B-17 Flying Fortress Everything You Need To Know

[@willamcombs1106]

I see the wheels turning in Jimmy's head. I see the look on His face. He's in Love with the B-17. Next we will see; "SAVE THE B-17". I'll bet He's already looking. 😅

[@carlosh7166]

🤣

[@bernardc2553]

Oh yah Clear prop clear prop, clear prop & clear Prop !!!

[@rich478]

I began by chuckling at this comment because I was thinking the same thing and then I just erupted in laughter with the "save the B-17". I think I was about to post the same comment verbatim... LOL🤣💯

[@americanpatriot3638]

The B17 has ALWAYS been my favorite airplane. The sound of those radials is music.🎶 Jimmy, i would love to see you get the training to fly one.

[@davidpirtle1076]

I'm envious of your flight experience in the Yankee Lady. Myself, my wife and two children crawled all through it at the invitation of the crew Sept 17th of last year. It was the day of my father's funeral after a nine month battle with pancreatic cancer. A little background on him. He was an avid aviator from childhood beginning with control line models. He owned a 1966 Cherokee 140 with a 180 hp 0360 A1A Avcon conversion with a constant speed propeller (goes fast!). He and his best friend flew the friend's Comanche 250 trans Atlantic, then around the world, a circum navigation of South America to Tierra Del Fuego and back. There were two attempts to get to Siberia both thwarted by bad weather in the Bearing Straight. They wrote a book about their adventures called Two Pilots, One Engine. The Comanche and dear friend perished in an unfortunate crash. The Cherokee was sold and had it's demise on an on ramp to I-4 just north of Orlando due to fuel exhaustion. Dumb. The day of my father's funeral, the Yankee Lady had landed at Madison Municipal Airport for the local airshow. My 12 year old son is well studied in all things aviation. We went to the airport in the limo before the funeral arriving just as the Yankee Lady landed. As the crew chocked the wheels my son was asking about which dash number the engines were. About 5 minutes later he was booted up into the airplane. We discussed what we had to do that day, both us and crew. They told us to come back when the funeral was done and we would have private access to the airplane. We ended our day with myself, wife, son, and daughter getting a very extensive tour of this piece of living history. I never got my pilot's license. Dad was willing to let me fly his airplane and although I could, somehow it seemed like borrowing a sports car. I may someday pursue it but my love is in open cockpit wooden aircraft. I watch your channel with anticipation and appreciation for your work on the 310 (my uncle had one) and that hotrod Lancair. Be safe in all that you do.

[@stansdds]

About 30 years ago, I got to fly in the Collings Foundation's B-17G, "Nine-O-Nine". What an incredible experience. In the pre-flight briefing we were told to not step off the bomb bay catwalk nor to step on or lean on the nose or rear entry doors. Doing any of those things had a high likelihood of you making an unplanned and uncontrolled exit from the aircraft. For anyone who gets the chance to go flying on any vintage aircraft, my advice is to just do it!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Too bad Collings treated that bird the way they did and ended up badly.

[@stansdds]

@@c1ph3rpunk Yep, poor record keeping, poor maintenance, poor safety procedures, and a pilot not following the manual procedures and checklists. A recipe for disaster.

[@raysmith9106]

Ive also had a flight nine-0-nine! That was a incredible experience!

[@JeffBolen]

I’m from Ohio and was in attendance when the Air Force Museum was dedicated by President Nixon in 1971. I have been to the Air Force Museum hundreds of times. I moved to Florida in 1995 and every time I go back to Ohio, I visit the museum. I have a friend that was in the Air Force that helped to restore the Memphis Belle. My last time in Ohio was in 2019 just before Covid. BTW, the Wright brothers are in my late wife’s family tree. Love your channel

[@roadking99jokerst60]

Neat story. Thanks.

[@jonholcomb1258]

My Grandpa was a Capt. of a B-17 crew during WWII. His plane was called "Peters Pride" 410 Squadron , 94th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. B-17F-35-VE, #42-5950. Accually think at Oshkosh they had a display with one of his crew members jacket. After he flew this plane another crew got it and it was lost.

