Inside The Cockpit - B-17 Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey"

The B-17 Flying Fortress is a symbol of American airpower during World War 2. Jump inside with me to discover the amazing features of this aircraft and experience what it must have been like for bomber crews during this pivotal time in history.
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- Timecodes -
00:00 - B-17G
00:52 - Nose
02:21 - Wings and Engines
07:45 - Fuselage
08:11 - Tail
10:10 - Turrets and Flexible Mounts
13:00 - Bombload
15:05 - Jumping Inside
16:38 - Nose (Bombardier & Navigator)
18:19 - Cockpit
24:14 - Upper Turret
25:20 - Bombbay
27:05 - Fuselage (Radio Operator)
28:10 - Sperry Ball Turret
29:16 - Waist Gunners
30:45 - Tail Gunner (inop)
31:26 - Sentimental Journey
- Audio -
Music and Sfx from Epidemic Sound

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

When I started this series, I didn't know where it would go but this is the *51st episode in the Inside The Cockpit Series* ! WOW ! Thank you so much to all of you for supporting *Inside The Cockpit* . See the playlist here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4TUqI2fnJJsqZY

[@Rapinasimplicis]

It’s been a long trip since teaching Bo how to fly and learning all the different varieties of Dr Pepper on Il-2. Here’s to many more years of some of the best aircraft content anywhere.

[@nekophht]

Too bad 51st episode was not a P-51. ;)

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

hah, it nearly was!

[@mbryson2899]

It is an amazing series. Seeing these aircraft inside and out for real brings home what it must have been like to use them. ps- In gun camera films I've noticed that B-17 belly turrets often have their barrels seemingly hanging straight down. Do you have any idea why this would be?

[@nickbayer7847]

Strong work Chris👍 Appreciate all your content🤠🤠 F-100 Super Sabre for the Century episode ?🤔?🤔?

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

I talked with a top turret veteran at Oshkosh, 1997 or so, who said on one mission over Berlin, they lost two engines and hydraulic power, and he had to drop down to manually crank the bomb bay doors closed. My memory is he said 147 turns.

[@GrandOldBaron]

My grandpa was a top turret gunner, and he had to crank the door open after some sort of failure. I dont think he gave a number, but he said he felt like he was cranking forever lol.

[@rinkashikachi]

Thats a common scam. As you were having a conversation he was hacking into your Club Penguin account

[@RexsHangar]

What an absolute beauty of a plane

[@331SVTCobra]

I visited that aircraft in 1986 and had the pleasure to be next-in-line to a guy who had been a radio operator. He said that if any bombs didn't release, it was his job to put on a safety harness, walk out onto the catwalk with the bomb bay doors open, and kick the bomb free. He slipped once. Hanging by a harness 20,000 feet over Germany with 88mm ack ack exploding as he kicked the 500 lb bomb, he was thankful because the harness meant that someone was concerned for his safety. 😀

[@jaykita2069]

Radio Operator wy Dad's job; fortunately he joined the war effort after Germany was declining and he never had to kick start a bomb drop (making me possible).

[@GregSkinnerTVsEgon]

I live in the Phoenix area, and my parent's live on the approach to Mesa's Falcon Field, where SJ and other CAF aircraft are based. I have to say that it's SO FREAKING COOL to be in the yard or doing something and then you see a B-17 rumble overhead. I've gotten photos and videos of it and the other WWII aircraft flying, and it's always amazing to witness!

[@gyrene_asea4133]

Same. We live on the 'downwind' for Mesa/Gateway (onetime Williams Field) and the WWII aircraft are so cool flying over. Distinct sounds, so awesome!

[@newearth5d]

In Seattle i lived near Boeing Field and heard this godawful noise, an aircraft sound I had never heard before, ran outside to see a B-17 Flying overhead. I was awestruck! That sound is quite unique, isnt it?

