Non fire related: Lest We Forget-B 17s over Europe

[londonfireguy]

Today i renewed my annual subscription to keep
the last remaining airworthy B 17 Flying Fortress in Europe, 'The Sally B' flying.

I have been a keen supporter of the of the Sally B for a few
years, she does the airshow circuit and much more each year to
remind us of the sacrifices of the young men of the USAAF and RAF made
flying these awsome machines day after day into enemy
airspace, with an initial  staggering 82% attrition rate!!

I always get poignant at this time of year, and as such, although not the Sally B, found
this on youtube;

WWII B-17 Pilot takes one final flight

The website for the Sally B is;
http://www.sallyb.org.uk/

She was the 'Memphis Belle' for much of the film Memphis Belle
and still flies to this day.

God bless.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

JT

 

[fdce54]

These two beautiful planes were in my backyard Thursday at Orange County Airport. A better history lesson than any book. The B-17 "909" and the B-24 "Witchcraft"

 

[svd385]

These folks who flew these great machines paid a high price for the freedom that we enjoy today.  The field crews who not only maintained and repaired these birds as well as the 'field modifications' they devised to better protect the planes were complete geniuses.  These men were the best in their generation.