[@pucky900]

my grandpa was a test pilot before the test pilots would test pilot. why waste a good test pilot when a little private would work

[@pcj3405]

Grew up a few miles from The museum. I went there every few months as long as i can remember and watched it grow, grow and grow. The pearl of Dayton, Ohio! Free parking and admission. I recommend getting a motel room and spending a couple days there to take it all in if you love the history of aviation and the United States Air Force. The museum is HUGE! Easy to access from I-75 and I-70.

[@group447]

I've had rides on both the Yankee Lady, Aluminum Overcast and the Collings 909 before it crashed. My dad was Top Turret Gunner/flight engineer on a B17 G in WWII out of Rattlesden AAF Base in south eastern UK. He did 30 missions and became a member of the "Lucky Bastards " club for completion of his tour of duty and staying alive at a time when there was 80% attrition in B17 daylight bombing over Germany and France. He is my hero and that is why they call it the greatest generation. They saved the world.

[@jamesburns2232]

The Flight Engineer on a B-17 was often the Top Turret gunner and scanner. I remember my Dad's friend from the Post Office, Bill Miller, telling me that fact. He said one day the Germans put up everything they had to try to knock down the B-17's, even shooting wooden rockets trailing wires, but to no avail. The B-17's came in wave after wave and destroyed Berlin. 🤠

[@High-Overlord-Pugula]

this is the aircraft that got me into aviation, it was a TV show called Amazing Stories that was on in the 80s when I was a little kid, it was about a B-17 that took damage in combat, the landing gear was broken and wouldn't come down and the belly gunner was trapped in the gun station down below, so when it landed the guy would've been crushed, but it was a "fantasy" show and he was saved by drawing landing gear on a picture he drew of the aircraft that magically appeared on landing, either way I fell in love with the B-17 and have been hooked on flight since

[@bretthibbs6083]

That was a great episode of Amazing Stories now that I remember lol I was watching this and one of the pics he had up made me think where the heck have I seen this before and thanks to Jimmy and you now I remember. I used to watch that show like clockwork every week when I could and some of the stories were awesome.

[@zeberdee1972]

I remember seeing that film lol , brings back memories .

[@roadking99jokerst60]

Now that you mention it, yeah, I saw that show. Dad was a ball turret gunner.

[@rayayala245]

I have such a vivid memory of watching that particular episode when I was a little kid.

[@glenwoofit]

When I was doing my pilots licence we had to take avoiding action as I was entering a controll zone the B17 was leaving the zone at the same place. It had just done a fly by of Liverpool (EGGP) tower after a local show. I also had a flying boat behind me. It was like I was in WW2. I could see the pilot when he passed me. I waved at him. It's incredible how hard It is to see it coming towards you. It's like a knife edge.

[@zeberdee1972]

Did you see the yellow submarine at the airport as well 🙂, did you have a slight temptation to break off and pretend to do attack runs on the B-17 lol . Of course it would probably have been the end of your pilots license if you had .

[@glenwoofit]

@@zeberdee1972 Forget the Yellow Submarine, Liverpools Lambanana's are the best. I wouldn't have caught the B-17 flying my PA-38... 😂😂😂

[@zeberdee1972]

@@glenwoofit Yes i guess the PA-38 may have struggled but for a moment there .....lol

[@mrandyd11]

What a great piece of history, may she keep flying for many more years, save the 310 jimmy , from all.of us across the pond in Ireland

[@LJTomlinson1]

The Memphis Bell really nice B17 . I visited her when she was under the canopy at the park at Memphis TN.

[@bruceglendening2674]

Dad just barely 18 and not out of school, enlisted. A few months later he was a tail gunner in a B-17. He scored high enough to be a navigator, but they only need one per plane, and seven gunners, so ... He would say he flew 6 1/2 missions. A German POW for 3months when Pattens tanks came through the fences. IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME!

