Can you imagine being in that thing on takeoff with a full load of bombs, men, armament, ammunition, fuel, radios, and rolling on perforated steel planking...... in the mud???
I know what you mean. Marston matting wasn't common at 8th AF fields in England. More common at fighter airfields in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operation in WW.II.
And imagine you're 19 years old. And your pilot is 24. I can't help crying when I think of what those kids went through, night after night. We owe so much. .
My 6th grade teacher, Mr Veenbore was a B17 bombardier in WW2 - England. He talked about some of his experiences. He once told us cubs, as he sat in his position in the B 17, with a full load of bombs on takeoff, he said that coming down the runway with trees getting closer and closer he would close his eyes & pray. "We always missed clipping/hitting the trees by just a few feet." As a children we didn't appreciate what those young men went through. Today...I get it! Mr. Veenbore is still my hero.
outcast668 The gunners and radio operators might have been 19-21 year olds, but the pilots, bombardiers, and navigators were officers and mostly in their mid to late twenties. The technical demands alone required more education.
The pilots were older, the young pilots were in the fighters. The RAF used to transfer pilots from fighters to bombers as they got older. I’m guessing the USAF did the same?
@@hotrodray6802 You flew in these things? Holy shit, thank you for your service then. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors you witnessed during that war.
On August 11, 2013, I rode in the nose of the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" at the Fargo airport. Looks similar, and BOY, what a ride! The noise was awesome!
During WWII my father in law was an electrical engineer, which would be an electronics engineer in today’s world. He worked on several projects for the Navy including surface contact radar that our destroyers used to hunt down Nazi Uboats and sink them. He loved airplanes too, something we had in common. Shortly after I met my wife the Commemorative airforce held a dance just like they did in the 40’s, to raise money for their restoration efforts. When we got there there as row upon row of Beech 18’s and their derivatives C47’s a couple B 25’s and our Alastair, Sentimental Journey. As soon as he saw her my. Father in law ran straight for the B17, ducking under the ropes. Another gentleman about his age came up to him, and I thought we were taking a trip to the jail to bail him out, but the two of them started talking and talking and talking. Then Don, my father in law, motioned for me to come over and when I did he pointed to a football like device on the bottom of the fuselage, that was rounded on the front and pointed at the rear. He explained that this was a special antenna that he helped develop for night time bombing raids over Germany. Don said that this antenna would pick up three radio signals allowing the navigator to plot his position when he couldn’t see the t argent. The system was also used in the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florid peninsula, and on the west coast. We never got the chance to fly in a B17, but I did fly in a C47 that had flown paratroops over France the night before D-Day. It was an amazing flight, but sitting over the wing gave me no view of anything besides the wing and the engines exhaust. Next time I hope I can afford to pay for a good seat! I’m glad you hand the chance!
B17 take off magnificent. As a English man that knows the history of the 8th airforce based here in the 2nd world war, there bravery and sacrifice won't be forgotten. Respect
a week ago,Christmas Eve ,i had the honor to fly on Sentimental Journey in the nose...from the the pilots bringing those engines on one at a time,deafing roar at takeoff into flight now i have awaking of the stories my father and uncle would tell of flying into the target...balls of steel...LOVE OF COUNTRY! A big THANK YOU to everyone involved with Sentimental Journey...
Even a roller-cam v8 is hardly a match for the rumbling of a two-row turbo-supercharged R-2800 radial engine. And that's just at ground idle speed. The mighty camring (instead of camshaft) in that engine produces is second to none.
Been there and it was indeed the best seat ever. Switched places with the fellow with me halfway through the flight. On the cabin wall was a small card with a picture of a USAAF officer. Bombardier, 2/Lt, 19 years old, killed on his first combat flight. Sobering thing to read. I was doing it for fun and returning. He did it for real and didn't come home alive.
I am from Uruguay, 85. I rode in a DC-3 (Pluna Airlines) back in 1965 and the noise was considerable. Can imagine what it was like in a B-17. Then in 2008, while visiting some friends in Oyster Bay NY, I saw a vintage B-17 slowly overflying us, from ground level it wasn't that noisy.
