American B-17 Bomber "Black Jack" wreck

[@GableHackett]

My great uncle flew one of these legendary aircraft. His first mission over Deutschland, the B-17 was hit and forced to make an emergency landing in Switzerland where my uncle and his crew spent the last few months of the war. Respect to the thousands who did not come back.

[@curtinhive]

Thank you for sharing your great uncle's story.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

Ralph DeLoach was the skipper...I've got an article from the National Geographic covering his return to the crash site 50 odd years later.

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

Beautiful! I just had the privilege of seeing one of these awesome warbirds flying at an air show. Over 12,000 were built, and only 6 are in airworthy condition today. Pray we never lose respect for the young men who flew them on their missions, and their reason for doing so.

[@marcelbugiel1634]

Respect to all innocent people who had to go into the War. May God bless them. 🙏🙏.

[@2Mile0]

For the MIC?

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

​@@2Mile0No. I believe they flew against the forces of evil that were predominant at that time. Please respect and don't dishonor their memory or their service by saying they served the military industrial complex. My Dad who was in the Navy at that time in pilot training, and my uncles who saw combat in the Coral Sea, on Iwo Jima, and Okinawa didn't sign up to serve and sacrifice for anything but the sake of freedom. Have a nice day.

[@jamesnull5415]

@@Peace2U-ec6es Well said. Well said. 🇺🇸

[@manofthetombs]

This video is the compilation of a LOT of work by many people. Thanks to all that made this video possible. It is a beautiful preservation of history! Most people laud the B29 as the bomber that made history. But the B17, B24, & B25 did most of the work necessary for the allies to win WW2.

[@curtinhive]

Thank you! Indeed this was a team effort!

[@mmouseav8r402]

My grandfather flew B-24s over the Himalayas, came back and ferried all the multi engine aircraft that the USAAF had, including B-17s. Then went to work for 35 years as a pilot for Continental Airlines. He said the B-17 was his favorite.

[@marinebean420]

I remember Jacques Cousteau exploring this wreck 50 years ago.

[@cerrystyle]

It's wonderful how a digital 3D model could be this accurate. Thanks to these web developers we're able to admire such these models, well done job!

[@christchild211]

My Grandfather flew a few missions in a B-17 as Tail gunner. Then on to fly a B-19. Scary times. He told me of a few events as a tailgunner. Very scary. It's amazing how much of this plane is still there. 👍🇺🇸

[@WreedTrimmer]

Wasnt the b-19 an experimental plane?

[@ralfie8801]

As a tail gunner, what did he do in the B-19? They only built one and it was used for testing. It never entered service or lost its experimental designation, so it was always known as the XB-19. Maybe he went on to the B-29 instead?

[@scottyb68]

I've been on two airborne B17s even had 15 minutes in the left seat (I'm not a pilot) greatest thrill of my life. Too bad she can't be salvaged.

[@markthomas6436]

Lucky you! I had about 10 minutes in left seat of "Aluminum Overcast" in June, 1994. Not a pilot, but I reasonably impressed the WWII gentleman (Hal Weakley) in the right seat. Best damn day of my life! 😊

[@scottyb68]

@@markthomas6436 that's the one I flew too! In 1996. Then the dearly departed 909 which didn't let you fly. I still have my Aluminum Overcast flight jacket.

[@kennyc388]

Salvaged for what ???

[@rustedwoods1]

I build dioramas off of pictures - been doing it for many years. Your work is excellent!

[@DeryckWalker]

My great Uncle was Brian "Blackjack" Walker - he was Commanding Officer of the Beaufighter Squadrons in PNG, battle of the bismark sea amd battle of the Coral Sea. He crashed a couple of times. Possible he either piloted this or this was named after him.

[@gitfoad8032]

Assuming it's accurate, this is extraordinarily good.

[@browntr4]

Any information on if there is a recovery on it???

[@stevenschiffel4294]

I was lucky ro hitch a ride on the "Aluminum Overcast" about 5yrs ago. Actually had a former P-51 as pilot. Sat in radioman's compartment had goosebumps thinking what this poor so&so was thinking if he'd return from his particular mission. A truly great experience!!

