How to Fly the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" - Flight Operations (Restored 1943)

[@hollysmirl8792]

My dad was a pilot of a B-17 (51 missions) out of Rattlesden, England, Foggia, Italy and Poltava, Russia. I have his log and am writing a book about those missions. This video helped me experience what it was like for he and his co-pilot to fly a fort. He survived the war and his whole crew made it home.

[@williampotteiger4440]

Holly my father in law was a tail gunner. T 56 missing from Chelveston England. County boy who made good.

[@lyianx]

Thats a feat in of itself.

[@10_points]

My grampa has 52 missions. He was a great man. He was lead pilot. Miss you grampa. You help saved the world

[@saurabhsingh7465]

Please share his log book excerpts ..😂

[@philipm06]

My mum in London during 1944 went out with a B-17 navigator (Bernie from Cleveland). I asked her why she chose the navigator over the pilot, she said "Well, he knew his way around".

[@drfiberglass]

Those kids had to really learn a lot in a very short time. I can not imagine how frighting it must of been going out on those bombing runs. God bless all the war vets..

[@walkaway6353]

The learning curve of war is sharp. And mistakes are "final". And the ones that made it because of "affirmative action" "DIE" first. It is my prayer you were NOT part of the crew of a pilot of "affirmative action". Think of what I just said. If you believe in "affirmative action" I hope thats who you have as a pilot. And when the "snakes are in the cockpit" as we say. And Shit gos to hell, "FLAP your arms real fast" it might help. Fuck it works for the birds.

[@BreakpointFun]

They didn't watch this and jump in the fight, this is like a conclusion of the training. They dedicated their life to learning it

[@normanfeinberg9968]

I was a flight engineer on C-97G and 141-A during the Vietnam war.The world war two guys trained us.They were good.Real good.and had the experience to survive and taught us the same.I wouldn't trade those days to attend the best colledge in the country.They loved their job,but loved their country more.I owe them, but most are gone now.Looking at todays youth,I don't think we'll ever see young men and women like that again,so honest and true

[@danvalenti]

norman feinberg I don’t know the boys that fought in Fallujah did a damn good job wasting the enemy. Id like to think every generation would step up when the time comes. The femboys can stay home in there safe space

[@tom7601]

Thank you for your service. I was in an armor company. We never deployed...

[@ronfullerton3162]

Grew up working with and under the WW2 vets. And you are so right, what a bunch of real men. Firm in their beliefs, yet so much heart and concern for their fellow man. And the conditions they grew up in would have so many of today's people crying for mercy. They truly knew the value of life, and how soon it could be gone. And the women of that generation were more manly than lots of today's guys, and yet more a lady than most of our gals. I truly feel blessed to of had much time with these wonderful people.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

The pilot/instructor is played by veteran character actor Arthur Kennedy who appeared in "Lawrence of Arabia" among many other Hollywood films.

[@jackwhite9395]

The "commanding officer" at the beginning is also an actor. I don't know his name but I've seen him many times in movies.

[@louvarricchio780]

From Wikipedia: "During World War II, Arthur Kennedy served from 1943 to 1945 in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) making aviation training films, both as a narrator and an actor. Many of those films serve as historical records of how aviators were trained and flight equipment was operated..."

[@JB-yb4wn]

Yes, he was the newspaper reporter/photographer in Lawrence of Arabia.

[@kasteman1]

I think personifying an airplane is one of the most timeless and effective ways that a pilot can learn to respect the aircraft they're being trained for.

[@DirtDawg...]

My late father was a pilot instructor on B-17 (also B-29 towards end of WW2), having soloed in light aircraft before the war. As such, he was slightly older at 25 by the time he enlisted and went through cadet training. I remember him recounting; "a ship a day in Tampa Bay" while stationed at MacDill Field in Tampa FL, where many pilot trainees ditched their aircraft rather than returning safely to the airfield. I found this fascinating video while researching what I might do as an aging baby boomer with dad's originally issued B-17 pilot commander manuals and related documents. Too much important history history for me to risk screwing up.

[@maguilla]

Deeply appreciate all the veterans

[@gdholmfirth]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@scottnyc6572]

Sure a lot to remember.Thanks for posting.

[@tscooter22]

Holy smokes! That is a LOT more complicated than I ever that it would be. Amazing stuff. Too bad they didn't have the luxury of being able to watch the training videos at home on their VHS or DVR. I know I'd need to watch this several times to get it to sink in. Thanks to all of our veterans! :thumbs up:

[@TheBlackbelair]

Definitely takes two to fly that bird.

