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B-17 Liberty Belle CRASHED!

Wittpilot said:
BTW, I love how I am one of two mods on the FB page and John read that before I did!!!!!!!!

I thinkt the fact that the airplane was saveable after the forced landing in the field, just makes it all that much more horrible I think.... I mean, if the trucks couldn't have made it back there, they couldn't make it back... but to have to sit there and watch the poor son of a gun burn..... I couldn't have done it.....
Click to expand...

For me that is what struck me the most as well.. Not necessarily that the aircraft is gone per say, but the way the media initially reported it. Then other people having to point out that it was intact when it landed. Is why I said when I saw what the media reported I surely though the crew had died cause all I saw was wings, and smoldering wreckage... The fact that the field could support that B-17 though proves to me it could have supported the trucks. There was a truck in the field after the larger blaze was extinguished in some of the photos. Either way it just wasn't meant to be. Was some very good and quick thinking on the pilots part though as more of the facts are emerging. Is what good airmanship is about. Saving lives both in the air and on the ground when the excrement hits the fan by following proper rules and procedures.

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Originally Posted by Daveroo
to comment on what bomber12 said...sentimental journy was at the EAA fly-in at yuba county last weekend and they were having some sort of troubles...im NOT speculating or rumormonging...but i have pics of the number two and three engines with the cowlings off and oil everywhere...the announcer kept saying there would be B17 rides..then you looked at the b17 and it was in pieces,,at one point they seemed to be trying to either start or just turn over the number two,,,it made a loud whirrring sound..the prop never turned..it smoked a little and popped..then a man on the ground with a headset on took off his headset and threw it across the pavement...

To comment to this, it is not just a regular occurance on warbirds, but almost ANY military aircraft. Everyday it is something new with the H-60's I work on. Whether it is the brand new ones having rivets backing out, engine problems, or severe avionics problems. To the older ones just getting fatigued, parts wearing out, and leaking fluid. Believe me there are days I have wanted to chuck my headset across the flight line too when you fix 1 hydraulic leak, and then another weak point gives and you start all over again. Some days the bird cooperates, and does what you want. Other days it has a mind of its own, and they are determined despite your best efforts to not get airborne. Is just the nature of the beast.
 
Mr. Fowler is absolutely correct, it wasn't crash. And the media should step up and change the wrong they have done. It was an Emergency Forced Landing. That's how I believe the NTSB and FAA will call the incident.

As for the loss of material things Witt..... yes it's painful. Very painful to those of us that are a part of this 'flying' history. Tho she wasn't mine and I had no part of her or her operation, it did bring tears to my eyes. I've been involved with a few old warbirds in my time and the loss of any is a loss of some very important history. It's just as painful to see one go as Liberty Belle did, and I can only imagine it was the same back during WWII, whether it was the loss of the aircraft itself or the loss or aircraft and crew. Thank God no one was lost this time around.

Liberty Belle will live on in everyone's mind, hearts, and photos. Hopefully someday Liberty Belle II might take to the skies as just her dearly departed sister had done before her.

:salute: to the Liberty Foundation.
 
One would think they could have tried to run one truck out there to see if it would hold. Pulling a truck out of the mud is a lot cheaper than burning an aircraft.

Anyone know if the plane was insured for its actual cash value?
 
my point about the eaa fly-in incident wasnt that it was unusual that the plane was recieving "matincace" during the show..yup yup very normal for a what?? now 70? year old plane?...what my main comment was for was the humor of the grown man throwing a hissy fit infront of a couple hundred people,,,,i just thought it was funny,,,frustrating for him i know...but was funny to the crowd,,,,,again off topic...i was once in a race...broke the right front off (sprint car) and i ended up on my side in front of the grand stands....i got out..kicked the car and then bow'd at the growd....got a standing ovation...LOL
 
TARPSBird said:
Look at the wheels of the aircraft, they're not sunk axle-deep in mud. Seems to me that if the field was able to support the aircraft, the fire trucks could've made it to the scene when they first showed up. I'll be sure to get good homeowner's insurance if I ever buy a house in Oswego, in case of fire my yard might be too muddy for their trucks. :rolleyes:
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Someone in a non-aviation forum made the point that "Wouldn't have mattered. They only had water in those trucks, not the right type of foam for an AVGAS fire. Wouldn't have likely mattered if they were right next to the plane as it landed."

I am not an expert on these these things, but that does make sense. I also read that the nearest airport also did not have the proper firefighting equipment.