[@richardmardis2492]

Hay my Mesa homies 👍

[@haulperrel2547]

@@richardmardis2492 Hell yeah brother always love seeing this plane while I'm driving to walmart

[@kinikinrd]

In 1986 +/-2 years, I was at an air show in Grand Junction, CO and Sentimental Journey was there. My uncle was a navigator in a B17 in WW2 so I've always liked them. I asked one of the crew what it would take to get a ride in it and he said, "for $175 we'll take you to Phoenix one way, you figure out how to get back". Needless to say I was there at 5am the next day. Things were a bit less formal back then. My seat was a typing chair strapped to the floor next to a donated drum of mineral oil. We took off and came back around to buzz the field and I swear we were looking up at the Blue Angels on the tarmac. The most memorable flight in my life. It was also my first airplane ride, ever! We could go anywhere in the plane except the ball turret. They flew below 10,000 feet the whole way and it was magical. The top turret was cool and the tail-gunner position had a great view, but the E-Ticket ride was the bombardier seat, especially going over Arizona. I got to stand behind the pilot and copilot while landing. What a thrill! Beautiful deafening noise. Thinking about flying in that plane when you were being shot at was sobering. The greatest generation was a different breed of men.

[@cannonfodder4376]

When I first got to tour a B-17 I was so surprised at how big and small they were. And yet the character, sense of presence and history.... A real privilege to have stepped inside them. A fantastic Inside the Cockpit Chris and my many thanks and admiration to the men and women who built and maintained this piece of history.

[@cedhome7945]

You have been living in England long enough to cuss like a native "that was a noisy bugger" a truly golden moment 👍

[@arewethereyet2653]

My dad's picture is still at the Radio operators table when we went there about 6 years ago. He flew in a B17 in WWII and was a radio operator, Thanks for sharing.

[@MrDoctorCrow]

I took a flight on Sentimental Journey a couple years back, magnificent aircraft!

[@cdfe3388]

Sentimental Journey also spent two decades postwar as Airtanker 14 at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base under contract with the California Division of Forestry (now the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), fighting fires up and down California throughout the 60s and 70s. B-17s were excellent airtankers, and would still be doing it today had the Air Force not melted down the entire supply of spare parts. CAF Arizona acquired her after she was retired from firefighting and restored her to wartime configuration.

[@user-rl2tx3qf6e]

In the Fall of 1988 I was a shiny new Border Patrol Agent stationed in Marfa, TX. At the time I was renting a small trailer at the north end of town. A mile or two north of me was the airport, with not much in between. As I got home from work one late afternoon I heard the distinctive sound of a large, multi-engine piston aircraft flying around. I scanned the sky for several minutes. Eventually, a B-17 dropped down through the overcast, and landed at the airport. "Wow! That was cool!" I thought. Then I went inside to shower and change. A little while later, I ran into the crew at the local IGA. I ended up giving them a lift to a Mexican restaurant and back to their motel. One of the crew then gave me a guided tour of Sentimental Journey from one end to the other, except for the ball turret. Even at 5'8" I'm too tall to fit in there! Great memories! Marfa is at about 5000 ft. above sea level. Some of the mountains around it are in the 8000-9000 ft. range. The superchargers weren't working and they didn't have oxygen, so the crew decided to overnight in Marfa.

[@Ostwind1944_]

No kidding about the smallness of the B-17 ball turret. My grandfather served in the ball turret as he was a small man, and even got shot down over Germany. Bravest men in the world.

[@nemilyk]

While the nose turret started with the YB-40 project, it first entered serial production on the B-17F-75-DL... though most USAAF units just called those later Fs B-17Gs anyway. Still, always going to be a fan of the 17. My childhood neighbour was a waist gunner in '17s with the 2nd BG in North Africa and Italy. I had a book with some pictures of 17s from the 2nd, and he could identify whose planes they were. Even had some of his own he showed me. Sadly he passed away in '00 when I was 15. Heh, almost 40 and still miss him.

[@jm9371]

I climbed through both 'Sentimental Journey' and 'Aluminum Overcast' when they visited my city of Victoria, BC a few years ago. Both aircraft were slightly different versions and were a very memorable experience.

[@Rhinozherous]

Your Inside the Cockpit videos are awesome! Thank you for your work and dedication!

[@TK-fk4po]

Part of the reason the B17 is more famous than many other WW2 bombers is that it’s FRIGGIN’ BEAUTIFUL.

[@andrewdonohue1853]

all of the airplanes from that era are gorgeous and have incredible character. the C47/DC3 absolutely gorgeous, P51, P40, corsair, F6F hellcat, P47D, P38, spitfire, hurricane, lancaster, and B25. there isnt an ugly one in the bunch

[@mpersad]

A wonderful insight into the B17, one of the most important Allied aircraft of WW2. The videos graphics when identifying systems are an enormous help in understanding what the controls were. Terrific video.