Its hard to comprehend being sat in that position for 8 hours a day, nearly every day for 3 years.....if you were lucky. I'm a proud Brit, and proud of the RAF......but just as proud of all the Yanks who fought and died along side us. Look at the world today, was all the bloodshed worth it, on all sides ?.
Met an older gentleman in mkt, he always wore a B 17 ball hat. I spoke to him one day and asked he served as the ball t gunner, the gent was 5 2. No he said I got there before everyone else. He was the bombardier. Said he saw awful things on his canopy, I read between the lines! Then he stopped comming to the mkt!
Where I grew up in England we would occasionally have Lancasters and or Spitfires and Hurricanes fly over for holidays and special events. The roar is incredible and yes, you can feel the rumble. God bless all the men that flew in these magnificent aircraft around the world and risked everything 80 years ago! Thank you 🙏
Also, the fuselage skin itself was only thin aluminum about 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) thick. That would not have much effect in stopping flak or a bullet. Scary, indeed.
'Slipping the surly bonds of Earth', seems pretty much the same as taking off in a micro light excepting with less historic significance & a lot colder. Hell I love prop driven aircraft - Thank You, stunning vantage point.
Saw Sally B at an air show here in the UK back in the seventies. When she turned around to start her take off roll she nearly blew the crowd down. The smell of fuel was intoxicating and she covered us with smuts from the engines.
Could you imagine being in that seat with zeros flying straight at you or the German fighters? Atleast if you were a gunner you had a chance to shoot it down.
My Dad was a navigator on these things sat behind this position to the left side. Had to find their way across the North Atlantic, Gander, Greenland, Iceland, by compass, clock, and sextant, find the radio beacon in Stornoway Scotland, and on to Valley, Wales to deliver the brand new plane. Then go to their assigned base by train. And fly 35+ missions.
About 1960 my Dad's good friend had been a B24 pilot in the Pacific. He told stories of flying off the runway end at the cliff and dropping full flaps so it would fly across the waves for miles to get it to climb.... About 4 tons over gross. We knew several crewmen and pilots and many WWI, WWII, Korea veterans face to face. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Day time missions , dodging flak , enemy fighters coming towards you three a breast from the front . The same on the way home if your aircraft by some miracle survived all that . Now that’s what you call balls of steel !!
Got to take a flight in the Texas Raider B-17 at Ellington AFB near Houston in ‘86 or ‘87. I was humming the theme of 12 oclock high most of the flight.
Best seat in the house for sightseeing. Maybe the worst seat on a bombing mission.
I think ball turrets got it beat out slightly for the worst seat
Tail gunners were the poor ones, they were first to get injured or killed when attacked by fighters.
Dude, tbh I think tail gunner is the worst, they had the less probability to survive on the hole plane
West Texan you got hit by flak the most
macieksoft Tail Gunners had one of the higher survival rates as German pilots tried to avoid attacking the tail.
That is probably THE best seat in peace time aviation.
The worst seat over Berlin. Bless them all who flew them
Can you imagine being in that thing on takeoff with a full load of bombs, men, armament, ammunition, fuel, radios, and rolling on perforated steel planking...... in the mud???
23JUN2020 - Add to that, wondering if you'll ever come home? I'll bet a lot of breakfasts went uneaten on those mornings.
No I can’t
Saying yes would be a lie
I know what you mean. Marston matting wasn't common at 8th AF fields in England. More common at fighter airfields in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operation in WW.II.
And imagine you're 19 years old. And your pilot is 24. I can't help crying when I think of what those kids went through, night after night. We owe so much. .
Flabba Noongah : er....ok....stay safe keep your tin foil hat on.....
My grandfather was a B17 Bombardier in WWII...they were shot down 3 times and he made it back became a postman for many years!
Shot down behind enemy lines?
@Gus VanHorn Lol man, an oldie but a goodie! ...and so very appropriate in this case.
David, thank your grandfather for me. We all owe him so much. . .
@Ronald Trump If you're gonna troll, you should work on being a little more subtle.