The pilot made the right decision, and did a masterful job landing it; and I am glad that everyone is safe. It is indeed a tragic loss; along with the Goodyear Blimp crash, this has not been a good week for aviation fans.

-James
 
Roadburner440 said:
To comment to this, it is not just a regular occurance on warbirds, but almost ANY military aircraft. Everyday it is something new with the H-60's I work on. Whether it is the brand new ones having rivets backing out, engine problems, or severe avionics problems. To the older ones just getting fatigued, parts wearing out, and leaking fluid. Believe me there are days I have wanted to chuck my headset across the flight line too when you fix 1 hydraulic leak, and then another weak point gives and you start all over again. Some days the bird cooperates, and does what you want. Other days it has a mind of its own, and they are determined despite your best efforts to not get airborne. Is just the nature of the beast.
Click to expand...

Not just military aeroplanes (I've worked mil and civil);
could happily have thrown my toolbox out last week with electrical problems
we had on a brand new Global Express!

ttfn

Pete
 
I have been reading comments left by people on all branches of the internet... There has been quite an outpouring of thanks and sorrow expressed.....Anonymity

There is, however, always one bad egg...... I'd like us all to sit and think what we would say to "David".............. Isn't there some saying about the dangers of the internet and anonymity?



David wrote on June 15, 2011 11:12 AM: Pretty sick people get torn up over a weapon that killed many innocent peoples. I fear for humanity.
 
If only David could spend some time in one of those "innocent" peoples concentration camps maybe he would have a change of heart....
 
David, it is not sick at all to have respect for these old airplanes. The B17 helped to bring an end to a long and terrible war. As for humanity, do not worry, people have survived many horrible times, and we will continue to do so.
 
For those that are also visitors to the Wix forum... I just noticed this today... Sucky circumstances.... Listen I'm trying to find some good to this week...*other than the obvious of no one getting injured.....




Most users ever online was 206 on Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:14 am
 
Witt,

Here's an idea for response.

While it's true that the B-17 was a machine built to kill people and destroy material, history proved that the airplane saved lives. In destroying the German war effort, it helped shorten the war, thereby saving lives.

At the end of WWII, the airplane was deemed obsolete. In doing so, this freed up the B-17 to do other things, many of which were humanitarian in nature. The SB-17 Rescue ship was born, along with the WB-17 Hurricane Hunter and the Fire Fighting version. I imagine there were some that were converted to carrying cargo and VIP variants, not to mention other variants not mentioned here. Eventually, aircraft were converted into warbirds, demonstrating a living, breathing, lesson in history. A lesson which is often forgotten and needs to be constantly retaught by many different sources including the warbird community.

So, while, yes the B-17 was designed to kill people, it only did so for a handful of years. After that, it's been so much to so many and probably saved more lives that it took. It is an incredible icon that will never be forgotten.
 
im so glad im not that "david",,,but im sure the majority of people dont feel the way he does do they?
 
I thought I had seen enough pictures that I couldn't get quessy anymore.....

Welp, I was wrong......This one is pretty bad folks.....

Not for the faint at B-17 heart....
 
Wittpilot said:
I thought I had seen enough pictures that I couldn't get quessy anymore.....

Welp, I was wrong......This one is pretty bad folks.....

Not for the faint at B-17 heart....
Click to expand...

How is it that the recovery vehicles and crane can drive around in that field but a fire truck sinks? The really nasty part of this accident is the bomber may have been saved.
 
I am a big fan of the B-17, and knowing all they went through, ...... I never thought a tiny fire could just melt one away. I am glad no-one was hurt and wow what a safe landing. I watched and viewed all the photos and videos, funny there was not a mention on my local Tampa TV, nor on the ABC national news.
Now is not the time to point fingers and blame others on what they did or should have done. We will all miss the Liberty Belle.
 
Ickie said:
I am a big fan of the B-17, and knowing all they went through, ...... I never thought a tiny fire could just melt one away. I am glad no-one was hurt and wow what a safe landing. I watched and viewed all the photos and videos, funny there was not a mention on my local Tampa TV, nor on the ABC national news.
Now is not the time to point fingers and blame others on what they did or should have done. We will all miss the Liberty Belle.
Click to expand...

as far as news coverage..my local news...sacramento..they gave it about 10 seconds...said a B17,the memphis belle ( yes its what they called it)crashed and burned today in iowa ( yup thats what they said) and he added that it seems to be pilot error as they were doing aerobatics at the time....i was pretty upset when i heard thati called the station and was told i was like the 50th call already to correct them..but they never mentioned it again......jerks
 
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