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B-17 Liberty Belle CRASHED!

OMG what a shame......this isnt need in the warbird community...now some FAA geek or congressperson will latch on to it and try to get all warbirds grounded
 
That would be unfortunate, and I hope it never comes to that. It's really sad to see such a beautiful aircraft in that state, but I am glad that the passengers and crew got out before it got bad. The pilot is to be commended for putting it down in that cornfield with an engine on fire, I'm sure that must have been a pretty intense few minutes.
 
found the News Video here is the youtube version wonder what started the fire on the plane




[YOUTUBE]LcrQLsRfGkw[/YOUTUBE]
 
This is just gut-wrenching to see that aircraft in such a state. I'm very, very glad to hear that everyone made it out okay however! From what little I have heard and seen, it sounds like the crew did one heck of a job to safely get the aircraft down quickly, into just the best available place. The latest I have heard is that there was an engine fire that quickly developed and spread.

It would be great to see this thread's titled changed from 'crashed' to emergency landing, as it was.

My heart goes out to Don Brooks and the entire Liberty Foundation team.
 
Bomber_12th said:
It would be great to see this thread's titled changed from 'crashed' to emergency landing, as it was.
Click to expand...

True, I guess I jumped the gun on that one.

Looks like the engines are still pretty much intact, hopefully they can still fly on in another B-17. It must be heart wrenching for the people at the Liberty Belle foundation who restored and maintained the aircraft to see something like this happen to it, I can't imagine...

Just read another story from the Chicago Tribune, A WWII Vet turned down a ride on the Liberty Belle today, apparently there was a minor oil leak on one of the engines that was fixed but he decided to stay home because he wasn't feeling well.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...s-lucky-this-morning-20110613,0,4273112.story
 
So sorry to hear of this.
Glad everyone got out.

View attachment 39989

Driving into my first EAA Oshkosh many years ago, I was greeted by a formation flight of 3 B-17s overhead.
Nothing I had ever expected to see, something I will never forget.
 
argo147 said:
It must be heart wrenching for the people at the Liberty Belle foundation who restored and maintained the aircraft to see something like this happen to it, I can't imagine...
Click to expand...

Just posted in the thread in FSX forum; restoration (they made one from two)
was done at Tom Reilly's place at Kissimmee; Florida, (next to Warbird Adventures)
I was there when it was rolled out having escaped damage in a pesky Hurricane ( Charley IIRC) unlike Tom's Hangar which was pretty much flattened.

What a shame.

ttfn

Pete
 
What a cryin' shame! I took a tour of Liberty Belle a couple of years ago when she was in Marana, AZ. What a beautiful bird she was! I wish I could have taken a ride in her, but at $425 for a half hour, I just couldn't afford it. I'm glad to hear that everyone got out safely. A tragic loss to be sure...
 
GT182 said:
Any word from Witt? That's the one he and his dad are a part of, the Liberty Belle foundation. Sad loss of a special B-17.... as all the surviving B-17s are.

I was just thinking about Witt . I thought that was the one that he and his Dad were associated with as you stated GT182 . They must be heart broken . Very sad news indeed for all of us who love historic aircraft .

Rich
Click to expand...
 
Well, I don't know what to say.

First I want to say thanks for all the comments and well-wishers. I was not on board and none of the 7 people that were were too injured.

I left work early today to actually send my Liberty Foundation Newsletters that I publish to all our members to the printers. I was at my folks' house to pick up my two little girls when dad's phone rings. He runs upstairs, comes back down after a few minutes and says that was Don Brooks & that Liberty Belle had a fire and was in a field in IL. I quickly pulled it up on my phone and no matter how hard I try, I don't think I put into words how we all initially felt.

Thank God nobody was hurt, and a huge reason for this was because of the actions by an incredible pilot. I won't give his name since Mr. Brooks didn't offer it in an interview, he is in several pictures of the crash so if you might recognize him. I know him and he is indeed a great pilot. I didn't know the individual in the right seat at the time.

It is really like losing a family member. I never thought you could get a sense of loss from an 'object', but you really can. It was the first time I really got to be involved with a group of people like that. The people involved with the Liberty Foundation are a unique bunch and some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

I won't go into any details, truth is I don't know much than all of you at this point. I was super excited to get to spend an entire weekend with the bird in two weeks.... But am thankful that the fire didn't occur somewhere over downtown Cincy!

I think I will have an official press release for everybody tomorrow. I talked with friend that was actually travelling with Ray in the P-40... He didn't have too much to add other than the pilot did one hell of a job to slap the plane into the space that was there and in thick mud on top of that.

She will be saddly missed. She was painted in my grandfather's Bomb Group and was the only B-17 I've flown in. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

Stay tuned folks....

Alot of pictures Here...

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110613/news/706139915/photos/AR/
 
This is probably a stupid question Witt, but is there any way she can be restored? I don't imagine there's a fuselage and wings just sitting around that could be used... but hopefully there might be.
 
GT182 said:
This is probably a stupid question Witt, but is there any way she can be restored? I don't imagine there's a fuselage and wings just sitting around that could be used... but hopefully there might be.
Click to expand...

Going from the photographs of what is left, and being an actual aviation structural mechanic I do not think there is anyway the bird could ever be brought back... Granted my only experience is on helicopters, but it looks like the B-17 landed fully in tact. Then as the fire burned it melted the aluminum, and underlying structures turning it into the end mass we see. The only pieces that look to be unwarped/salvageable is the small section of the nose behind the glass that is uncharred, the ends of the wings where the 'tokyo tanks' are located on A2A's B-17, the tail, and maybe the engine nacelles.. Since the engines were shut down without striking the ground those will most likely be salvagable/fly again. Either way most of the structure is melted into the aluminum pool on the ground, and the surrounding aluminum is warped from the heat and must be replaced. I am just glad nobody got hurt.. I first read this over on the A2A forums and after seeing the pictures I thought everyone surely was dead. Fortunately after reading articles though the crew survived. Please continue working with the foundation Witt, and keeping history alive. This is only but a small bump in the journey.
 
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