Aircraft

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 11:33:08 AM

FI FI is the only flying B29 in existence. The B 29 is the largest Bomber that can be privately owned. She is always the centerpiece at the CAF AirSho in Midland every year.

Forty Rod · April 05, 2009, 01:41:35 PM

I've been aboard the B-17 down at Planes of fame. It doesn't fly, but I walked through. The guys on those crews must have been small. I can't get my fat a...bulk around in there at all.

Four-Eyed Buck · April 05, 2009, 02:18:03 PM

hopefully you didn't try the lower ball turret, Forty.

Talk about cramped, they liked to have jockey's in them things........Buck

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 02:20:32 PM

The crewmen were usually small, especially the turret gunners. My Dad was too tall to be a fighter pilot, so they made him a Bomber pilot.

Delmonico · April 05, 2009, 02:26:02 PM

Quote from: Four-Eyed Buck on April 05, 2009, 02:18:03 PM
hopefully you didn't try the lower ball turret, Forty. Talk about cramped, they liked to have jockey's in them things........Buck

Gawd, I'm glad 40 is a ways away,, the thought of puttin' him in the ball turrent brings the name "Butter Ball" to mind. Sorry pard, I couldn't help it.

Four-Eyed Buck · April 05, 2009, 02:31:41 PM

The tail gunner position needed a jockey size guy as well. Tough to get out of there if you had to bail out............Buck

$:-\$

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 02:32:39 PM

Sailors on WW2 subs were small guys. The area on those WW2 Fleet subs was real cramped. The idea of the Duke being a sub commander was totally wrong, he was just too tall.

Leo Tanner · April 05, 2009, 02:37:58 PM

I think my Uncle Joe was about my Dad's size. He had the short gene, most of us our tall. Nick, the tank pilot, was about 5'10. Perty cramped in there too. I'd really like to see the tail gunner position to get a better idea of exactly what it was like fer Joe.

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 03:05:14 PM

The B 17 was originally designed as a 4 engine passenger aircraft. The gunner positions were all after thoughts, including the top and bottom turret. The Boeing museum has the original prototype on display.

Four-Eyed Buck · April 05, 2009, 03:32:42 PM

TLD, you're right about those fleet subs. I've been through the Cod up in Cleveland. started down the forward torpedo loading hatch and came out the aft hatch. Wife wouldn't go in her. Them ladders are tough going in lacers......

www.usscod.org

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 03:48:55 PM

I've toured 3 of those WW2 American subs, the Seawolf, the Pampanito, and the Bowfin. I also toured the U 505 which is at the Chicago Museum of Industry. My favorite sub to tour has to be the Nautilus. It is open for tour at the Submarine Museum in Groton, Connecticut. It was commissioned in 1954 as the first atomic powered Sub. There was a story about it in our Weekly Reader paper at school. I always wanted to see it and I finally got my chance. It was really neat. There really wasn't that much more room in it than the WW@ subs.

Forty Rod · April 05, 2009, 07:26:13 PM

Quote from: Leo Tanner on April 05, 2009, 02:37:58 PM
I think my Uncle Joe was about my Dad's size. He had the short gene, most of us our tall. Nick, the tank pilot, was about 5'10. Perty cramped in there too. I'd really like to see the tail gunner position to get a better idea of exactly what it was like fer Joe.

Find a standard sized trash can, about 35 gallons, climb in and have someone put the lid on. Now, take a really deep breath.

I couldn't get to the nose or cockpit. Closest was the navigator /RO) seat. Didn't try the rear gunner's hidey-hole but looked in. Same with the belly ball turret. Even the waist gunners positions were crowded and the catwalk through the bomb bay was an experience in claustrophobia. Who'd I miss?

I was in my cousins B-25 when I was a kid...about 19 or 10 years old..., and it seemed roomier in the nose and cockpit. The bomb bay doors had been permanently secured and the bay was converted ala Winnebago with stuffed seats and an decent floor. The tail gunner's place was closed off and the waist gunner's positions sported nice view ports.

Leo Tanner · April 05, 2009, 08:01:19 PM

I balieve some of em had a navagator and a radio operator seated next to each other. Camped spaces in their own right.

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 08:05:36 PM

The bigger bombers did, like the 17, 24, and 29.

Leo Tanner · April 05, 2009, 08:10:55 PM

Thankya Pop. An I meant ta say "cramped". Time ta clean the keyboard.

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 08:21:23 PM

Both the B17 and the B24 carried a crew of 10, while the B29 carried a crew of 11.

Leo Tanner · April 05, 2009, 08:26:10 PM

Who was the 11th man on the 29? The top gunner? Need ta get over my B-17 fettish an learn more about the rest.

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 08:35:10 PM

The B29 carried a radar operator that the other 2 didn't.

Leo Tanner · April 05, 2009, 08:38:14 PM

Thanks again. Wanna know more about the 29, the superfortress was quite a plane.

Texas Lawdog · April 05, 2009, 08:47:38 PM

It was primarily used in the Pacific Theater, flown from bases built on the captured islands. It was responsible for dropping both A Bombs. It saw service in the Korean War as well.