[@MrHws5mp]

Small point: the -G might have been the most heavily-armed B-17 _bomber_ , but it wasn't the most heavily-armed B-17 per se. That would be the YB-40 "gunship" which was intended to escort bomber variants, and traded all it's bomb load for more firepower. It had a second dorsal turret behind the standard one, twin guns in each waist position, and also introduced the twin-gun chin-turret later seen on the B-17G. The bomb bay was converted to carry extra .50 cal ammo. It proved a failure, since, unlike the bombers, it didn't get lighter and faster after it had dropped it's bomb load, so the bombers tended to leave it behind on the journey home. Only 26 were built and they were withdrawn fom use after only 14 missions.

[@ghoul11719]

Some were used in the US for gunnery training ships. I know Laredo had one for this role

[@markfrench8892]

It's always a pleasure to see a video featuring Sentimental Journey. As a kid I use to frequently crawl though this plane when it was used by Aero Union in Chico, CA as Air Tanker #17.

[@alexchainey.]

Damn, this shinny B-17 looks gorgeous!

[@rudyyarbrough5122]

Thank you for the most detailed walkthrough of this famous bird. I'm an old F-4 pilot and love details about any plane. It is remarkable how innovative Boeing was and how well the systems were thought out.

[@seanmalloy7249]

When I had the opportunity to go aboard a B-17 -- I think it was 'Sentimental Journey' -- I was amazed at how tiny the plane was for what it carried. For those of us who remember the TV series "Twelve O'Clock High", it lies horribly to us; there is nowhere near the space in the cockpit that was portrayed in the show. From reading Martin Caidin's book "Flying Forts", I was amazed that there was a B-17 pilot who was 6'7" tall; I'm two inches shorter, and I couldn't fit in either of the two seats, although I wasn't able to adjust them, so there may have been more space than I saw. And a waist gunner who was 6'8" tall, who'd passed up a pilot slot because he didn't think he'd fit in the cockpit.

[@fattywithafirearm]

I got to take several flights on the B-17 Liberty Bell several times before it crashed. Loved it every time.

[@Tobi_1301]

0:05 I am german but I'm definitely not gonna look away. Very cool video on a legendary plane. Gives me a strange feeling that maybe my great grandfather himself may have shot a few bullets in its engines. Sadly he never returned from war and nobody knows about his remains. His name stands among the many many names of the pelple lost to war. No one knows where he went after he got called in for service. Nobody knows if he was in the army, navy or airforce and I fear we are never gonna find out where he spent the cruel last years of the war or when and how he passed away.

[@noface4176]

Maybe contact the german federal archive?

[@kennethcohagen3539]

I live with in driving distance of the airport where this B17 lives. I love that plane, and wanted to join the CAF to help maintain it. But my jobs hours wouldn’t leave me any time to work on it. Thanks for featuring it.,

[@mbryson2899]

Thank you for taking us on the tour! It means a lot to me as my health no longer permits travel, so I particularly value these vicarious experiences. ps- The hat looks great on you, you're a natural. 👍

[@cattledog901]

☠️⚰️🪦🙏🏼🤙🏼

[@mbryson2899]

@@cattledog901 If you are lucky you will get here. 😂

[@earlyriser8998]

Flew in Texas Raiders before her crash. I rode in nose cone and it was FANTASTIC. If you have a chance to fly on one of these historic airplanes do it. My wife rode in the waist gunner position and loved the view from there. it was loud with open windows and wind and engine noise. Of course we toured the whole plane. The taail gunner and belly gunner positions were not ergonomic. My Uncle flew these in WW2 over England and survived.

[@larryburwell8550]

beautiful airplane! my 12 year old son and I toured the inside of this plane in spartanburg SC in 1993. fantanstic airplane,

[@k3D4rsi554maq]

That was a really impressive look at a B-17.

[@newearth5d]

Totally jealous here....I've been fortunate enough to crawl around in other bombers from the era, B-25s & B-29s but not the B-17. Great vid!

