Hendricks Update - July 2019

[terveurn]

Scott

This might help visualize why the turret had to be stowed fwd / aft for access

https://youtu.be/GSmhMaKDCkI?t=49

Belle Turret.JPG

Belle Turret 2.JPG

[aerovin2]

Scott

Think about the upper turret on the B-17 ? You have the yoke the FE stand's on and on each side, ammo cans.

If the upper is turned any position except to the axis of flight, the passage is blocked (turret ops para. 3H)

The bomb bay was the recommended method of leaving the B-17 in flight (see Flight Manual) for the Pilots and FE with the fwd entry as secondary for the flight deck crew.

Yeah, I got all that. As far as I can tell, the pilots can get out of the airplane (to bail out) regardless of the turret position...

I've been inside a few B-17s (no top turrets installed) and the opening to the forward hatch is just aft of the pilot seats, if I recall correctly. Interesting stuff.

[Dennis56]

All the more reason for a B, C, or D. (as long as people aren't shooting at you) Dennis

3_5 B-17D.jpg

[terveurn]

38-583.jpg

[Dennis56]

Which brings up a couple of questions from me:
So was there a specific number of planes per field? 100?
Was there some kind of ''designator" field to field? I don't see a large H, or letter designating the field (this picture, which I have seen before does show "Hendricks" in the fine print. Were numbers color coded?
Now what about MacDill or Drew fields?
Still learning... Dennis

[terveurn]

Hendricks did not have any marking except for the oversized two digit number on the nose / tail.

MacDill, Avon Park, Drew and Gulfport were all part of the 3rd AF CCRC during 1944 - 1945 and had a field designation / squadron / letter combination

Sioux City, Rapid City, Dyersburg, and Alexandria used a two digit tail ID with last 4-digits on nose (until they transferrd to 3rd AF)

You also had other fields (Lockbourne and Hendricks) that only trained B-17 pilots

Langley was a PFF training base

There is a lot of information never published (except for my books) that even attempt to touch on this subject. For the past 75 years, almost 100% of the books on WWII deal with the combat units and the training bases received short shift

ZOI Combat Crew Training B-17 Colors and Markings 1944-45.JPG