[@timbolin4036]

Beautiful aircraft!!! My father was the copilot of Lazy Baby assigned to the 364th SQD, 305th BG that was lost on October 14, 1943 and spent the next 18 months as a POW held at Stalag Luft III. My son and I went up in the “Movie Memphis Belle” back in October, 2013 almost 70 years to the date when he bailed out. The flight is a very special memory, glad you got a chance to go up in in that wonderful bird!!!

[@wburke20]

I was a jet mechanic stationed at Wright Patterson from 1964 - 1967. I went to the Air Force museum many times and I did go through the B-17. I still remember that walkway in the bomb bay, it was really narrow. Impressive plane.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I had a good friend, Col. Jim Sanders, lost about 20 years ago, who was a BN (bomber/navigator) on B-17's in WWII. After many missions, he was shot down and spent some time in Stalag Luft III before escaping during a death march and eventually making it to the Allied lines. He stayed in as career Air Force, later flying in Korea, Vietnam and the cold war in B-52's. After retiring, he taught high school for many years. He told me so many stories about his flying days, and was well into writing a book (called "From Jennies to Jets") about his life when he died. I still have parts of his stories that he sent me.

[@hobo1452]

Love the B-17! Been to the USAF Museum many times. On one of my trips to the museum in 2007, I took the special tour of the restoration facility where they were in the process of restoring the "Memphis Belle". Got some great pictures of her in pieces. A personal museum favorite for me is the EC-121D Super Constellation tail number 53-555, also called "Triple Nickle", because as a USAF Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Reciprocating Engine Aircraft from 1969 to 1973, I actually worked on 555 when I was stationed at McClellan AFB in '69' and '70 before going to Vietnam.

[@ralgith]

That looked like an amazingly smooth landing. Nice job by those pilots.

[@roadsweeper1]

They need to be good :) Theres only 8 of these flying in the world, they cant afford to hard land her and buckle / break things.

[@noneed4me2n7]

Always loved the bombers, B17 was looking so badass to me as a kid with all its machine guns bristling all over. Wish I could fly in one just once.

[@geofftimm2291]

Been to Dayton three times, Navy twice. Enjoyed them all.

[@surlycrosscheck1]

That flight experience is a childhood dream of mine. I don’t know what it is about WWII era airplanes but I think I’d be overwhelmed if I was able to go up in it. What an experience. What a beautiful aircraft.

[@Rc.pipesmoker]

Great vid Even though I’m British and prefer the Lancaster bomber the B17 is a lovely aircraft

[@scottbruner9987]

In the late 90's, I was in the Navy in Tennessee. On weekends I used to visit Memphis where the 'Belle used to be. I've been on board her. Awesome 👍. Also been on 2 other B-17's.

[@scottderuyter6627]

I have seen the Memphis Bell in Ohio. Who ever hasn’t been to the USAF museum should buck list it it’s amazing!! Thanks Jimmy!!

[@ditch6389]

Grew up going to WPAFM on a regular basis. I lived in Dayton and my grandfather , a WWII A&P, would once a month or so pick me up and spend the day there. The smell of the museum/aviation was forever embedded in my in my head. He was a wonderful man and is missed every day.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent Jimmy. As a fellow Veteran and WW2 geek, I appreciate the work that these people do to keep these aircraft flying.

[@billfarnham1592]

What a great old gal! And what a lucky dude you are! If you ever get the chance, you now owe it to yourself to get a ride in a B24 Liberator. I've been in both types, and I guarantee you that you will feel the B24 is a CAVE even compared to the B17. Talk about HUGE. A much larger bomb capacity. My dad was in the 8th Air Force in England in a B24 Bomb Group. Before he died I was able to take him to get in both bombers. Very great moments. The machines need to be preserved and kept IN THE AIR. They did SO MUCH for us! Thanks for all your work, Jimmy!