[@captainoblivious_yt]

@@TheBlackbelair 3. The navigator is extremely important.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@TheBlackbelair Unless you were unfortunate to be a co-pilot on "12 O'Clock High". Those guys had the life expectancy of a Star Trek red shirt. Then maybe your flight engineer or bombardier could pull the dead co-pilot out of the seat, get in and help you get your shot-up 17 back to Archbury without blowing up on landing. Hell of a show. Oh, and they did it all while chain smoking.

[@jacko6384]

Love these films! Keep it up!

[@WildBillKelso32]

I absolutely love these. Thanks for putting them up. Otherwise I’d have to find all my old documentaries the ex insisted I get rid of because I have too many. Shoulda kept them and got rid of her.

[@tommccall3972]

My father and grandfather worked for Boeing for many years. In fact, my grandfather help build many B-17 including the 5,000th production model in Seattle which was signed by him and every other person involved with that plane. I have a picture of it too. I was also fortunate to fly for an hour in the B-17 Nine O Nine. Sadly I only have one photo left of all the photos taken but I'll never forget those sights especially looking down through the nose via the bombardiers seat and flying over a bridge connecting two sides of the Susquehanna River. By the way, did you notice who the trainer is this film? Yes, it's the actor Kevin McCarthy

[@billconklin9222]

No it’s Arthur Kennedy.

[@jollyroger1009]

Respect to the guys who flew these: sitting there doing all this with 20mm bullets coming through the windscreen and flak threatening to blow the plane up at any minute. Then trying to get out if it went down. Some nerve.

[@davidhoffman6980]

The pilots were often the last to bail out cause they would keep the plane from tumbling while the crew ditched. Sometimes the plane would explode, or would break up before the pilots could jump out.

[@minnowpd]

@@davidhoffman6980 Of all the military roles, being up in a freezing plane , first your shot, then you burn alive,then you crash. Nothing compares for horror.

[@rickey5353]

You can always learn a little something with every viewing.

[@gb5uq]

Thanks so much for uploading. Wonderful.

[@Tipi_Dan]

I was fortunate to be able to spend an hour in the air in the heritage B-17 "Sentimental Journey". I had to ask myself, if I could fly in any WWII aircraft what would it be? I would be the B-17. I sat in the radioman's seat on takeoff, then we were all allowed to get up and walk around inside the aircraft. The bombardier's seat was dizzying. We were only a few thousand feet up. It was an unforgettable experience.

[@NukeFinity]

Hm I think I take the Schwalbe.

[@Joker11297]

I've loved this aircraft for as long as I can remember

[@Vipre-]

Wish I'd found these years ago, I think my dad would've liked them.

[@joshuasturnfield7549]

❤😂❤😂❤ Thank you for this! It is helping me break my Term Paper Writter's block!

[@vhfgamer]

safest crate you ever flew huh... yeah no joke. Those things have brought people back from things they should have never survived.

[@deathshot555]

Further adding to the name Flying Fortress

[@deanjackson8983]

I am a pilot and seen the B-17 in person. My dad was a B-17G gunner. He went to Kingman, AZ for gunnery school. He said little, I saw his pictures. He had friends die in WW2. He did not want us kids watching killing or war on TV, so we did it when he was not looking. He did not want Guns in the house. In his 90's, I got him to tell me a little about his B-17G days. I thank the vets for allowing me to say, IN GOD WE TRUST, ONE NATION UNDER GOD and GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[@deanjackson8983]

AS my dad was in B-17 training, he used his military pay to get flying lessons. Time he graduated in the B-17, he had his privates pilot"s license. The captain let my dad fly the B-17, but not as official flying, just for fun. My dad retired as a Captain for United Airlines flying the DC-8. His last flight I was sitting behind him in the observers seat.

[@resolvedwhite1743]

Dean Jackson Thanks to your dad.

[@danmoreno37]

Dean Jackson Thank you for your father's service. The Greatest Generation!

[@ericmccarty2369]

Wow. That's an interesting video. I feel like I learned something about the B-17 from this video. My Dad worked for Boeing.

[@Catdore]

Thanks for posting. I've sat in the B-17 and B-24, and can imagine these instructions becoming automatic actions. I didn't hear anything about a checklist.

[@williamowen9528]

That was fun!

[@19XWyomingGrizFan]

Also helps to have a copy of the Pilot's Manual handy.

[@davidhoffman6980]

Good video, but the jump cuts interrupting every few lines of dialog really detracted from it.

[@davidhoffman6980]

I had no idea how complicated just taking off and landing were, and how many variables the pilots have to keep track of.