@Ronald Trump burn
My 6th grade teacher, Mr Veenbore was a B17 bombardier in WW2 - England. He talked about some of his experiences. He once told us cubs, as he sat in his position in the B 17, with a full load of bombs on takeoff, he said that coming down the runway with trees getting closer and closer he would close his eyes & pray. "We always missed clipping/hitting the trees by just a few feet." As a children we didn't appreciate what those young men went through. Today...I get it! Mr. Veenbore is still my hero.
And to think, these planes were piloted by 19-21 year olds; now piloted by individuals in their fifties with a deep love and respect for history...
outcast668 The gunners and radio operators might have been 19-21 year olds, but the pilots, bombardiers, and navigators were officers and mostly in their mid to late twenties. The technical demands alone required more education.
The pilots were older, the young pilots were in the fighters. The RAF used to transfer pilots from fighters to bombers as they got older. I’m guessing the USAF did the same?
My Buddy was the youngest B17 pilot in WWII. (confirmed) Died in '95.
Served in the Pacific theatre.
@@hotrodray6802 You flew in these things? Holy shit, thank you for your service then. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors you witnessed during that war.
@@hotrodray6802 how old are you?
On August 11, 2013, I rode in the nose of the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" at the Fargo airport. Looks similar, and BOY, what a ride! The noise was awesome!
During WWII my father in law was an electrical engineer, which would be an electronics engineer in today’s world. He worked on several projects for the Navy including surface contact radar that our destroyers used to hunt down Nazi Uboats and sink them. He loved airplanes too, something we had in common. Shortly after I met my wife the Commemorative airforce held a dance just like they did in the 40’s, to raise money for their restoration efforts. When we got there there as row upon row of Beech 18’s and their derivatives C47’s a couple B 25’s and our Alastair, Sentimental Journey. As soon as he saw her my. Father in law ran straight for the B17, ducking under the ropes. Another gentleman about his age came up to him, and I thought we were taking a trip to the jail to bail him out, but the two of them started talking and talking and talking. Then Don, my father in law, motioned for me to come over and when I did he pointed to a football like device on the bottom of the fuselage, that was rounded on the front and pointed at the rear. He explained that this was a special antenna that he helped develop for night time bombing raids over Germany. Don said that this antenna would pick up three radio signals allowing the navigator to plot his position when he couldn’t see the t argent. The system was also used in the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florid peninsula, and on the west coast.
We never got the chance to fly in a B17, but I did fly in a C47 that had flown paratroops over France the night before D-Day. It was an amazing flight, but sitting over the wing gave me no view of anything besides the wing and the engines exhaust. Next time I hope I can afford to pay for a good seat! I’m glad you hand the chance!
I rode in a B-17 and the noise is incredible. Something that does not come through in war movies.
yep, sounds just like someone throwing Coca-Cola bottles at your head !
Damn she took off quick! Those 4 engines are no joke when the plane is unladen.
You could hear the gear come up before they got to the end of the runway 💪
B17 take off magnificent. As a English man that knows the history of the 8th airforce based here in the 2nd world war, there bravery and sacrifice won't be forgotten. Respect
Over paid, over sexed, over here!
@@SuperEdge67 and dead a lot of the time
I rode up there once. Cost me $417.00, but it was the ride of a lifetime.
Cheap for the experience
I got a ride on the Aluminum Overcast, we all rotated spots so we all got to take a turn in the bombardier's seat. Definitely worth it.
Stella
Over $1,000 per flight hour for gasoline today.
Stella
Costs about $8,000 to fillerup.
One of the coolest vids I've EVER seen on youtube😀😀😀😀😀
Same
I thought at 1st that the Bombardier was pushing a petrol lawnmower along waiting for the B-17 to take off. ;-))
a week ago,Christmas Eve
,i had the honor to fly on Sentimental Journey in the nose...from the the pilots bringing those engines on one at a time,deafing roar at takeoff into flight now i have awaking of the stories my father and uncle would tell of flying into the target...balls of steel...LOVE OF COUNTRY! A big THANK YOU to everyone involved with Sentimental Journey...