[@charlesvanberg9259]

Jimmy, thanks for the flight in the B17. What a ride. My dad trained in the Michaell bomber ( B25 ?) Just as the war cane to an end. I've also done 80 hours in small planes.

[@nickd5343]

I used to live close enough to the Air Force Museum in Ohio I could see part of it from my bedroom window! I worked on base at WPAFB for years, but on a different part of base than the museum. I went there several times for military related functions.

[@colinthepilot]

I keep going back to the Museum of the U.S Air Force. First visit was over 20 years ago, and now I've taken my own son there. It's a magical place!

[@markroo63]

Jimmy , you the man !!! Sweet perspective brother.wow 😎

[@alscustomerservice187]

I had an opportunity to fly on the former "Nine-O-Nine". I remember it being the single loudest airplane ride I had ever experienced! A fantastic memory.

[@gcrauwels941]

The damage to the All American was actually from a midair collision with a Bf-109. None of her crew was injured and the aircraft was repaired and flew again.

[@surlycrosscheck1]

Yes. That’s what I seem to remember also. I thought it was a FW-190 but I could be wrong. It was definitely a well documented collision.

[@jamesburns2232]

The control cables weren't cut by the Bf-109, so the pilots still had rudder and elevator control, so they kept flying back to home base. The damage looks worse than it was. No big deal. 🤠

[@gcrauwels941]

@@jamesburns2232 Considering that the frame on the right side was about the only thing holding the tail section to the aircraft, it probably seemed like a big deal to her crew.

[@chrisbennett812]

My father-in-law served in WWII on one of these (God Bless his soul). When a B17 flew in to our local airport I was very excited to check it out. My F-I-L, not so much. Turns out, he was a ball turret gunner. No doubt, there were some hard memories he didn’t care to revisit. Cool posting, Jimmy. Thanks for sharing!

[@Slushers1]

My mother was a pilot of many aircraft including the B-24, B-26, B-29,B-17 and many others during WW2. She was also a control tower operator and taught matching gun training in Texas and was a test pilot in Mountain View, Calif at Moffett Field. Out of all the planes she piloted her favorite was the B-17 by far. She would pick them up new in Seattle and she also ferried them back shot up to the states from Europe for repair. Thanks for the video Jimmy😁👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@xMrsmileyfacex]

I was at the Air Force Museum June of this year and saw the Memphis Belle. I was awestruck. It was the most awesome museum I've been to. Every era of aircraft you can think of. I highly recommend this place as part of your vacation. GOD BLESS!

[@randyvan1520]

Very well done overview and history of the B-17 Flying Fortress. My father grew up in (occupied) Holland during that war and he and his brothers used to see large flights of B-17’s on their way to say hello to Germany. Also the success rate American lives saved when the P-51with tip tanks came onto the scene as the dominant escort. All of this and most importantly the bravery and sacrifice are why we speak English today in our country. Great footage of the flight and that catwalk between the bomb section! I’ve been in the B-17 Sentimental Journey out here in Arizona on the ground and was amazed how tight it was inside, i always considered them huge growing up. Really cool landing perspective! Thanks Jimmy.

[@Inamorata.367]

Speechless,I salute the men and women of this greatest generation.This country is far from what it should be but thanks to them we are still the greatest country.This was simply awesome,thanks Jimmy

[@douglaschaffin3782]

Hey Jimmy, I love your channel. Yeah, I went to the Airforce museum last year and saw The Belle. I have a ton of pictures of her. And you’re right, the museum is super great!

[@lonestarhog7407]

In 1983/84 when I was flying Civil Air Patrol T-41s out of Fulton County Airport (Charlie Brown Field) in Atlanta on Search & Rescue (SAR), my two backseat Spotters were WWII B-17 pilots. The greatest honor of my life was listening to their firsthand accounts, and getting to ask questions. These WWII Aviators were the real deal. RIP, my two friends, and you now "Touch The Face Of God". 😇

[@bityard]

The Yankee Air Museum is about a mile from me and I get to see this plane fly over my house practically every weekend in the summer. It's a wonderful beast. I'd love to go take the kids and myself for a ride but the tickets are not cheap!

