraft construction. This fact had to account for build flaws that might only show up when the plane was over its target swimming through a sea of flak or being attacked by German fighter planes. The crews and aircraft were expendable.

[@waltlars3687]

tim mayer my Father braught one Home from Germany on one engine

[@WelshRob1964]

Great film, thank you for posting

[@macieksoft]

@Thebadass58 Is not required cause on high altitudes air is so cold. Also heating is avaible but cabin is not pressurized, this is not B29 :)

[@lonzo8734]

I think that the B-17 was a great looking plane I would love to have a ride in one.

[@jimfufu8413]

Magnifique video bravo 👍

[@udoworner4399]

Für mich wäre es ein Traum, in Gedenken an all die unglücklichen Crews des WWII,in einer B-17 mitfliegen zu dürfen. Da das aber wahrscheinlich nie der Fall sein wird,ein Danke für das Video.

[@tuliomonteiro1]

beautiful!

[@albertogarciaarango2411]

Beatiful picture of this important, Boeing, bomber plane whith Wright engines

[@Gandyware]

@EVAUnit4A A small onboard fire prompted an emergancy landing in a field. No one was hurt but the fire department couldn't reach the plane due to the field being too soft. They say thy have another B-17 undergoing restoration.

[@JosephusXIX]

Amazing plane. I can see why it's called the Flying Fortress.

[@derekwall200]

boy those R-1820-97s sounded like history. how noisy was it inside while you guys were flying

[@adrianmersk4751]

incredible airplane!!

[@LucasT97]

Great Video, great Plane!

[@sdwilliams63]

02:37, is that a CD player lol? Jokes aside this is a awesome piece of American history

[@1956MercM260]

Oh, man...I wanted to hear the engines run up before the takeoff order... :(

[@sandroluismartinscamargoca7583]

Muito lindo, muito emocionante, um dia verei um de perto, será um sonho realizado

[@allen764]

Wow. Look at the wear on the throttles.

[@AlwaysHalloween000]

I can't imagine how brave those young men were with German planes all around shooting at you,wow incredible

[@brocksutton2376]

Great vid

[@surfsupusa]

@Thebadass58 no air conditioner. you can open a window however. above 10,000 feet the crew would wear oxygen masks.

[@Jaguar79gt]

wow awesome video.....

[@astrospacerich]

Awesome video guy's ! I do have one question. When they were turning the props by hand before startup where they priming the engines, circulating the oil, or was it just part of the normal preflight procedure? Thumbs Up! Thx Rich.