Lockheed Vega B-17G Cheyenne modification upgrades in color!

[Edward]

34 Colorized photos by Daniele Salieri

"This particular airplane was the B-17G block of production 30 manufactured by Lockeed Vega that was one of the contractors licensed by Boeing to produce this model of bomber. The serial Number is 42-97825 that was built on 8/4/44 and then arrived to this modification center at Cheyenne on 1/5/44. His period overseas started on 28/6/1944 at Kimbolton Raf Base (Uk) with the 379 Bomb Group and nicknamed “Phyllis”, first with 526 Squadron and then with 527 Sq. He was damaged in the nose on a mission, repaired and survived the war service to came back to USA at Bradley on 29/6/45. Then was sold to RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation) and then scrapped at Kingman TX, on 2/12/1945 some infos says that it was possibly converted to b-17H for Air Sea Resque but is a not confirmed info. I'll happy if you like all of this." - Daniele
CREDITS: Thanks to @hangarthirteenfoundation for have posted the original pics.

 

[Edward]

 

[Edward]

 

[Edward]

 

[Silver Surfer]

very, very cool.

 

[DJS48]

Fantastic……………..If I didn't know they were colorized, I would think they were Kodachrome.

Great job and thanks for posting. That was just one airplane being modified of just one type.

Regards,
Don

 

[daw]

Somebody put a lot of effort in-thanks! Very cool.

 

[Micawber]

Very good.

 

[Lorenzo_l]

Great photos. I've rarely come across such good pictures of B-17s being manufactured, Thanks for posting, Ed.

 

[B-Man2]

Thanks for those photos Ed!

 

[s4rmark]

Brilliant!

 

[Garylafortuna]

Great images Edward. Thanks.

 

[B-Man2]

Did the tail gunner have an escape hatch or did he have to crawl back up the fuselage to a door to bail out?

 

[Edward]

Did the tail gunner have an escape hatch or did he have to crawl back up the fuselage to a door to bail out?

he had his own little escape hatch very tiny I might add. I don't know how they got out with all they wore including the chute!

 

[Edward]

Did the tail gunner have an escape hatch or did he have to crawl back up the fuselage to a door to bail out?

 

[B-Man2]

Thanks Ed...
First time I’ve ever seen that diagram .

 

[Edward]

I think the navigator and bombardier and the tail gunner would have had the hardest time in my opinion considering speed, dive and g forces. being on the outer ends of the plane you would have more centrifugal/gravitational issues and their hatches were small. when I got into the lower nose it took a bit for me to crawl in and out of the small access area to get in and out of the bombardier/Nav section. claustrophobic and I didn't have to deal with spin and gravity... I still knew which way was up.

 

[Edward]

come to think of it, the ball turret guy probably had to rely on someone getting him out so he could even think of bailing out.. and remembering to grab and put on his chute first after he is pulled out of the ball. geesh!

 

[Silver Surfer]

thats the reason for all those size 38 a-2s

 

[Micawber]

come to think of it, the ball turret guy probably had to rely on someone getting him out so he could even think of bailing out.. and remembering to grab and put on his chute first after he is pulled out of the ball. geesh!

With the guns pointing down the gunner could open his hatch and get out the ball but not before undoing his safety strap, disconnecting his oxygen tube, heated suit and interphone connections, then he could get out, grab his chute and bail. A BTO op friend of mine was saved from certain death when, after the B-17 was hit and the bail out order was given, his waist gunner mate was just about to exit the waist door when he looked back and noticed the ball was jammed by a fallen ammo box. The guy went back, removed the ammo box and with the ball in the right position was able to get his mate out, his chute on and both out the door. True story related to me by a good man.