[@group447]

About $400 - $500 per.

[@TheYcbpercussionman]

I currently live about 5 miles for the Yankee Air museum, my father was a member and help worked on the radio systems of this airplane. I'm proud to see that it being featured.

[@isaacboettcher2970]

Rode in the Yankee lady when she was at the air show in edan prairie mn. That was the most memorable ride ever !

[@flyermarkbig465]

I have been in this plane for a flight as well. I will never forget it. It was humbling to think of the young men that flew in them only separated from enemy bullets bu a thin skin of aluminum. Fabulous flying restoration. Worth the money for a flight.

[@gunfisher4661]

Not many kids get to go back to school and tell their friends that they got to ride in a B-17. Cudos to you for bringing him with you.

[@brucewinczewski4978]

I received a ride in Yankee Lady a few years ago. It was fantastic especially when you could sit in the bombarded seat for 10 minutes. Bruce says Hi from Nashville Tennessee.

[@gregmeadors9624]

I was fortunate to get to see this B-17 in 2015 when it came to Medford, Oregon. Very cool! I also remember seeing surplus B-17’s dropping fire retardant on fires around Southern Oregon and would see them landing in Medford to refuel and reload with fire retardant. One of my favorite WWII aircraft.

[@mundanestuff]

I had the honor of helping out the people at the National Warplane Museum in the late 80s working on their B17, Fuddy Duddy. I swept floors, held the flashlight, bucked rivets, hanging from the end of the huge wrench etc. It was quite an education, and a distinct honor to work with those men and women, many of who were veterans of WW2 and worked on the planes as a job.

[@harpandharley]

Made it to the museum of the USAF in May 2018 and the Memphis Belle was one of the highlights of the day. My dad flew one in the war but never talked about it.

[@billmoran3812]

My favorite WWII aircraft is the B-17. I remember watching lots of old movies showing the B-17 in action. Probably the most memorable flying experience of my career was the opportunity to not only fly in a B-17G, the “909”. Not only did I fly in it, I got to fly right seat and did several low passes at various airports In Connecticut in the ‘90’s. Looking out at those big Wright Cyclone engines on the right wing as we turned short final reminded me of every war movie! It handled like a very docile, if somewhat heavy Piper Cherokee. Definitely two hands on the yoke since there was no hydraulics other than the brakes. It took two pilots to start the engines since at least three hands were needed and the controls are all over the cockpit. Believe it or not, I landed back at HFD. Smooth wheel landing which was only my second tailwheel landing ever! Sadly, the “909” is no more. She crashed about 2 years ago at BDL due to engine failure.

[@sccarguy8242]

In my personal opinion, the most beautiful aircraft ever penned… strong as an Ox and just gorgeous Art Deco lines.

[@garysherwood3136]

I was at the museum when they debuted the Memphis Belle after restoration . We flew on the B17 EAA aircraft Aluminum Overcast. What a blast! My Dad was a b-26 pilot during WWII. He flew 52 missions. Wish there was a 26 still flying and giving rides. Enjoy your videos👍 There was 27 feet of ammo on each Gun. Hence the expression “Give them the whole nine yards”

[@BTCxyz369]

That landing was insane

[@quicksilver1615]

I lived within 40 minutes from Wright-Patt Air Force Museum. It’s so cool to walk through the history of flight. It was probably the single biggest reason that I joined the USAF and served 28 years. If you are ever in Dayton Ohio, it is a must stop for any aviation buff.

[@davidbrowning4021]

I was at Duxford the day before filming started on Memphis Belle and watching them practice was an experience I'll never forget. Three B17s a couple of Mitchells which were used as camera aircraft, a good few Mustangs and some Spanish built Me109s. Hearing the guns being test fired on the B17s was deafening and I was no more than fifty metres away from the aircraft while they were firing them. I also happened to be staying in the same hotel as most of the crew so the talk in the bar that evening was very entertaining.

