No, I am not back in Tucson. I am still enjoying the crisp cool air of the San Francisco Bay Area…specifically Walnut Creek. Kind of wish I was back home as the weather there is in the mid to high 70’s right now. But, when I get back there in early February, I will have plenty of nice weather for a few months. So, I am fine here for now. It’s a nice change.
For airplane aficionados, I am sure you recognize the aircraft in this photo…a Boing B-17 bomber (AKA “The Flying Fortress”), the key bomber used in World War II, especially in daylight bombing raids over Europe. Flying mainly out from bases in Great Britain, the B-17 hit targets in occupied France and Germany. It was a potent, high-flying, long-range bomber that was able to defend itself, and to return home despite extensive battle damage.
How tough was it? In one instance, a B-17 suffered a mid-air collision with a German fighter plane, losing an engine and suffering serious damage to both the starboard horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer. It was knocked out of formation by the impact. The B-17 was reported as shot down by observers, but it survived and brought its crew home without injury.
It dropped more bombs in Europe than any other bomber used by the Allies. Being a long-range bomber, the aircraft could fly deep into enemy airspace, but with a cost. Fighter aircraft could fly cover for the bombers only part way. From there on, the bombers were unprotected, making them easier targets for German fighter planes. So flying in one of these planes during the war was very hazardous duty.
Later in the war, the US began flying the P-51 Mustang as a fighter escort. It could flying the entire way with the bombers…thereby reducing bomber losses and effectively ending the effectiveness of the German Air Force in protecting the Fatherland against US bombers.
This particular aircraft was restored and put on display in Tucson at the Pima Air and Space Museum…well worth a visit if you are ever down my way.
No comments:
Post a Comment