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THE JET AGE RESERVE MODEL COLLECTION

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EASTER PARADE 2010

  
 

    
  First flown on 28 July 1935, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress became an icon of American air power and was the ancestor of the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress as well as the Stratoliner, Stratocruiser and all subsequent Boeing airliners.The B-17 was also the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit
  
 

    
 

 The announcement of Open Days at the Brockworth Tithe Barn Arts and Crafts Centre over Easter 2010 gave the Jet Age Reserve Model Collection an opportunity to display many items rarely or never seen in public in the 21st Century.  These were arranged in national themes and are described below.
  
 

    
 
 BOEING B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
  
 

    
First flown on 28 July 1935, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress became an icon of American air power and was the ancestor of the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress as well as the Stratoliner, Stratocruiser and all subsequent Boeing airliners.The B-17 was also the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit

In fact the ancestry of the B-17 - first known to Boeing as the Model 299 - began with an even larger aircraft, the XB-15 of 1934. Begun as a design study for a 5 000 mile range heavy bomber, the XB-15 commissioned by the US Army was - at the time of its first flight - the largest and heaviest plane ever built in the United States.  

Like the contemporary German Junkers G.38, the wings of the Boeing XB-15 were so large that the crew could move through passages within them to maintain the engines in flight. The XB-15 had been designed for four 1000 horsepower liquid-cooled engines but because those were not available in time it was powered by 850 bhp prime movers. Nonetheless, it set several load-to-altitude records, including taking a 31,205-pound payload to 8,200 feet on 30 July 1939.  Another concession to the relatively slow speed of such a large yet underpowered aircraft was the provision of bunks to let crew members sleep between shifts.

As a one-off prototype, the XB-15 was converted to a military transport during World War II and designated XC-105, although even before it had flown aerodynamic features of the giant bomber and the Boeing Model 247 transport aircraft ( a contemporary of the Lockheed Electra and Douglas DC3 ) were incorporated into the new Model 299, which would leap from the drawing boards of Seattle to flight testing in less than twelve months.

The Flying Fortress was designed for a US Army Air Corps competition to find a modern replacement for its obsolete biplane bombers with the winning multi-engined monoplane being optimised for attacking enemy warships approaching the coasts of the United States.  The military specifications were for a range of at least 1 020 miles but preferably 2 200 miles, a speed of at least 200 mph but preferably 250 mph and a capability of carrying a 2,000 lb bomb load.

Boeing's rival, the Douglas DB-1 was later developed in to the B-18 Bolo although by the time of the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939 only 30 Boeing  B-17s were fully operational with the US Army Air Corps despite more being ordered after Hitler and Chamberlain's Munich Agreement of 1938.


Indeed, Boeing B-17s first saw combat in May 1941 when 90 Squadron Royal Air Force took delivery of twenty -C series machines for high-altitude daylight bombing missions - as represented above at the 2010 International Plastic Modelling Society show at Churchdown. However, high altitude bombing proved inaccurate, freezing conditions at high altitudes jammed the B-17C's seven .50" calibre machine guns and high losses continued until 1942 when the remaining aircraft were transferred to North Africa. By this time however, later and improved marks of Flying Fortress were being introduced to four squadrons of RAF Coastal Command as submarine hunters and would claim 17 U-boats sunk or damaged by 1945.


Indeed, Boeing B-17s first saw combat in May 1941 when 90 Squadron Royal Air Force took delivery of twenty -C series machines for high-altitude daylight bombing missions - as represented above at the 2010 International Plastic Modelling Society show at Churchdown. However, high altitude bombing proved inaccurate, freezing conditions at high altitudes jammed the B-17C's seven .50" calibre machine guns and high losses continued until 1942 when the remaining aircraft were transferred to North Africa.  By this time however, later and improved marks of Flying Fortress were being introduced to four squadrons of RAF Coastal Command as submarine hunters and would claim 17 U-boats sunk or damaged by 1945.

Later marks of B-17 woud build on the early RAF experience and feature increased armour plating, nine rather than seven machine guns and self-sealing fuel tanks.  The first truly mass-produced variant - the B-17E - could carry a 4 000 lb bomb load and was also the first B-17 with the enlarged tail for high altitude stability and control.  The B-17E, introduced in September 1941 - similarly introduced the twin machine gun tail emplacement and the ventral ball turret - first in remotely controlled and then in manned Sperry varieties.


In the Pacific, the B-17 earned a deadly reputation with the Japanese who dubbed them "four-engine fighters." while from July 1942 over Germany the Flying Fortresses of the US Eighth Air Force were legendary for their ability to stay in the air and return to Britain with large chunks of the fuselage shot off. Just as had been the case with the RAF, early daylight B-17 raids resulted in heavy losses, although the introduction of Norden bomb sights increased accuracy and the eventual allocation of escort fighters cut the number of "Viermots" ( Four engined bombers in Luftwaffe parlance ) that succumbed to Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs.