[@user-qt1kb2lp6f]

Having worked on three of those engines I have a special bond with that airplane

[@texcritic]

I flew in the Collins Foundation ("CF") Nine O' Nine in 2006 (13 years before it crashed killing 1/2 the people on board). The CF were offering rides on either a B-17, a B-24 or a B-25. My friend's father had been a B17 pilot in WW2, so we chose the Fortress. We flew to Dallas Love field to fly on board, as that location met our schedule. We had scheduled the first ride of the day, which was the way to go. The flights were about 25 minutes around North Dallas, but being on the first run, we got about several maybe five more minutes on the runway as they revved up the engines, which they didn't do for the subsequent flights. Once in the air, you were allowed to roam about the B17 from the nose back to the waist guns (that were mounted in glass inserts). The tail and the belly turret were closed. The radio operators window on the top bubble was off, so you could stick your head out into the air stream. Really an amazing experience. The Nine O' Nine was painted in OD exterior colors, and I recall the interior was also painted, certainly I didn't remember the spotless interior you see in this video. As poor maintenance was cited as a factor in the crash, I think the Sentimental Journey's interior, to a layman says, "this plane is well card for." The Nine in retrospect gave off a different vibe.

[@markbike5288]

Another B-17G of note "Day's Pay". It was "Presented to the Army Air Forces as a result of cash contributions by the employees of the Hanford Engr. Works". The Hanford Engineer works was part of the über TOP SECRET Manhattan Project that built the atomic bomb. Yet somehow Day's Pay made it to Europe, still marked that way. It made it back but was scrapped in 1947. Richland High School has a life-size mural of Day's Pay on the side of the gymnasium. Hanford works is just 200 miles southeast of Boeing Field were this episode was filmed.

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you Christoph. Excellent video.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andreperrault5393]

Always great to see a detailed enough walk through, with knowledge of the crews places and actions. Thanks

[@DeaconBlu]

I’ve been “intimate” with this bird. She is absolutely beautiful in every respect. CAF have done a fantastic job with her. Lots of Great info in this video. Thanks! 😎👍

[@ButchNackley]

In my humble opinion, this is the best video you have done to date. Wonderful, Thank You.

[@andrewpinner3181]

Wow what an aircraft ! Thanks Chris (& Nathan J.) for an excellent video !

[@plmock1]

I had the opportunity to fly in this airplane earlier this year. It’s a lot tighter up front than the video might lead one to believe. It was well worth the cost to check off my bucket list.

[@DCYote1]

When I lived in Arizona I went to the Commemorative Air Force Museum (where this particular aircraft is based) and getting a chance to crawl around inside Sentimental Journey with my grandpa (A B17 navigator with the "Mighty Eighth") was an amazing experience. Plenty of vintage aircraft and exhibits on display, and the folks who work there are all friendly and eager to answer any questions one might have. Highly recommend it if you're ever in the Phoenix Area. (Though in the summer months as you noted, the B17 and B25 are "on tour" to places with a bit more tolerable summer climates) Awesome content, my friend!

[@edhodapp6465]

A memory came to me when you pointed to the map and said, “Schweinfurt. Oh dear.” I worked for a Siemens division here in the USA, and our senior technician was German. One day he started talking about his war experiences as a teenager in his small village. He described having to dig out an elderly couple who were found sitting in their basement, dead from the concussion of the blast from a bombing raid. He became very angry with me as he went. “There was no reason for this! There was nothing there in our village!” was how he concluded. This war technology is fascinating, but war itself? That part is horrible beyond imagining and the emotions it creates lasts generations.

[@yetanother9127]

This video is really nostalgic for me. I grew up in the vicinity of Falcon Field, AZ, where _Sentimental Journey_ is stationed, and my dad was a member of Civil Air Patrol Sq. 305 which is also stationed there; I've got quite a few fond memories of visiting the place, including climbing around inside _Sentimental Journey_ much like you're doing here. I was a kid at the time, and didn't know much about historical aviation, but I still knew it was one of the coolest machines I'd ever seen.

[@greenbimoon]

Awesome walk around, the best I've seen, especially your freeze-frame explanations. Clear and präzise, danke

[@patrickshanley4466]

Sentimental journey has been my FAVORITE B-17 for about 30 years. Great video 👍

[@Caseytify]

Fun Fact: the staggered waist positions weren't built until the late G models. Up until then the waist positions mirrored each other.

[@mytube001]

With plenty of back bumping, I assume.