[@davidhoffman6980]

26 minutes of the instructor saying things like "don't close the cowling flaps yet or the superchargers will heat unevenly and fatigue the metal." "Watch your oil pressure and temperature at this altitude." "Lock the tail wheel before take off." "Have the crew visually confirm all the landing gears are up." "Don't let the engine get below 1,200 rpm." "Only one third flaps down till the landing is in the bag, then full flaps and reduce the superchargers, bring the manifold pressure to 26, and and keep the fuel boost pumps locked in ready in case we have to abort the landing...make sure autopilot is off, watch your angle of attack..." Then the narrator says "Well that's part of it...not all of it by a long shot, but part of it at least. You'll pick it up in a year or two."

[@jeffestrada6857]

Great video showing instructions the old way 👍

[@danfab4]

doesn't anybody recognize movie star, Arthur Kennedy? as the main pilot

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Sometimes I wonder why I bother to write them, but that info is in the description for the video :)

[@danfab4]

sorry i did not click on the description!!! now I see it!! sie la vie!!

[@ZenosWarbirds]

No problem -- you're not the first and won't be the last :)

[@JoeInCT418]

He's one of those "character actors" who always appears, but you can't remember his name!

[@Walter_E_Kurtz]

Ronald Reagan is in a few other training films as well.

[@normanfeinberg9968]

P.S I salute all the men and women who wear the silver wings on their chest

[@briancooper2112]

Great video!

[@valentinius62]

OK. I'm ready!

[@DarkLight753]

The B-17 and the Spitfire....two greatest warplanes ever made.

[@jm879]

no its the b29 and the f4wildcat

[@DarkLight753]

Spitfire = Stopped the Luftwaffe at the Battle of Britain and forced Hitler to postpone Operation Sealion (along with Hurricanes). A key moment in the halt of the German advance. B-17 = Was built like a fortress, could take a pounding and still RTB. Was instrumental in both European and Pacific theatres of war. Easily adaptable for different roles, not just bombing missions. .......nuff said.

[@leeenfieldsmle]

Lancaster/P51d

[@printman90606]

Not so with the B-17's in the Pacific. By 1943 all but a few B-17's had been replaced with the B-24 Liberator. The B-24 had a longer range, higher speed and a larger bombload at medium altitude than the B-17. The B-24 proved to be a much more capable aircraft for use in the Pacific Most of the Pacific B-17's were sent to the ETO to replace combat losses and after the Battle of the Bismarck Sea (Mar 2-4, 1943) no more B-17's were sent to the Pacific. The 5th, 7th, 10th and 13th Air Forces had replaced all of their B-17's with the B-24 by mid 1943, except the few B-17's kept in Australia for shuttle missions and MacArthur's personal aircraft.

[@maddogryan5799]

dont forget the lancaster mustang corsair wildcat p38 mitchell ect ect ect

[@TheBalls55]

Such a high-tech complex machine with a crew of 10 that would very often get blown out of the sky.

[@flipflopsguy8868]

RIP NINE-O-NINE. "IN AN EMERGENCY A BELLY LANDING IS BETTER THAN WHEELS". ✝️

[@ralphstadler429]

My dad RALPH K STADLER flew one of these in WWII. Thank you

[@Paulbradley-ub1vs]

proud of your dad? you bet .and some

[@tiffsaver]

I just noticed that the guy playing the pilot was Arthur Kennedy! He played the bloodthirsty killer in, "Nevada Smith," starring Steve McQueen. Watch it:)

[@billconklin9222]

Was Arthur Kennedy an actual pilot? Very impressive if he learned this from a script.

[@elmerlarimer9026]

love you dad

[@alvaalgood9393]

My uncle John first met the B-17 at Hickman Field HT. He received his discharge November 1941. Made mention when back home near Lowell, OR that he best go back before they came looking for him. He spent WW2 flying missions over Europe 8th Air Force. Sure wish that I could find records on his time serving.

[@ericmccarty2369]

Contact the VA. That would be a good place to start.

[@powerbongo922]

I always wanted to have a b17 flying fortress

[@LDD911]

We owe so much to "The Greatest Generation". I can't imagine doing all that under enemy fire, trying to fight off a swarm of Messerschmitt's and avoid flack, finding the intended target, dropping the bombs on target, and fighting your way back to England. Plus, these guys were, what, about 23 - 24 years old? Remarkable.

[@whateves5369]

Pretty in interesting, the building they showed at the very beginning was the u building from k-25 in oak ridge tn

[@tooey]

Now I can fly mine. Thank!

