Trapped in the ball turret of his B-17 bomber over Germany he almost died

It was their second mission in “Berlin Special,” a B-17 “Flying Fortress.” Their four-engine bomber was part of the 92nd Bomb Group, 407th Squadron of the 8th Air Force flying out of an airbase near Podington, a tiny farm village some 40-miles northwest of London during World War II. Staff  Sgt. Bob Burling was 20-years-old when this picture was taken [...]

Band of two: Diz Kronenberg meets WWII B-17 gunner buddy he’s not seen in 69 years

People develop an unusually strong connection when they put their lives in each other’s hands. That certainly was the case with the daring men who flew bombing missions together over France and Germany in World War II. Their unbreakable brotherly bond helps explain why Harold “Diz” Kronenberg of Eau Claire was so excited to learn that he was not, as [...]

Pilots Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Joseph Dreher’s luck ran out on his 29th B-17 mission: World at War

Cleveland.com reports: “There are no ordinary lives,” Ken Burns said of those who served in a global cataclysm so momentous that the filmmaker titled his 2007 documentary simply “The War.” Many who served in so many different ways during World War II are gone now. Some took their stories with them. But not this one. Joseph Dreher probably figured he’d [...]

B-17 bomber soars through San Bernardino County skies

WVdailypress reports: As the plane climbed skyward, its passengers fell further into history. The Aluminum Overcast is one of a handful of World War II-era B-17 bombers still flying, and this week it lumbered across the skies of San Bernardino County during a California tour. As the bomber’s four engines ignited and rumbled up to speed, younger passengers struggled with [...]

WW2 Photos Look Back at the B-17′s Long Beach Years

belmontshore.patch.com reports: On the 75th anniversary of the U.S. bomber that dominated the skies in World War II, here’s a pictorial tribute to ‘Rosie the Riveters’ who built the Flying Fortress at the Douglas Aircraft plant. Introduced in April 1938, the B-17 secured its place in history as a long-range, high altitude heavy bomber used to great effect against Germany in [...]

Former GM Willow Run plant may be demolished

The trust that controls the historic former General Motors Willow Run plant in Ypsilanti Township is likely to demolish the 5-million-square-foot factory with the exception of a portion that might be sold to the next-door Yankee Air Museum, the Free Press confirmed. The factory, built by Henry Ford in 1941 to make B-24 bombers during World War II and later [...]

WWII bomber pilot, now 90, soars in movie’s Memphis Belle

Dick Austin, strapped into the seat of a growling, rattling bomber, grinned and gave a thumbs-up as the craft lumbered over Rancho Cordova. When he was in his early 20s, the retired pilot flew 35 bombing missions in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. On Monday, the Granite Bay resident got to take a spin in a [...]

B-17 Los Angeles City Limits

By: Scott Harrison July 1944: Los Angeles-area fliers and ground crewmen pose with the B-17 Los Angeles City Limits. On fuselage from left: Cpl. Larry Burgoyne of Los Angeles; 2nd Lt. C.W. Reseigh of Long Beach; 2nd Lt. Lester Fine of Long Beach; Sgt. Ralph Price of Bell. On engine cowling from left: Sgt. Harold Connelly of Hollywood; Sgt. Bryon Carter [...]

Life and Death Aboard a B-17, 1944

America joined Britain’s strategic air campaign designed to destroy Nazi Germany’s industrial capacity soon after her entrance into World War Two. Launching Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortresses” and Consolidated B-24 “Liberators” from bases in England’s eastern countryside, the Americans bombed their targets during the day while the British attacked at night. Up to 1,000 of these heavy bombers would take part [...]