One of the best sounds ever, an engine revving up. Be it a radial, a turbine, a V8 or a big ol harley. Puts a smile on every face, everytime
Even a roller-cam v8 is hardly a match for the rumbling of a two-row turbo-supercharged R-2800 radial engine. And that's just at ground idle speed.
The mighty camring (instead of camshaft) in that engine produces is second to none.
Well…..maybe not the Harleys.
there is just something so special listen to the sound of those's 4 radial engines
I used to live under the departure end of 16 at Flemming field where the Miss Mitchell was based. Those radials at take off power were fine music.
Multiple R2800s are pretty awesome. 18 cyl each.
Outstanding! I flew in the Nine-O-Nine. So cool, a horrible tragedy of her loss a few years ago 😢
Man, what a view!
Amazing I am impressed that such old technology still flies after more than 80 years
This is one of my favorite B-17s ever. Use to crawl inside it all the time when it was Aero Union. Air Tanker #17
What a treat! That was absolutely awesome. I love the B17.
Aaaaaaand adding this to the bucket list
Been there and it was indeed the best seat ever. Switched places with the fellow with me halfway through the flight. On the cabin wall was a small card with a picture of a USAAF officer. Bombardier, 2/Lt, 19 years old, killed on his first combat flight. Sobering thing to read. I was doing it for fun and returning. He did it for real and didn't come home alive.
That was AWESOME!!! Thank you🤙 God bless🙏
@Aussie Cockatoo Amen🙏🙏🙏
This is the best video I've seen on CZcams all year. What a fabulous virtual flight experience. Thank you.
Never gets old watching this
this is music for my ears
I am from Uruguay, 85. I rode in a DC-3 (Pluna Airlines) back in 1965 and the noise was considerable. Can imagine what it was like in a B-17. Then in 2008, while visiting some friends in Oyster Bay NY, I saw a vintage B-17 slowly overflying us, from ground level it wasn't that noisy.
Absolutely Beautiful and Breathtaking
Superb! Thank you!
One of the best POV vids ever!!👍👍
With all of the aviation content I watch, how have I not seen this sooner?! Awesome perspective!
I've crawled around some of those old warbirds. Those airmen had courage beyond what most can imagine.
Nice. I’ve always tried to imagine what 300+ formed up B-17s headed off on a mission must’ve sounded like.
I've been told, when the plane was tore up, barely holding altitude, seeing the White Cliff's was a sign you made it home!
Wow ! Breath taking ! Awesome view ! Kudos for view.
Absolutely stunning sound xx
Magnificent!
Its hard to comprehend being sat in that position for 8 hours a day, nearly every day for 3 years.....if you were lucky.
I'm a proud Brit, and proud of the RAF......but just as proud of all the Yanks who fought and died along side us.
Look at the world today, was all the bloodshed worth it, on all sides ?.
That was awesome!! Talk about “the best seat in the house”!!!!
Met an older gentleman in mkt, he always wore a B 17 ball hat.
I spoke to him one day and asked he served as the ball t gunner, the gent was 5 2.
No he said I got there before everyone else.
He was the bombardier.
Said he saw awful things on his canopy, I read between the lines!
Then he stopped comming to the mkt!
Front row seat! Fantastic, thanks for sharing man!
It could of gone longer. Was really cool
Awesome! No greater plane ever produced like the B 17.
Front row seat! Thanks for sharing and greets from the Netherlands, T.
What an amazing view!
Beyond cool, this is a big taste of history!
Where I grew up in England we would occasionally have Lancasters and or Spitfires and Hurricanes fly over for holidays and special events. The roar is incredible and yes, you can feel the rumble. God bless all the men that flew in these magnificent aircraft around the world and risked everything 80 years ago! Thank you 🙏
Thanks a lot 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Oh man that’s gotta be awesome!!
Fantastic...... Thank you veterans
Awesome video !!!
Great video. I'm smiling at the sound
Amazing! Hard to imagine doing that as a young man in the 1940's knowing that "plexiglass" was the only thing between you and the coming flak....
Also, the fuselage skin itself was only thin aluminum about 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) thick. That would not have much effect in stopping flak or a bullet. Scary, indeed.