[@manontherails4937]

My old neighbor's dad flew this plane, then ferried Planes in '42 from L.A., CA (Downey) to Enid, Oklahoma, and few the 'Hump'. He showed me his wings and flight books. He was certified on so many planes and was extremely lucky to fly the P-38 ('Lightning' AKA the 'Twin Forked Devil') out Palm Springs, CA.

[@lonzo61]

My uncle flew combat in the P-38 in the MTO. Got his 50 mission crusher. He loved talking about his wartime experiences, although he did on occasion stretch the truth for....cough....added zing. He was very proud of his service, and loved flying the Lightning. His wife had been a WAC during the war, as well. She, too, was very proud of her service.

[@manontherails4937]

​@@lonzo61 Right! I was too young to filter out the colorful 'stories' - lol. But I did get see old photos, documents, operation orders, flight-books, wings, uniform, some personal equipment, etc. . Yes, he would tell us that one time he got in hot water when he buzzed the Palm Springs Strip in a P-38 and blew out some store windows. His was was 'Ernie' Gales, or something like that. He served in WWII and the Korean War. He signed-up ion '41 . But overall, good for you to hear the great stories from your uncle and his wife; true or partly true.

[@udoworner4399]

My Grandpa was a FW - 190 D9 Pilot. He was very sad if he shot down a B-17,B-24 etc. He hate the War. He must think every time to the unlucky Crews and her familys in the States. But he must proteckt his Country of droped Bombs. He said, so many young peobles must die for nothing. He tell me that he was lucky if he saw the Redtails. They was very hard figther. ( Today I know,it was Tuskeegee Airmens). My Grandpa love it to mess with this Pilots. He don't want to shoot up,but he did it. It was an accident,a other Redtail Pilot flews in his shootline.

[@Catdore]

I designed an insignia for this guy's ME -108, he said it was the trainer for the ME-109. Later he was flying around, coming in for a landing. He thought the people on the ground were cheering for him. He could not hear them shout, "put the gear down !"

[@moserr11]

Nice airplane. The "butcher bird". The FW 190 was (aside the FW262) was the best fighter of the war.

[@11SEXMACHINE]

Ummm, there was another fighter in the war, maybe you've heard of it? THE P51 MUSTANG, the best fighter in the war.

[@ronfullerton3162]

Thank you for such a good look at the other side! Most of the guys getting shot at, no matter what uniform they wore, were good men who would of rather been home with family and working a normal job. My hat is off to all of them.

[@felixbeutin9530]

@@moserr11 Me262*

[@danvalenti]

The actor James Stewart was an accomplished B17 pilot and rose to squadron CO during the war

[@Walkercolt1]

I have a whopping 23 minutes in the right-hand seat of a B-17G "Sentimental Journey" to be exact. A "Queen" is actually EASIER to fly than a Cessna 152 that I have 165 dual instruction hours in. She'll fly herself (without the auto-pilot on) if you'll let her. It takes LESS effort on the controls to fly a Queen than any twin-engine aircraft I've EVER flown (including a Twin Beech or Aero Commander) and pilots and crew didn't call her the "Queen" for no good reason. She got you there AND BROUGHT YOU BACK, which the "Pregnant Cow" (B-24) couldn't say. My former employer had 16 missions in a B-17G from North Africa (Sfax) and 4 Missions in B-24 and was a POW.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Lot to think about - a lot to go wrong

[@glpilpi6209]

I gulped when they said these things could run on 91 octane petrol. That stuff would make a modern car splutter.

[@davidhoffman6980]

The narrator reassures us the B-17 is less complicated than a battleship...forgets to mention the battleship has more then 3 men at the controls.

[@dickyfisher9249]

I miss you Papa.

[@felixbeutin9530]

Was he a b17 pilot?

[@DrFreeeman]

The instructor here is the same guy from the P-51 video, am I right?

[@jm879]

right and Same frome the b29enginer also the coursair

[@happysawfish]

"Safest crate you'll ever fly"

[@awfullygenericname6783]

happysawfish 25-33% death rate

[@elmerlarimer9026]

love it

[@lotanerve]

Is there an outtakes reel?

[@willibill1]

I think the B17 instructor is Harry Morgan, the voice unmastkable

[@ChickertyChina]

Wow just like flying my X-Air Standard except my takeoff speed is the same as the speed used on the B17 for the walk around.

[@eligiomallari7605]

If only I was born in that generation I will be a b17 pilot

[@WauliPaulnuts]

Nothing like a C172. Wow...

[@willibill1]

Thanks man, i didn"t know that.