In the Pacific, the B-17 earned a deadly reputation with the Japanese who dubbed them "four-engine fighters." while from July 1942 over Germany the Flying Fortresses of the US Eighth Air Force were legendary for their ability to stay in the air and return to Britain with large chunks of the fuselage shot off.

Just as had been the case with the RAF, early daylight B-17 raids resulted in heavy losses, although the introduction of Norden bomb sights increased accuracy and the eventual allocation of escort fighters cut the number of "Viermots" ( Four engined bombers in Luftwaffe parlance ) that succumbed to Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs.  Indeed, the commander of the US Eighth Air Force General Carl A Spaatz commented "Without the B-17, we might have lost the war."

The final and most produced Flying Fortress variant - the B-17G, as represented at Jet Age in 1/48 scale  - introduced the forward firing Bendix chin turret to resist head-on attacks, making a total of 13 machine guns on the aircraft.

B-17G specifications included a span of 103 feet 9 inches, length of 74 feet 4 inches and a height of 19 feet 1 inch. The four supercharged Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone engines each delivered 1,200 hp ( thanks in part to an exhaust driven turbocharger ) and gave a top speed of 287 mph, cruising at 182 mph. Service ceiling was 35,800 ft with a maximum range of 3 400 miles . Empty and gross weights were 36 135 lb and 65,500 lb  with a maximum fuel load of 3,630 gallons.

Boeing plants built a total of 6,981 B-17s in various models, and another 5,745 were built under a nationwide collaborative effort by Douglas and Lockheed (Vega).

Some of the last Flying Fortresses met their end in the 1960s as target drones for Boeing Bomarc missiles in the 1960s although a number have been preserved in museums and even in flying condition for air displays.



Indeed, the two models currently on strength at Jet Age - 1/48 scale B-17G 485784 and 1/72 scale B-17F 124485 - represent two of the most famous Flying Fortresses: Sally B and Memphis Belle respectively.




Indeed, the two models currently on strength at Jet Age - 1/48 scale B-17G 485784 and 1/72 scale B-17F 124485 - represent two of the most famous Flying Fortresses: Sally B and Memphis Belle respectively.




SALLY B



Built as a Boeing B-17G-105-VE with constructors number 8693, the future Sally B was one of the last to be constructed by the Lockheed-Vega plant at Burbank, California. Accepted by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) as 44-85784 on 19 June 1945 it was too late to see war service and was flown to Nashville for modifications. Converted for training purposes and re-designated TB-17G, it was based at Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson AFB), Ohio from November that year. As such, the Jet Age Museum's 1/48 scale model is accurate to 485784 in USAAF service in not being fitted with defensive armament although not representative of B-17Gs that actually saw combat.


Built as a Boeing B-17G-105-VE  with constructors number 8693, the future Sally B was one of the last to be constructed by the Lockheed-Vega plant at Burbank, California. Accepted by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) as 44-85784 on 19 June 1945 it was too late to see war service and was flown to Nashville for modifications. Converted for training purposes and re-designated TB-17G, it was based at Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson AFB), Ohio from November that year.  As such, the Jet Age Museum's 1/48 scale model is accurate to 485784 in USAAF service in not being fitted with defensive armament although not representative of B-17Gs that actually saw combat.

Continuing in the care of 2750th Air Base Group (ABG), ‘784 was selected for use as a research vehicle and in 1949 allocated EB-17G status. As such the B-17 was used in a variety of research roles, one of the most bizarre being the addition of a man-carrying pod on the starboard wingtip. Also fitted at the time was an infra-red tracking device in place of the Perspex nose. These trials continued for some years in a variety of guises and it was not until 1954 that ‘784 was returned to standard configuration, less armaments, at Hill AFB in Utah.

In France the Institut Geographic National (IGN) had purchased several B-17s after the war for survey and mapping work, and added others as necessary. 44-85784 arrived in November 1954 and was given the French registration F-BGSR. Based at Creil, these aircraft carried out work for the French government, and others, faithfully for many years but in the 1970s the cost of operating and obtaining spare parts for the Flying Fortresses became prohibitive and they were replaced by more modern aircraft.

Businessman and pilot Ted White then purchased and brought F-BGSR via Biggin Hill to the Imperial War Museum Duxford, as N17TE in March 1975 to begin a new life as Sally B, named after Ted’s long-time companion Elly Sallingboe.

Businessman and pilot Ted White then purchased and brought F-BGSR via Biggin Hill to the Imperial War Museum Duxford, as N17TE in March 1975 to begin a new life as Sally B, named after Ted’s long-time companion Elly Sallingboe.