[@KeesBL]

Beautiful work!

[@melvinhunter6334]

Would love to see it coloured in to show how it looked just after crashing, did the crew survive

[@curtinhive]

Fortunately, the crew all did survive the crash landing.

[@maxwellharris507]

Looks recoverable

[@silverpawsiblings]

A lot of work if someone is interested but with it to see the bird in sky again.

[@donb7113]

Raft hatches are open.

[@marcallen7233]

👍 Excellent!

[@alexandremarcelino7360]

Incrível!! Muito Impressionante!

[@curtinhive]

In English I think this says "Incredible!! Very impressive!" - Thank you!

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

It's in pretty good shape.

[@THEKING-tt5rp]

RIP HEROES 🇺🇸

[@joef2171]

To bad it can be recovered

[@legalmexican]

How did we live before KZbin?

[@Bob-tn5xn]

Sad how this was the only way these veterans could escape the smelter !

[@darkshadow31415]

I need an explanation of the coconuts.

[@curtinhive]

The coconuts are an interesting aspect of the wrecksite. The wreck is located a short distance from the mainland, which has lots of coconut palms growing. The aircraft wasn't carrying coconuts, so what is most likely to have happened is that coconuts that have fallen from the palm trees on land have washed into the sea. After some time the coconuts have sunk and washed around the seafloor until they have accumulated against the sides of the B17 wreck. The coconuts are clearly visible in the 3D model of the wrecksite.

[@robertnolan5896]

Thought "coconuts" meant bombs! 😮

[@crankyoldguy2]

@@robertnolan5896 The slang term most US air crews used was 'pickle', or 'stick'.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

great

[@PhantomP63]

I was not expecting the “coconuts” label

[@WardenWolf]

I laughed when that popped up.

[@milehighclassics]

Is this AI

[@curtinhive]

not AI. Photogrammetric 3D Reconstruction. See the media release here: www.curtin.edu.au/news/media-release/wreckage-of-wwii-bomber-off-png-coast-revealed-in-3d-on-anniversary/

[@Артём-н8к2с]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnschneider4160]

Somehow, this doesn't look real....🤔

[@curtinhive]

This is a computer animation of the digital 3D model of the wreck. It's hard to make the animation completely realistic. If you're wanting to see a completely realistic view, see this dive video of that wreck: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4PRp2V-aJufeaM Unfortunately in a dive video, you're limited to seeing the path that the original diver took. In the 3D model, you can explore the wreck from any angle.

[@kennysherrill6542]

👍❤️🇺🇸

[@MiniBandit007]

"Coconuts"

[@curtinhive]

It is an interesting aspect of the wrecksite. ;-)

[@denberpacito1802]

Bro why you ad a coconut

[@curtinhive]

In case someone thought it was a bomb. ;-)

[@davidfuller7792]

Looks very ghostly. The B-17 Flying Fortress is my favorite plane

[@mbrawthen]

Did this B-17 have a Crew of 10? How many of the Crew were lost, does anyone know?

[@curtinhive]

Yes there was a crew of 10. All survived in this instance.

[@6actual911]

Now find the B25 called "The Mad Mizzourian" off the airport of Mindoro P.I. Downed 12/26/1944.

[@theothertroll]

More junk at the bottom of the seas to clean up 🤪

[@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp]

I see the liferafts were deployed as both upper fuselage hatches are open.🛩🌊🚣‍♂️

[@curtinhive]

Agreed - all 10 crew survived.

[@captainaxle438]

The Chinese are going to salvage this thing for it's material

[@curtinhive]

@@captainaxle438 There is indeed growing evidence of a wide range WWI and WWII shipwrecks being illegally salvaged for scrap. Aircraft have substantially less metal in them than shipwrecks do, and this aircraft is close to shore, but never-the-less is vulnerable to illegal salvage. There is growing recognition of the importance of protecting underwater cultural heritage items such as this wreck - and making locals aware of what to look out for, and how to report it will help protect wrecks such as this one for future generations.