I think it worth passing along the availability of a new DVD from Aviation Archeology that has, as its main subject, B-17G 44-85778 (N3509G), but has much more than that. The name of the DVD is Surviving B-17’s – “Miss Angela” A Fire Bomber’s Life and is available at their website for $22.99. The ordering page currently says “pre-order” but I was sent a copy by noted air tanker historian Milo Peltzer, who appears on the DVD giving some air tanker history.

And that is the key part of why I think this DVD is unique. There are four B-17 air tanker pilots (including Milo Peltzer) and two ground-bound firefighters who have extensive interviews throughout the DVD presentation. These interviews deal with the use of the B-17 as an air tanker in general, and not specifically the use of N3509G as an air tanker. The interviews are very informative, and added to this is some great video of the B-17 air tanker in action in the 1960s and 1970s. Much of this video footage I have never seen before. With much of northern California currently on fire, and with the media full of images of DC-10 and MD-80 airtankers making drops, seeing how the industry got started with B-17s and other surplus military equipment is a vivid and visual history.

The story of this specific B-17 is obviously included…44-85778 is displayed at the Palm Springs Air Museum as Miss Angela…but the wider history of the B-17 as an air tanker is what attracted me to what was on the DVD.

It’s a long DVD…not sure how long as that information is not published…but there are two bonus features included. Well worth the money, in my humble opinion.

And, I would be remiss if I did not mention that a book available on the aerovintage.com website, Final Cut, provides an excellent general history of the use of the B-17 as a air tanker, and detailed individual histories of each of the 23 B-17s used as air tankers from 1960 until the early 1980s. It also has individual histories of each of the 110 or so civil B-17s that flew after World War II. The main part of the book are the stores of each of the surviving B-17s (including 44-85778) that are still around. Not a bad deal either at $24.95 (including U.S. shipping).