Sally B made her debut at the 1975 Biggin Hill Air Fair, flying as the USAAF World War Two Memorial Flight in recognition of the 79 000 US airmen who died fighting in the skies over Europe between 1942 and 1945.

Kept in flying condition by volunteers from the newly formed Duxford Aviation Society, the Fortress was painted in the 457th Bomb Group USAAF 8th Air Force, based at Glatton during the Second World War, but retaining her original serial number 485784 and civilian registration G-BEDF.

In 1980 Ted White and Elly Sallingboe formed the Sally B Supporters Club in order to raise much needed funds while in 1981 485784 represented B-17 "Ginger Rogers" in London Weekend Television’s We’ll Meet Again" filmed at West Malling airfield and surrounding villages in Kent.

However, in 1982 Ted White was killed when his T-6 Harvard, G-ELLY, crashed during an air rally in Malta. Although devastated by the disaster, Elly and the team decided to carry on displaying Sally B as Ted would have wished and to this day Sally B's starboard inner engine cowling carries the same black and yellow chequered markings as G-ELLY

In 1989 Sally B found a starring role in the David Puttnam film "Memphis Belle" based on the William Wyler flag-waver of 1944 about B-17F "Memphis Belle", the first B-17 to complete twenty-five missions over enemy territory.

In 1989 Sally B found a starring role in the David Puttnam film "Memphis Belle" based on the William Wyler flag-waver of 1944 about B-17F "Memphis Belle", the first B-17 to complete twenty-five missions over enemy territory.

Five airworthy B-17s were assembled for the film with two from France and the USA apiece as well as Sally B. Peter Brown, Chief Engineer for the Duxford based B-17G, was asked by  co-producer Eric Rattray, to be the Aeronautical Consultant for the film and ensure that all the aircraft were in a serviceable state.

Filming began in June with Sally B as the only one of the B-17s involved fitted with smoke canisters and equipped to fire guns from the rear and ball turrets. Although Sally B played several different roles, she took the title role for the final, nail-biting sequence when the battle-torn bomber returned home from her final mission.

The B-17G went on to fly at many high profile historical events, including the D-Day commemorations in 1994, the VE-Day flypast over the City of London in 1995 and, almost every year, the Memorial Day commemorative flypast over the American Military Cemetery at Madingley in Cambridgeshire.  Since 2000 Sally B has been financed by a Charitable Trust.

The picture at the top of this section shows Sally B flying in formation with two North American P-51 Mustangs at the Walney island Air Display in 2005 while the two nose shots were taken at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, in 2002.



MEMPHIS BELLE




The original B-17F named Memphis Belle - USAAF serial number 41-24485 - was part of the 324th Squadron 91st Heavy Bomber Group of the U.S. 8th Air Force and the only B-17 to successfully complete 25 bombing missions over enemy territory during WWII. She flew her last bombing mission over Wilhelmshaven, Germany on Monday 17 May 1943. Memphis Belle and her crew then returned home to tour the United States promoting recruitment and war bond sales.




The original B-17F named Memphis Belle - USAAF serial number 41-24485 - was part of the 324th Squadron 91st Heavy Bomber Group of the U.S. 8th Air Force and the only B-17 to successfully complete 25 bombing missions over enemy territory during WWII. She flew her last bombing mission over Wilhelmshaven, Germany on Monday 17 May 1943. Memphis Belle and her crew then returned home to tour the United States promoting recruitment and war bond sales.  

Built by Boeing itself, 41-24485 joined the USAAF on 15 July 1942 and in September of that year was allocated to the 91st Bomb Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine .  Crossing the Atlantic, the B-17F arrived at Prestwick on 30 September 1942 and was based at Bassingbourn on 14 October where it carried the DF-A markings of the 324th Squadron.

Pilot Robert K Morgan originally wanted to name his Flying Fortress "Little One" - his pet name for his sweetheart Margaret Polk who hailed from Memphis, Tennessee - but after seeing the John Wayne film "Lady for a Night", which featured a riverboat named Memphis Belle, Morgan and his co-pilot Jim Verinis settled on the latter title.  Morgan then contacted Esquire magazine and asked for suitable a George Petty pin-up which 91st Group artist Corporal Tony Starcer then painted with a blue swimsuit on the port nose and a red suit on the starboard .  The Jet Age model however has red decals on both sides.

Eventually the Petty pin-up would be joined by a bomb shape for each of the 25 missions flown and a swastika for every fighter shot down by the B-17F.

After the Second World War Memphis Belle was on display at Memphis Tennessee for many decades but is now being restored at the USAF National Museum at Dayton Ohio.


After the Second World War Memphis Belle was on display at Memphis Tennessee for many decades but is now being restored at the USAF National Museum at Dayton Ohio.