[@ivariverson3256]

Used to be at Falcon Field in Az Grew up there, Dont know if it still is. But what a Plane! Beautiful WOW!!!

[@hawkertyphoon4537]

Mother...effer! I did not see this one coming from you! Standing under a 17, all the way from Germany... You are doing something right in your life! Applause!

[@VictoriaCortes1717]

Buy a ticket to Arizona then go to falcon field, Mesa during the spring. Bring water though, lots.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

Great video, and I did enjoy the brief pause to enjoy the Boeing logo on the yoke! The branding of the companies of that era is a bit iconic. I used to work on A-4 Skyhawks, and their rudder pedals had the "Douglas" logo cast into the top of each pedal. It's not part of the aircraft's function, but there's still an emotional element to it.

[@kcarter1973]

Took a ride on Sentimental Journey 20 years ago flying out of my hometown airport. Had a front row view of takeoff from the bombardier's seat.

[@wideyxyz2271]

Great walk around Bis. Lovie the history and tech stuff.

[@rockycassiano4756]

I'm walked through this B17 back when it was at the Moses Lake Air show, ....... Many years ago. Great video.

[@jamesglass4797]

I've probably watched every B-17 video. This video is absolutely the best. Your aircraft knowledge is incredible. Thank you for this presentation.

[@jimdavison4077]

I love how you stick to just providing a steady stream of technical data and then your general impression. You don't get into that trap of comparing aircraft which opens a complete can of worms. I wish more channels did this.

[@TheMDJ2000]

Fascinating episode, and what a beautiful aircraft - examined in detail as usual. Looking forward to you doing a Lancaster one day.

[@johnpedulla8210]

Later in wwii, mostly on G type B-17’s the crew was changed a bit. Most planes lost their bombs diets and were replaced with a “togglier” they just sat up in the nose and flipped a switch when the lead plane dropped theirs. They would also control the nose turret. The waist gunner position was also changed and it became just one gunner rather than two. The one gunner would switch places depending on where he was needed, mostly in the 3 plane formation he would face outboard. This change makes sense as there wasn’t a huge need to have a guy looking at the other bomber in the formation, it lessens the risk of friendly fire and also due to lack of german interceptors they found it was safe to get rid of the second gunner.

[@jeffjones4135]

Awesome video, Chris!

[@bikenavbm1229]

A great look around, thank you to all involved with this sponsers, owners and Chris too.

[@chucktyler4057]

"Schweinfurt, oh dear" made me laugh out loud!

[@muttwinstead6422]

Outstanding job!! Very accurate and detailed. Thanks.

[@Colin454]

I have an instruction manual for an RAF Coastal Command Flying Fortress. It tells you how to remove the ball turret and drop it off in flight. It says something like "Once you've removed the bolts, give the turret a sharp kick and it will fall out. Make sure you don't fall out too."

[@countvonaltibar236]

Absolutely superb video, really enjoyed it

[@szymonstamonsta]

Great video Chris, thankyou !!

[@jamesa702]

thanks for your tour and the information on such a famous aircraft

[@blatherskite9601]

Superb video! Thanks!

[@briand4000]

I have 30 minutes in the left seat of this aircraft with the PIC looking over my shoulder. It was a most memorable experience! Flew from Santa Fe, NM to Santa Teresa, NM way back in the mid 90's. It's a rudder airplane, kick the tail over then input aileron. Was looking through the Norden bomb sight as we passed over Elephant Butte Marina....bombs away! Keep them flying, CAF!

[@MrLaurencebourne]

Best I’ve seen yet on the B17.Many thanks.

[@CobraBry]

Reminds me of a story in which my great grandma told me that for his last few missions my great grandpa would sadly be taken out as a waist gunner

[@markusv311]

Great tour on this amazing plane. Thanks for sharing. Great times ahaed for B-17 fans with the upcoming Masters of the Air and Mighty 8th VR

[@jameslincoln4154]

I had the opportunity to ride in the “Fuddy Duddy”. The best view/seat in the world is in the nose of a b17, flying 1000 ft over western new York. I just remember how incredibly loud it was. Very cool for 30 minutes, hard to imagine doing it for hours while being shot at.

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Chris, what a beautiful plane & a very well done video. The fact she still flies is great, I'd love to. A bit more cockpit/outside to inspect than usual. Thanks from Canberra.

