B17 Guide

WEB RESOURCES

ALSO BY CHUCK TAYLOR:

Cheeca Lodge
Vail Winter

Aboard a WWII B-17
This thrilling adventure teaches a respect for our history that just can't be learned from textbooks.
By Chuck Taylor

"A large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in everything." -- Laurence Sterne

It had been one of the best summers in Connecticut in years. Relaxing on a spectacular Thursday afternoon was priceless. Suddenly, the windows began to shake as the increasing thunder of low flying aircrafts became louder, then deafening. I knew that things were going to get interesting real fast. You never know when your next Johnny Jet adventure will fall right into your lap or fly right over your head!

Come fly with me on an adventure of a lifetime. We'll experience first-hand what it's like aboard one of only 14 World War II B-17s still flying in the U.S. and explore a B-24 Liberator on the tarmac. We'll also get to know some of the brave men who flew missions for freedom in these historic war birds over 60 years ago.

WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR
The Collings Foundation was founded by Bob Collings and is now run by his son Rob and his wife Caroline. The Foundation has been conducting the Wings of Freedom Tour annually for the past 17 years, visiting over 150 locations nationwide. The tour is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to introduce their students to living history and for families and aviation enthusiasts to have an amazing day. I promise, you'll meet veterans with colorful stories that only they can tell, about their first-hand experiences.

Click here to view the 2008 schedule. If you're traveling or live near one of the many venues, it's truly worthwhile to carve a few hours from your busy schedule and be a part of this experience. General admission for unguided tarmac tours of the aircraft is $10. Flight experiences start at $325 and are tax deductible.

ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
They flew right over my head as they made a left-hand turn over Long Island Sound on their final approach to Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR). They were: a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-24 Liberator. Wow! This was a sight to both see and hear. Each aircraft has four 1,000 HP plus engines. NASCAR fans, you'll love it! It sounds like the entire Daytona 500 field, flying overhead.

Watching them bank hard, it was obvious that something special was happening only a few miles away in Stratford, CT. Several clicks later revealed that The Wings of Freedom Tour was in town until the following day. This was too good an opportunity to pass up. As a Johnny Jet reporter, I had to somehow arrange a ride on that B-17. My plan was to get up early and drive to the airport, business card in hand, and introduce myself: Chuck Taylor, adventure writer.

Approaching the aircraft hangars in the morning was exciting. The planes are surreal when I first catch a glimpse of them. They're proud and larger than life in a world that's been flattened by modern jet travel.

A volunteer greeted me at the security gate and graciously offered to introduce me. Waiting patiently for several minutes, it was obvious that this was an organized and well-equipped endeavor.

Caroline Collings came forward and introduced herself. She looked like she ought to be working for Ralph Lauren at 867 Madison Avenue. However, she is no lifestyle model. She is the real deal. She's an experienced pilot and flies WWII heavy bombers. Caroline is Captain rated on the B-25 Mitchell and a spokeswoman for the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS), who ferried many of these planes to staging airfields for the European and Central Pacific Theatres.

After providing some background information, she accessed JohnnyJet.com and said, "We're leaving for Oxford, CT today at 1pm. Would you like to take a ride on the B-17?" Grinning ear to ear, her offer was eagerly accepted.

AIRCRAFT TOUR
Before the flight, we toured "Witchcraft", the olive drab B-24 Liberator with a top speed of 285 mph. She was armed with eleven .50-caliber machine guns and had a maximum bomb load of 8,000 lbs. With a crew of 10, fuel and ordinance, it topped the scales at 65,000 pounds and had a range of 1,850 miles.

The four bomb bay doors operated like garage doors and neatly rolled up along the outside of the fuselage. Four 1,100 hp Pratt & Whitney engines powered the plane. Consolidated Aircraft Company in Houston, Texas manufactured it.

We bent down low to enter the bomb bay compartment so we could access the cockpit. At first glance, it's clear that the inside of this flying machine is still a technological and engineering wonder. Pioneering leaps in the development of hydraulic systems, variable pitch propellers, super-charging and turbo-charging are all evident in this 65-year-old plane.

Structurally, it's rock solid. Thousands of rivets connecting the frame to the vertical stringers hold everything together. The aluminum fuselage is thin and offers little protection from the penetrating cold or enemy fire. The men who flew in these planes were brave. We can only imagine how confining and scary it must have been to be aboard during an actual combat mission.

Caroline ducks under the no-access barrier to the cockpit and gestures to me to sit in the co-pilot seat next to her. Throttles, trim tabs, pitch controls, countless dials and gauges have been painstakingly restored to working condition. Over 97,000 hours of labor went into bringing this old lady of the skies back to life.

