YB-17 at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939

[Dan Johnson]

I believe this is where and when the two photos were taken. Note the large Federal Theatre Building, part of a WPA program from that time. I don't have an ID on the 17





Love the look on the Marine's face talking to one of the visitors

[05564]

Great photos, I can just imagine what's going thru some of these peoples minds looking at this big beautiful bomber! In 1939 this had to be the biggest thing flying. Question, what is sticking out of the bubble above the nose? Thanks for sharing these fine photos with all of us.

[DryMartini]

Question, what is sticking out of the bubble above the nose?

That's a .30 Cal machine gun.
The Y1Bs had a revolving nose turret.
I believe I've seen one picture with the
bubble at the 6 o'clock position. Anyone
seen that?

[05564]

Thanks, I knew somebody on here would know.

[Second Air Force]

Question, what is sticking out of the bubble above the nose?

That's a .30 Cal machine gun.
The Y1Bs had a revolving nose turret.
I believe I've seen one picture with the
bubble at the 6 o'clock position. Anyone
seen that?

Yep, I've got a couple of photos of the nose dome at the 0600 position (both pictures , if I remember, show no gun in the blister). The entire nosecone rotates on a set of rollers. There are some nice Boeing close-ups of the nose of the prototype that show the arrangement pretty well.

[stevefowler]

Very sharp pictures of a great looking plane. There is some very nice detail of the "plane of the future"! I wonder were that Marine was 2 years later?
Steve