[@jacobglauser4390]

We live right by that plane's home in Michigan and have the opportunity to see it pretty regularly. After 10 years of living here we still jump up from what we're doing whenever we hear it to go take a look while my 4 daughters run around the house yelling, "BOMBER!" It's pretty awesome to see in person if you ever get the chance.

[@troyw8338]

God bless the USA 🇺🇸, just have to tip my hat to all the engineers who designed and built these craft.

[@therealajnelson]

My Pop was a tailgunner in a B17. That's about all he'd say about it. My son and I got to walk through one at an airshow a couple years ago and it was amazing. Thanks for this.

[@jimsippel6567]

I’m one of your Florida neighbors over in Winter Haven, AF Vet and have been to the AF museum twice in the last 3 years. It’s a great place especially since I got to see the F-102 that I was a mechanic on.

[@michaelbeeks4628]

A few years ago I got the opportunity to crawl all over a B 17 G model in Ontario, CA. They were fundraising to restore it, Not sure where that stands. My Dad & Mom's best man was a B 17 pilot who did get shot down and spent the duration as a POW. My Dad flew P-47s mostly dive bombing and strafing.

[@johnnunn8688]

It’s been and Chino for many years now. Restoration proceeding as of 2019.

[@michaelbeeks4628]

@@johnnunn8688 I would love to hear about the restoration. BTW: My parent's best man lived in Ontario when he retired from the Air Force and was a Parole officer working out of Chino.

[@johnnunn8688]

@@michaelbeeks4628, I was thinking, ‘jeepers, that’s a long commute to work’, then remembered its Ontario, California, not Canada. 😂🤣😉 The subject B17 is at the Planes Of Fame Museum, and they have a website. 👍

[@michaelbeeks4628]

@@johnnunn8688 Yes, Ontario, CA They later moved to Tustin. Ralph Bender was his name and he was originally from Monticello, IA. When he retired from the Air Force he was flying B 47s. I ran across that B 17 when I had an afternoon to kill waiting for a flight out of Ontario, CA. I thought I was incredibly lucky as they let me crawl all over that B 17 totally unsupervised.

[@michaelbeeks4628]

I see, from the pictures they have at least one Razorback P 47. In some pictures, it has a white stripe on the cowl and in others, a Red stripe, or are there two planes? I thought I saw a picture with a disassembled ME 262. As I recall that airplane was at the Ontario air museum in the late 50s or early 60s.

[@dreamlizard3111]

Hey Jimmy, thank you for showing that amazing plane! You look like you were having the time of your life. The ball gunner was "I believe" usually a fairly small individual.

[@roadking99jokerst60]

Yup. Dad was a smaller guy with a big heart and the determination to crawl back in to the ball for all the missions.

[@stevecunningham6821]

I saw one of these at Owens Field in Columbia, SC. I didn't get to ride it, but it was an awesome site! However, I did get a ride on a Ford Tri-motor!!!!!

[@glitch00011]

Yes, Wright Patterson is an absolutely awesome museum. My uncle used to be a civilian contractor out there. Saw a bunch of the testing facilities. He did a bunch of wind tunnel testing on small scale flying body planes ,which were used to develop the space shuttle prototypes!! Couldn't get close to the no name hanger.( Hanger 18) .....guarded 24/7 on all four corners. no one goes in no one comes out.

[@23RD]

Hands down my favorite plane of all time, it’s literally a Flying Fortress 💪

[@samphillips8322]

Very nice video Jimmy. The people operating the B-17 and B-25 are real professionals and the condition of the aircraft shows their dedication to good maintenance. I took a ride in the EAA B-25 "Berlin Express" Saturday morning. I really enjoyed it and would not hesitate to recommend it. After watching your video I hope to get a ride on the B-17 next time. As I told the crew after the B-25 flight: " I would be willing to fly anywhere with you guys in this airplane." All good. At takeoff power, the B-25 has impressive acceleration. Under cruise power is it very smooth and an excellent ride. Conducting those flights out of Appleton makes a lot of sense considering all that is going on at Oshkosh. Even the shuttle bus ride was fun. Our fellow "riders" were all excited about the flight and had some great conversations on the way back. Many thanks for a very informative video.

