B-17G Super Fortress

[Jim B.]

2 weeks ago a B-17G Super Fortress was on display at the local airport.I wanted to catch it flying in but it arrived 45 minutes early.
I did get inside for some photos.
The crew getting the plane ready for visitors.


Ball Turret


Ball Turret gunner talking to a friend.


Interior shot showing the Ball Turret.The yellow tank is oxygen.


Bombardier postion.


Looking back to the tail through the bomb bay.The guy in the frame is 6" tall.


Chin Gun operated by the Bombardier.


The most dangerous position on the aircraft.


Gun sight on 50cal. waist gun.


Gun sight again.


Dorsal Gun.

[carregwen]

Excellent plane shots, Jim. The 5D takes a great shot (and I'm sure some of it was down to you too!) Good clarity and colour.

[Clactonian]

That's one mean machine, and beautifully photographed.

[arith]

I think they are fantastic photo's. So you must have been a flyer because you know such a lot about it and have access I couldn't get.

[Jim B.]

Thanks,Rob.
I'm lovin the 5D!My 50D's no slouch,but I think the 5D renders colours better and I like the extra resolution.The 50D doesn't see a lot of action unless I need the fps and the 1.6X.Mostly wildlife.
Some of the interior shots were tough because the outside light was really harsh.I feel I've advanced my PP skills a good bit the last 3 months or so.Very pleased with results I'm getting lately.

[Jim B.]

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words.
Yep,it's one mean mother! Hard to take down too.I talked to a pilot that flew 26 missions into Germany.He told about two incidences ,one where they had 1200 holes in the plane,part of the tail blown off and only one engine! The crew was dumping everything they could to keep it in the air to get to land.He put it down in a field.
Second one only one wheel was down and they couldn't get the other to drop.He had to land in water because it would have blown up trying to land on an airstrip.

[ScoutR]

Excellent shots Jim. You might have missed the landing, but it sure paid off to get there early and be able to get these shots without too many people around. Seeing the inside and the gunners positions really gives a good idea what it must have been like to be on a mission in one of these. Great to see some of the original crew too and being able to talk to the original pilot must have been quite interesting (understatement). It's really good to see that they are still involved.

Wendy

[Jim B.]

I think they are fantastic photo's. So you must have been a flyer because you know such a lot about it and have access I couldn't get.

Thanks,Steve.
I'm not a pilot.I've loved aircraft from an early age and have read a lot about aviation and have flown in several different types of aircraft,but never have flown in anything military.I got access to the inside by paying $5.00.It was opened to the public.

[Jim B.]

Thanks,Wendy.
I could have spent hours talking to those guys! When you realize that they were all in their early 20s,it just floors you.I can't imagine me being in that position at that age.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Jim,

Brilliant series, it seems this is another thing you don't do badly (it was you I said that to wasn't it?).

My only 'complaint' is, being an engineer with a similar lifelong interest in aviation, wanting to see them all 200% bigger (but please don't, because I can imagine shots of this quality being ripped). I just like to work out what everything is

The DoF, for f5 - f5.6, looks quite good, I guess the 12-24mm focal lengths used helps out there - I work much longer most of the time, so it seems alien to me

You're right to be pleased with the PP.

Cheers,

[Peter Ryan]

Great work all round Jim. I did enjoy this series.

[Shadowman]

Great shots, lots of variety, and very personal with the combination of human and machine.

[Jim B.]

Hi Jim,

Brilliant series, it seems this is another thing you don't do badly (it was you I said that to wasn't it?).

My only 'complaint' is, being an engineer with a similar lifelong interest in aviation, wanting to see them all 200% bigger (but please don't, because I can imagine shots of this quality being ripped). I just like to work out what everything is

The DoF, for f5 - f5.6, looks quite good, I guess the 12-24mm focal lengths used helps out there - I work much longer most of the time, so it seems alien to me

You're right to be pleased with the PP.

Cheers,

Hi Dave,

Yes,it was me.Not 200%,but here's a link to larger versions http://phoenix54.smugmug.com/Airplan...13761455_fxVz6

I'm not worried about someone rippin' me off.Mouse over on the right in an image and you'll get size options.

I've had the 12-24 for awhile now,but this was the 1st time I really worked with it.

[Wirefox]

Nice work Jim. I particularly like 1 and 6. I live very close to the Burtonwood (Base Air Depot 1...BAD 1). In 1942 it became a servicing centre for the United States Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces aircraft. 4,243 B17s were either assembled, modified or repaired. In total over 11.000 US aircraft were processed through USAAF Burtonwood in Lancashire between 1942 and 1945. There is not much left now but a few years ago it was still possible to see many of the gigantic hangers and workshops. In the sixties it was taken over by US Army as a supply depot and was eventually returned to the Crown in the late 80's.

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main...ead.php?t=4214

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/conte..._feature.shtml

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/B/Burtonwood.htm

[arith]

Small world; I crashed one of those gliders but at Spitalgate now a prison. In fact somebody from borstal staged the great escape by landing away from the airfield on his solo. It didn't seem fair that we were expected to do well at school and in the Air Cadets and borstal lads were able to do exactly the same training but without the work.

He did manage to escape.

[Jim B.]

Great work all round Jim. I did enjoy this series.

Thank you,Peter.

[Jim B.]

Great shots, lots of variety, and very personal with the combination of human and machine.

Thanks,John.

[CNelson]

Very nice series.....well shot and interesting.

Chuck

[Lornek]

The shot of the bombardier's section is really stunning. Looks almost like a beautiful illustration from the 40's...or like a perfectly done CGI still.