[@johnw7777]

these planes have so much gear in them. imagine being the electrical and mechanical guys trying to find various problems caused by bullet holes in the hoses lines cables mechanisms etc. there must have been a small army of these people. yet we never seem to hear about them

[@dansmith4077]

Excellent video thanks

[@DALEf4u]

I had a flight in Sentimental Journey this past April in Chino, Ca something I will never forget!

[@riconui5227]

I had the honor of delivering fuel to Sentimental Journey during one of her infrequent visits to CCR, (Concord, California). The crew didn’t want me climbing on the wing, so I just ran the truck, but I got a self guided tour through her in the bargain. Kudos to her crew for keeping this aircraft in good flying condition. It’s beautiful to see on approach.

[@bassplayersayer]

Great video Biz !!!!!! Rock on !!!!!

[@jrprimo5372]

very enjoyable. Glad I came across you channel!!

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Thank you very much for sharing, appreciate it a LOT 👍 Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱, TW.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

You can download the B-17F pilot's manual. It has all the bomb load diagrams and the perfornance tables and charts.

[@mrmeowmeow710]

2 mega thumbs up for this great video👍👍

[@johngilbert6036]

Wonderful tour thanks

[@roseannsolnica8441]

Thanks for such a thorough and informative tour of this mighty and beautiful aircraft. I would absolutely love to have a chance to take a ride in her someday for a sentimental journey.

[@roberthutchins9968]

Excellent tour.

[@CharlesConover]

Nice I got to do a tour inside sentimental journey a few years ago, and I got to tour inside b-29 “doc” this year - two things I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid!

[@brennus57]

Nice! I toured Sentimental Journey several years ago in Montana.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

Had a nice, extended tour through that one on the late 80s in Canton, OH...(was dressed in all original bombardier leathers) and the guys said to come aboard.. It was a real treat.

[@silvermikeGA]

I saw sentimental journey when it visited Peachtree City Georgia many years ago. Beautiful plane.

[@iwitnessedit6713]

thhx Chris

[@armandojr.9805]

Flying in it next month here in Texas, can’t wait !

[@MBkufel]

Man, I remember you posting IL-2 videos here. You've really come a loooong way.

[@epicseadragon1692]

Ah I had seen this aircraft before, and even climbed in it. Nice video!

[@jchrystsheigh]

Great video!

[@jg8263]

I have flown on this plane! I go to the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh WI regularly and had the privilege of a flight on this one year.

[@polarking888]

THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE - THE B17

[@MikeF1189]

Awesome hat

[@WilliamBrothers]

I barely got to see this bomber in person. I drove a couple hours to see it, but they wrapped up early saying I couldn't go up to see it. Was pretty disappointed, but it was neat to see from afar.

[@tonycutty598]

In any video about the details of the B-17 up-close, I haven't heard anyone mention the use of those rugged zip fasteners in the chin turret and the Cheyenne tail turret. In elevation, the gun elevation slots were kept closed by having zip fasteners above and below the gun barrels. You can see this in this video. If the guns elevate, the zips above the guns unfasten to allow the elevation movement, while at the same time the zips below 'zip up' to seal the canvas closed behind them, below the barrels. The actual zip fastener actuators are fixed to those metal plates on the gun barrels where they come through the canvas shields. I first noticed this on the chin turret of the B-17G at the USAF Museum at Duxford, UK and was amazed by its cleverness. A simple, cheap and ingenious solution to help prevent severe draughts in the aircraft and also to help prevent the guns from freezing. Clever.

[@miguelaraya3983]

Extraordinario....!!! Increíble experiencia.....muchas gracias....

Very interesting Video. Would love to see one of these up close one day. My Gradfather was a Hitlerjugend Flak Gunner and he said that the Leutnat let them have a look through the Range finder one day and he saw those bombers with the large tail. But in the end it was the RAF which destroyed my hometown :)

[@davidcarr7436]

My wife got a picture of our adult son and myself standing directly under the nose art, and she uses it as her profile picture for her Facebook page. We also took several photos from the inside when she visited the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg, Canada. She's not a Lanc, but she's a true beauty nonetheless.

[@HoundstoothKid]

Years ago I was lucky enough to sit in the bombardier's seat of this exact aircraft during takeoff and the flight. Amazing experience.