Aero Vintage Books

Got these pics from Trey Brandt (Faded Contrails) a few years back. First one, IIRC crashed in the fog short of the W-E runway and wreckage may still be buried in a bean field just west of the airport (now Sebring) The second one, from what I figure appears to have not quite made the N-S runway, bellied in, and then caught fire from the brush. We were able to deduce N-S runway by aligning the water tower in the picture and the control tower that can barely be seen in the picture. Buzz numbers on both planes are visible. Dennis

That's two more for the Hendricks File, many thanks

I may have mentioned this, but Hendricks #17, a B-17B, was the first plane to land at nearby Avon Park bombing range. They flew it up there to "test" the runway. I have 2 pictures of that one, one showing the 17 buzz number, and one that shows a couple of guys standing in front of a wing. Neither shows a serial number, and I do not have permission to post them, but might be able to get it. Dennis

More: 04 (9006) obviously is a B, while 08? in the near background still has blisters. Cant make the numbers on the 2 Es parked outside. Allegedly, this is in a hangar at MacDill, but the far background makes me think it may be Hendricks. Hopefully a cross reference on 9006 will give more info? While not B-17 specific, while attempting to visit a B-26 site at Avon Park a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a piece of aircraft embedded in a Cypress tree. Closer inspection made me suspicious that it wasn't WWII vintage. Another part not far away got me thinking. This part wasn't rusty (not steel) wasn't light (not aluminum) wasn't shiny (not stainless). Shape kind of made me think it was part of the Martin 250CE turret, but something wasn't right. On my way home the thought hiit me: titanium? Jet" Some research led to a GE J79 (Phantom Jet). A little research a few days later on another jet and it all came together Phantom Jet 67-0330, crashed 6-27-73 killing both crew. Much history down here Dennis

EDIT: Looks like 39-006 had a major boo-boo at Hendricks in Oct 42, but didn't get surveyed until '46 (?????)

Both Hendricks 53 (left) and 51 right remain unidentified at this time

Someday.......

"08" is a Y1B-17.

You know, I was thinking all along that the air scoops on the nacelles looked odd. The lack of the turret bubble on the nose threw me off. Interesting, but I guess they had to end up somewhere. And that would make sense that the Bs were upgraded to C-D standards yet a Y1B-17 might still be original (or basically original). Dennis

The bubble was most likely removed as on the XB-15 or rotated to the bottom.

If that's a Y1B-17, then it should be 36-154

So is there a list of Hendricks B-17s somewhere? I found several different ones yesterday trolling around the web. Dennis

Is there an Official list for Hendricks -- no

Unofficial, yes. Something collected as the photos appear (and not just taken from Osborne)

The Y1B-17 is the only Y1 that was assigned to Hendricks. I do have a somewhat unofficial listing for the disposition of these ships as well (the USAAC / USAAF history is bare bones)