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The number of airworthy Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses left in the world can be counted on two hands...Texas Raiders is one of them, and has a very interesting history...It was on a nationwide tour at the time, and Conroe was a scheduled stop...
For those wondering, the gorgeous young lady with the beautiful smile is one of Truckman's neighbors (he lives in a very good neighborhood)...She and her nephew were kind enough to accompany him for the day...
Captions and links have been added to photos in this album...
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| As of this writing, "Texas Raiders" is one of ten surviving airworthy B-17's in the USA... |
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| This particular Boeing B-17G was finished late in the war, flown to the Pacific battle-ready, but was never called upon for action... |
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| Before the war ended it was reassigned to the Navy as a patrol bomber, a PB-1W...It served as the very first AWACS aircraft, proving the worthiness of the concept... |
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| Once more into the air... |
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| The old Grumman HU-16 Albatross spreads its wings to shade a pair of observers... |
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| Lucky old Albatross... |
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| Hoisting her nephew for a better look... |
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| This is still in service over 50 years later for SAR, firefighting and excursion duty... |
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| After its military retirement, this old warrior went to work as an aerial photographer for an Alaskan surveying company...Painted black at the time and de-milled, it was instrumental in mapping areas of Alaska for mineral exploration... |
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| After its civilian career, it was purchased by the CAF who fully restored it to it's military specifications...It has been displayed and flown as an educational tool for countless millions who owe their very existence to the bravery of men and women who flew these planes in wartime service... |
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| For those unaware, most military aircraft during WWII were delivered from the factories to stateside and overseas bases by female crews...Sometimes they returned home flying damaged aircraft for depot repair... |
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| Nose art like this was a morale booster for many a lonely crewmember... |
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| The main landing gear of the B-17 retracted vertically into the inboard engine nacelle...If hydraulic systems were damaged in battle, the gear could be manually lowered by a hand crank... |
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| This young man and his aunt got a taste of the view from the waistgunner's position... |
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| This is the entry point for aircrew members...(Note: The uniforms pictured were not standard issue)... |
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| Four .50 BMG's up front discouraged trespassers in the air... |
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| Not as large as some other later bombers, the B-17 was a formidable opponent for our enemies 70 years ago... |
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| Wheeee!...We had a great time today!... |
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