That's a pretty one, too.

Dad put a stop to that. He worked on the safety harnesses for the F 102, I believe.

My Dad flew one in WW II. It's not as sexy as the B-17, but it carried a much larger bomb load and was used in both European and Pacific theaters.

I'm envious you got to fly in the B-17. Thanks for the pics.

in a B-17. Got shot down over Germany and spent 22 months in a prisoner of war camp.

It was nice to see up close the plane in which my father flew many missions over Germany.

and spent the last 12 months of the war as a guest at Stalag Luft One.

when he was shot down over Germany, from June 1943 to April 1945 when he was liberated by Gen. Patton. He was in Stalag Luft Three, in the American section of that famous film, the Great Escape (the actual escape was carried out by the Brits, who were separated from the Americans).

absolutely amazing what these young men did at 20,000 to 30,000 feet fighting off the cold, fighter planes , flak, and then trying to avoid another plane when circling before a mission in the cold and fog.
And with those Wright motors roaring--------------they were amazing.

Fulfilled the bucket list---------------great job-------------my turn

My Dad flew 35 missions as a ball turret gunner on a B-24 in the 451st Bomb Group/15th Air Force. He is ninety now and is still able to tell the story of being involved in a mid-air collision over Germany. The other plane went down over the target and the entire crew was KIA. 3 members of my dads crew bailed out immediately and became POW's or were killed. My Dad and the remaining crew members of his crippled aircraft bailed over Yugoslavia. They were sheltered and evaded capture with the aid of Yugoslav Partisans. They eventually made their way back to their base in Italy and my dad flew more combat missions until his quota was filled!