[@anthonycarroll518]

I live in Columbus, Ohio and I'm only an hour away from the Air Force museum at Wright Patterson. I have been to the museum many times and have seen the restored Memphis Belle as well. If you have never been there Jimmy, you'll want to put that one on your bucket list. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I haven't been to Oshkosh in a number of years but when I was there I got to see the SR-71 and the Concord. What a treat that was! Anyway, have fun at Oshkosh and happy flying.

[@shawnw5237]

Back in the early 70's, a kid I met gave me a tour of a Lancaster bomber that was being restored at the Oshawa Airport in Ontario. He took me from tail to cockpit. Lancasters had 4 Spitfire engines! So cool!

[@mdub1955]

Born @ Wright-Patt, and worked as a controller @ DAY. Been to the museum many times. Great place.

[@hadleymanmusic]

Like the shiney, shiney.

[@md4droid]

Great history lesson on the Flying Fortress. Thank you for taking us along for the ride. Memphis Belle was a great movie! Can't wait to see what's next.

[@lawrencestark8983]

I'm jealous. That bomber looks fantastic. The Oshkosh employees were taking videos off your plane plus another one all chromed out like yours. Sorry I missed it but I've got some health issues needs taking care off. Enjoy yourself there and be safe going home

[@diversherwood9631]

That's the best seat in the whole world... or equal to the bombardier seat in Fifi. I flew Texas Raiders in that seat....one of my greatest memories. Great video Jimmy!

[@allanlugo8095]

Can we get a clear prop? I love those planes also..never had a chance to fly in one. So thanks for the tour

[@lindawilkins6075]

Yes we have visited WP AFB several times. Nice landing shot but try being in the jump seat on the flight deck of a C5A when it lands. There is a really cool old Packard Garage in Dayton worth visiting when you are there as well.

[@paulkoch9871]

I volunteered at the Warplane Museum in Elmira, NY, in the early 2000’s, and worked on their B17 called Fuddy Duddy. She was sold to somewhere in California when the museum went bankrupt. They are surely beautiful aircraft.

[@dougemery2519]

Good times went to all those airshows that was truly a world class show. Kind of wish the Geneseo airshow could be as great as the old days but I understand, times are tough right now.

[@clarencewiles963]

Thanks for your posting. Amazing history and you got your ride.

[@dongiles]

I had a friend years ago who was a navigator on a B17 in WWII. His plane was shot down on its second mission by a German fighter that attacked head on, nose to nose. When they realized they were going down, he and the bombardier stood up, shook hands, popped the clear nose cone and bailed out. My friend Leonard spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.

[@larrybomber83]

I am so jealous. I was going to walk thru the B-17 which was at Galveston Texas at the time, but when we got there the pilot had left with the keys. I had to fly back to Germany the next day, and my Dad got to fly on the plane! To say I was pissed would be an understatement. Thanks Jimmy!

[@ianallen1948]

I did the same B17 ride with my Dad in 2013 at Oshkosh….worth every cent

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

I really enjoyed the way this is filmed. Now I have a true feeling of what it would be like to be inside a ‘flying fort’. Thank you so much. The whole team that filmed and edited this film. Thank you.

[@gregoryrodzewicz1031]

I have been fortunate enough to visit Wright Patterson on more than one occasion. I also was able to tour the working hangar at the Yankee Air Museum and see this particular bird up close. Wish I could have gotten a flight.

[@pmcwbn823]

I drew these bombers with chalk all over the sidewalks when I was a boy in the 1960's. A plane that really looked like a flying fortress - made a big impression on me. Thanks for sharing!