[@hpygolkyone]

There is no most of this was done while sitting at the head of the runway waiting for takeoff in a combat situation. It would have taken weeks to get even 20 planes in the air. I think that "back in the day" the boys cut a few strings to speed up the process.

[@Therunningfix]

Great Uncle Last mission was the to the ballbearing plant.. 6/29/44 in B-17 Pride of Vhelhalis. They lost an engine on the run to drop...and navigator had released to early So they turned around making the second attempt. Got bombs on target only problem now they had to some how get over holland ....they bailed all survived most made the return using underground My uncles Escape was botched and was sent stalag loft I he came home alive

[@triciaanddennisb9548]

Lot a stuff to learn and get proficient at

[@_Diggler]

I love how all the actual numbers needed to fly the plane are conveniently dropped out.

[@felixbeutin9530]

What do you mean?

[@danvalenti]

The amount of info a pilot was responsible for is dizzying. And then over the target you had more pressing things to worry about

[@johndonaldson3619]

No -the bombardier did all that ..all the pilot had to do was keep on track

[@parapsychologist5402]

Remember, some of these pilots were teenager's.

[@YourUncleScroatie]

Turbocharged! E model...googled it.

[@acdii]

Those are F models. The clear nose glass is the tell on it. The E models have structured nose glass with individual panes. I have a friend restoring a true E model. Its the Desert Rat Restoration Project on Facebook.

[@alphasiera1757]

i wonder when did checklists originally used before? is it during ww2?

[@ZenosWarbirds]

World War 1 Watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHPSpqF6lNGLZ6c

[@venator5]

OMG How difficult...

[@felixbeutin9530]

More like awesome 😅😅

[@theassening4563]

haha, these old birds are so simple: watches this video:

[@jollyroger1009]

I guess this all became second nature after a while. And also they would have already learned to fly at this stage, so just a matter of upgrading their skills for the B-17. They wouldn't have been having to learn all this starting from zero knowledge. That would have been an assignment and a half!

[@CrownOfGoldCompleatSacrifice_2]

Ready player one

[@elmerlarimer9026]

chasles a larimer 1911-2002 896 MP CO

[@rockerpat1085]

How to fly a B-17. Step 1, Be a real man!!!

[@rhugh02]

Ok I think i'm ready to fly it...

[@billbright1755]

A bit of handful on “milk run” plenty of stuff to keep the flight crew on their toes. Combat damage starts to add all kinds of challenges. Could be leaking fuel, one or more damaged non functioning engines, flight surface damage or control linking systems. Air speed dropping off boys. We can’t keep up with the bomber stream,, I’ll try to maintain enough altitude to give you a few seconds to bail but if she keeps flying we’ll try to get past enemy lines. Nobody shooting at us right now, she’s got a bad vibration above 140, but we’ve still got gas in this airplane. I’ll signal when we can jettison everything that’s not tied down. With luck boys tonight we eat steak then our own beds.

[@rickn8or]

Narrated by Lloyd Bridges?

[@billconklin9222]

Doesn’t sound like LB. Probably not an actor.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

cool how just about 25 years prior they were flying in wood and cloth biplanes

[@dkoz8321]

gas turbine engines are so much easier to manage then ICE engines with their. superchargers(compressors), turbochargers. Just wrapping your head around ICE manifold pressure ss function of altitude and ambient temperature is complex. With turbine its just throttle.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Great point!

[@dkoz8321]

@@ZenosWarbirds carburator pressure, carburator icing, cylinder flooding, carburator flooding, fuel injector fouling, priming. OK KRAP, I am being shot at!

[@juarezcardoso9972]

One of the last to be retired is in Brazil: www.google.com.br/maps/@-8.1385061,-34.9220893,20z/data=!3m1!1e3

[@volvoguy76]

Odd plane! Looks like a "G" model with staggered waist windows, with a mostly "F/G" hybrid of a nose. Cheek gun windows from the "G", but the brackets for sticking guns through the nose.

[@ronfullerton3162]

They pieced good ships together from the operational parts remaining from returned damaged planes. So there were many unique planes in service. One story I enjoyed was one B-17 came home with the tail almost entirely gone. Another that had gotten home had terrible front end damage. So half was an older model with olive drab paint, and the other half a G model with natural aluminum. I believe the nose art was "little miss mischief". Made quite a different looking bird.

[@kraziivan_]

Before Bill Burr was a comedian.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Like what you see? Your DVD purchases at our store make this channel possible. www.zenosflightshop.com Don't miss our B-17 DVD with four more videos, B-17 pilot's manual & free Memphis Belle DVD: bit.ly/HSWth4 We need your support! Zeno