Looking out the cockpit window, we see the gigantic B-17 parked on the tarmac. She was formidable and had a certain elegance and grace for such a large machine. There was no mistaking that this was a proud American icon that represented both technological ingenuity and freedom.

MEETING WALTER HUSAK
Second Lieutenant Walter Husak looks great at 84. He's as fit as a fiddle and still fits smartly into his Air Force uniform. Greeting me with a firm handshake, he's the kind of man that you can tell was calm, cool and collected under fire.

He flew 10 combat missions aboard a B-24 Liberator in the Central Pacific. Based out of Sipan, his B-24 was part of the USAF's heavy bombing campaign to soften up the Japanese stronghold on the island of Iwo Jima. The campaign lasted 69 days straight. He logged a little over 1,000 hours in the air.

Reminiscing about those days with pride, he confirms that the B-24 was indeed a great airplane. "When the gunners were firing the .50-caliber machine guns, you'd flinch at the controls. The airplane would shake. You never really got used to it."

The aircraft was fitted with the top-secret Norden Bombsight that was like a miniature computer. It compensated for the plane's speed, drift and altitude. Husak had to relinquish control of the airplane on bombing runs. The bombardier flew the plane. "It was a top secret technology and could never be left unattended. An officer carried it out before the mission in a canvas bag and immediately retrieved it upon our return. No pictures were allowed."

Husak was a few hours short of being able to get a job with an airline after the war and is now a retired insurance executive who, in his spare time, is a "Stop Organizer" for the Oxford, CT event. "There are only three of us left now from my crew," he told me. "We still keep in touch after all of these years."

THE FLIGHT
Before we boarded the plane from Sikorsky Memorial Airport for the 20-minute ride to Oxford, each of the passengers helped prevent vapor locks in the massive 1,200 HP Cyclone engines. We rotated each of the 12 propeller blades by hand. One of the kids on the flight thought that part was pretty cool.

We boarded the B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" through the tail hatch. Our guide instructed us on some safety concerns and encouraged us all to freely move about and explore every inch of the plane once we were airborne.

Before takeoff and landing, you must buckle yourself into wooden bench seats that are flush against the fuselage and floor. A quick release strap holds you in place and restricts any view of outside.

The best two seats are up front, just behind the cockpit. Some agility and balance is necessary to negotiate the catwalk between the bomb bays to get there. Take your time and be careful not to bang personal items into anything.

Once positioned, it's possible to watch the engine start-up sequence and get a glimpse of the pilot pre-flight takeoff procedures. It also affords the opportunity drop down through the nose hatch gangway quickly. This gains a few extra private moments in the nose section of the airplane. Without delay, the pilot and co-pilot turn the engines over and they spring to life with thunder. It's thrilling! My whole body shook and vibrated from the power.

Taxiing to the end of the runway, the pilot braked to check the control surfaces and bring the engines up to speed before barreling down the runway. During takeoff, his footwork to keep the plane tracking the centerline of the runway was impressive.

Once we were airborne, our crew chief signaled to me that it was OK to move about. I scurried through the nose hatch on my hands and knees and was able to catch the first unobstructed views and best experience of the flight.

Flying with nothing beneath but the Connecticut River, the floating sensation was dreamlike. The Plexiglas protected me from the elements and afforded me this once in a lifetime experience.

With 74 more feet of airplane to explore, the best stations for viewing were the radio compartment skylight and waist gun windows. Don't forget to peek through the bomb bay door openings or check out the ball turret gun station.

It's a short hop to Oxford and the plane banked hard to the right as we approached. With a chirp, the tail gear made contact with the runway. Crowds of people gathered around, waiting for us. An elderly gentleman wearing a vintage Air Force cap walked slowly towards the airplane and looked as if he had just found an old lost friend whom he'd not seen in over 60 years.

It was an amazing moment to witness ... especially, since we lose over 4,000 WWII veterans every single day now and soon they will be all gone. With them, vanishes a time in our country's history that must never be forgotten.

So please come out and experience this special opportunity when you have the chance. It's something you'll always remember.

CHUCK'S VIDEO

Chuck Taylor loves adventure. Whether its single-handed, deep-sea fishing 75 miles off of Montauk, flying, or hunter jumping equestrian, Chuck is an adrenaline seeker. He is also an avid photographer and has photographed over 100 golf courses from around the world. A self-proclaimed entrepreneur since 5 years old, Chuck holds four patents and founded Great Marketing Ideas, LLC and Threshold Media, Inc. He conceives, implements and manages consumer marketing initiatives and promotions for national and international clients including: Titleist, Sports Illustrated, PGA TOUR, Coca-Cola and Time Warner.

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The Trip