[@markmitchell457]

First time I saw a B-17 up close,I was amazed how small they are.

[@Havanorange]

What was more surprising to me when got into one is how small they seem inside!

[@sramz100]

I was born in Dayton because it was the center of the Aviation world and my Dad was determined to be a professional pilot. Some of my earliest memories were of Wright Pat. Most of the airplanes sat outside along with some rockets out front. One of my favorite things inside was a display with a little model rocket that would ascend a wire with a red light for an engine and a big roar when you pushed a big red button. (early 60's)

[@gilbert7794]

Love the B17, had a good look around the Sally B at Duxford imperial war museum, She stared in the film Memphis Bell

[@peterh4761]

When you sit and think about it...these really were a hell of an achievement for the time weren't they!

[@angelicchandler8275]

MY dad was a tailgunner on a B-17 from Oct. 43 - Feb. 44. I have flown on the Yankee Lady myself, She's based in Willow Run, Michigan

[@ibbylancaster8981]

First! Sup Jimmy! Lucky fella. Safe travels and Save the 310🤙

[@wesadams1223]

This brings back memories for me. I had the opportunity to get a ride in the B-17 "909" while it was in Tyler, Texas. It was a very impressive airplane. Sadly, not long after that 909 was destroyed in a crash. The group that gave you the ride sure was better prepared for passengers than the ones who were operating 909. Your guys had a ladder to help you get up into the airplane. We had to just pull ourselves in.... LOL

[@garygraham6020]

Been to the Museum several years ago when I went to the Air Show. Love the Museum! Thank you for this video!

[@pucky900]

saw the Memphis Belle at our epic airshows at MCAS El Toro... It's a beautiful plane

[@superskullmaster]

Never been this early. Love the B-17.

[@av8tore71]

2004 thru 2010 I flew SIC on the EAA's Aluminum Overcast with Mr. Morris and Mr. Hartwig, best time in my aviation flying career

[@bernardc2553]

Jimmy as a kid the 17 was my favorite And to this day I STILL watch re-runs of 12'O'Clock had 1 base here as Bentonite bomber my buddy got RT seat log time in Sentimental journey I got to help "Pull them thru"

[@rickhaines814]

I go to Wright Patterson Airforce Museum 1 to 2 times a year. It's free to go to and about 60 miles from my home. Awesome place to see all types of aircraft.

[@justinf1634]

I just got to ride in Yankee lady In Tennessee a few weeks ago because of this video, I got to surprise my father with this and I will say this was amazing and I only got to do this because of this video. If you ever get the chance to do this don’t pass it up.

[@billbutler8141]

The B-17 was an amazing aircraft for the time. I had the chance to visit the CAF B-17 back in the 80s at Burbank airport one evening. A friend called me at work and said it was in a hangar for repairs as the brakes had failed on landing and the left wing had been damaged by the fence at the end of the runway! I was amazed at how compact everything was inside of the aircraft! The really interesting thing was the wing that had sections of the damaged skin removed. The exposed ribs were not what I expected, punched/formed traditional ribs, but instead were more like a lattice of stringers riveted and formed to make the ribs! The other surprise was the gigantic size of the exposed bullet proof fuel tank! It is amazing that our country was able to turn out the quantities of war machines during WW2 on such short notice! In light of the tens of thousands of aircraft built that so few of them remain.

[@RWBHere]

Pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing the experience, Jimmy. 🙂👍 The best I've managed was most of a day in an RAF Lancaster.... On the ground.

[@robertrichards4236]

Live in Louisville and went to the USAF Museum in Dayton in 2017. Spent 2 full days there and I regret I didn't spend a 3rd. Now that the Memphis Belle is there I have a reason to go back.

[@richclarkjr]

Got to fly the 909 a few months before she went down. It was an amazing experience. Always one of my favorites. Just need ti go up in a p51 next.

[@russellbynum2414]

Saw the Memphis Belle 2 years ago...she's spectacular.