Down in the Design forum, there is a major work going on to develop the Hobbs Army Air Force B-17 Training base and related practice bombing sites.
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=24783
The is a lot of information about this base construction and operations online.
The base essentially trained experienced pilots and crews to fly, navigate, maintain, and bomb from the B-17's.
The first aircraft to arrive at the new base were AT-11's setup with B-17 like equipment. The B-17's arrived a little later just in time to meet the hands-on requirements.
Here are some interesting related links:
http://www.hobbshistory.com/haaf1.html
You might be interested in the excellent publication that documents the details of the base in downloadable pdf format. I have the glossy version here but it is the same. Very interesting publication ... big ... at 124MB.
http://www.hobbshistory.com/haaf5.html
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=24783
The is a lot of information about this base construction and operations online.
The base essentially trained experienced pilots and crews to fly, navigate, maintain, and bomb from the B-17's.
The first aircraft to arrive at the new base were AT-11's setup with B-17 like equipment. The B-17's arrived a little later just in time to meet the hands-on requirements.
Here are some interesting related links:
http://www.hobbshistory.com/haaf1.html
You might be interested in the excellent publication that documents the details of the base in downloadable pdf format. I have the glossy version here but it is the same. Very interesting publication ... big ... at 124MB.
http://www.hobbshistory.com/haaf5.html