How awesome! The fight of a lifetime!! I'm so jealous!! Happy flights!
This is RIGHT we I would be if I got a chance!! GREAT video!!
Oh my god, The noise of the engine.... Is.... Fantastic and astonishing to hear...
Great view, magical flight ! 👍👍👍👍
The best seat in the plane for a joyride but likely the most exposed and scariest place on during a bombing mission.
'Slipping the surly bonds of Earth', seems pretty much the same as taking off in a micro light excepting with less historic significance & a lot colder. Hell I love prop driven aircraft - Thank You, stunning vantage point.
Best view in that plane, but most dangerous as well!
Incredible
whenever i watch videos of the B.17 i always think about the brave men who flew them..
Wow. Amazing stuff. Historic.
Treated myself for Father's Day about 10 years ago and took a ride on the Liberty Belle was quite a thrill. To bad she burned up a few years ago
That must have been fun. Great video.
My grandfather was a mechanic during WW2. He was stationed on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska & worked on B-2s.
What a beautiful thing
*GLAD TO C THEM IN 2020* 😍😍😍
Yes please!
Saw Sally B at an air show here in the UK back in the seventies. When she turned around to start her take off roll she nearly blew the crowd down. The smell of fuel was intoxicating and she covered us with smuts from the engines.
Could you imagine being in that seat with zeros flying straight at you or the German fighters? Atleast if you were a gunner you had a chance to shoot it down.
The bombardier was a gunner too.
its hard shooting down planes at such a high altitude
Had that seat in the Memphis Belle Titusville Warbirds Airshow,great ride.
My Dad was a navigator on these things sat behind this position to the left side. Had to find their way across the North Atlantic, Gander, Greenland, Iceland, by compass, clock, and sextant, find the radio beacon in Stornoway Scotland, and on to Valley, Wales to deliver the brand new plane. Then go to their assigned base by train. And fly 35+ missions.
That's the sound of freedom.
Great watch...💪😎
So sweet
My Godfather flew with the 388th. . Survived 35 missions. ...Never flew again! RIP!
Wow! What a thrill that would be.👍🏻😀
Wow!
Wow. So cool. What a privaledge!
Pretty cool. Definitely a perspective you don't get from the window seat in a passenger plane.
My jaw literally dropped on the take off roll.
WOW!!!
The best veiw ever
That had to be scary as hell when trying to do bomb runs and enemy fighters were around. You'd feel so exposed and obvious
So cool
About 1960 my Dad's good friend had been a B24 pilot in the Pacific.
He told stories of flying off the runway end at the cliff and dropping full flaps so it would fly across the waves for miles to get it to climb.... About 4 tons over gross.
We knew several crewmen and pilots and many WWI, WWII, Korea veterans face to face.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
They were all productive citizens who did not piss their lives away.
Awesome men in every aspect of their lives.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Awesome video, talk about a vulnerable spot though especially in war time..
Too cool. If you flew over the water towers, I was probably waving at you.
Best seat on take off. I sat there and my dad sat in the flight navigator behind me. It was epic
Best seat in the house!!!
Day time missions , dodging flak , enemy fighters coming towards you three a breast from the front . The same on the way home if your aircraft by some miracle survived all that . Now that’s what you call balls of steel !!
Night missions were more dangerous.
The pilot should sit down there... great view.
These ol girls saved the world.
i got the chance to ride in one of these legendary beasts... sadly it was the one that crashed in connecticut a few years later.
Best seat in the house👍🏻🇺🇸
Got to take a flight in the Texas Raider B-17 at Ellington AFB near Houston in ‘86 or ‘87. I was humming the theme of 12 oclock high most of the flight.
Awesome
Legends says he is still flying...
I got to do this on the 9-O-9 in 2000. Amazing.
Sadly it’s no longer flying
Best seat in the house
RIP 909
I definitely wouldnt be able to deal with the kind of fear and anticipation that the soldiers in these craft must have felt.
Gonna be going up in one of these bombers in about a month, l'll be in the navigator seat, very much looking forward to it.
The sound of those four engines revving up is quite impressive. Enjoy!
How was it?