I have to say this site has been a great learning experience for me. Just a few weeks ago, you all identified my "burning B-17 picture (also ebay). Now, my education continues. I'm reading about Osborne ("Queen if the Skys?" David Osborne). While I have come across his (yes, often wrong references), I never connected the two. I always thought "Osborne" was a crazy musician who ate the heads off bats.
And "FUDS" (I now know "Formerly Used Defense Sites"). The only FUD I knew hunted wabbits.
To clarify: When I go over to Avon Park, I am helping the base "Cultural Resource Manager" (read Archaeologist). We usually are hunting for or checking on WWII crash sites, although when I was over a few weeks back, the part I found embedded in a tree turned out to be a completely different site (F-4). FWIW, Avon does have 2 interesting B-17 sites. One I was able to identify as a B-17F (42-5958 - "Wet Dream"), and another mysterious site, because we can find no record of a B-17 incident that matches the location (there are 2 R1820s laying in the woods, the main gear, and other debris that includes the bombay door gear boxes).
As for AAIR and Craig Fuller, the last report I ordered was around 25.00 and I considered an investment for the hunt I was considering. While 25.00 might be a bit expensive for research, when it comes to a hunt it can make or break the decision to continue. When I consider the time and gas money for a hunt, 25.00 can save me much more if the report determines it isn't worth it. I feel Craig has always been fair, and a few times he has even "donated" towards hunts involving the questions of surviving family members or descendants of crash victims.
Other valuable resources would be Tony Mireles' "Fatal Army Air Force Accidents", which again, isn't cheap, but has led me straight to a few sites.
Another, if still available is "Aircraft Accidents In Florida 1941-1945" by Bob Widner. Bob was very instrumental in my becoming an experienced wreck hunter.
Now back to 42-38795. Someone mentioned THREE miles SSE Hendricks. This would be IN Lake Istapoka. TWO miles would be very close to the lake. The pics are interesting as the visible props are neither feathered nor damaged ??????? Also interesting that as a G model, it still has the early (steeplechase?) tail gun position. Also interesting how it appears to have plowed across that field and ended up in the trees. Dennis
