nmacwarbirds

Dear All
I knew the B17 and their crews were tough,
but just take a look at this, how this B17 made it back defies believe.

B-17 in 1943
A mid-air collision on February 1, 1943, between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of World War II. An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress named All American, piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron.


When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away. The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, the fuselage had been cut almost completely through connected only at two small parts of the frame, and the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged. There was also a hole in the top that was over 16 feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest, and the split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunners turret. Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind and twisted when the plane turned, and all the control cables were severed except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft still flew - miraculously!


The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart. While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.


When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from parachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.


The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home. The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky. For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters. The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.


Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the empennage was waving like a fish tail, that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out. The fighters stayed with the Fortress taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" so five of the crew could not bail out. He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane and land it.


Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away. It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.


When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition. The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed onto the ground. The rugged old bird had done its job.

For some reason I can't get the pictures to load, it says something about a fake path can anyone help please.

Regards Phil G.

Dangaras

Here you go....

nmacwarbirds

Dangaras,
They are the ones, thank you.

Regards Phil G.

Leroy Gardner

It looks like it caught a wing of a shot up something, the fact it made it down is a testament to the ruggedness of the ww 11 planes. Many a survival story about planes of those days where as most of todays planes would be history.

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
Salute to the 445th Bomb Group Friday the 5th of July 2013 Tibenham Airfield

I am pleased to announce that the RAF are going to send over two of their
assets in support of this event. They are the BBMF Dakota from RAF Coningsby which will perform
three passes and a SAR Sea King from 22 SQN. B flight, Wattisham which will also perform a pass.
Needless to say, I am very pleased.

I wonder if Flt.Lt. Wales will be flying the Sea King.

Regards Phil G.

nmacwarbirds

Some pictures sent to me by Peter R.
They are of a gun that he has made for his Ziroli Dauntless.

Regards Phil G.

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
I am extremely pleased to say that the BBMF are going to support the Bob event at Tibenham on Friday the 27th of September
with a flypast by one of their Spitfires. Yippee, is there anything more beautiful than
a Spitfire on the wing.

Regards An elated Phil G

lightning 759

Hi
Just a few pics from the RAFMAA warbirds meet at the weekend , i only got on the sunday was the quite day of the two im affraid .camera work not that good but hope the enjoy

Andy

lightning 759

And a few more

Dangaras

Very Nice.!

nmacwarbirds

Thanks for posting your excellent pictures here, Andy.

Below are some pictures of a reworked H9 150 size P51D Mustang,
now finished as the machine flown by,
James S. "Pete" Peterson
WWII Fighter Pilot 1st Lt. A/C, 78thFighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron, 8th Air Force, Army Air Corps.

My nephew Muffler acquired the model at a recent auction, it comes with 8 servos, there are no retracts or engine or spinner with it.
He has now decided to sell it, I have several projects to finish but I am seriously considering buying it off him.

Regards Phil G.

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
Looking at the fullsize pictures above of the B17,
it reminded me that in 2011 we were lucky enough to have
the Dutch Master Jan Hermkens over for the salute event at Tibenham.

Below are two pictures of his multiple contest winning B17.
He also brought along again his multiple contest winning P61 Black Widow.

Regards Phil G.

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
There definitely will be gliding on Friday.

The Gliding Air Experience / Model Day is on for this Friday the 7th of June.
The weather forecast for a change is looking very good.
As it stands at the moment the gliding will take place from 9:30am(ish)
in the morning, once the gliding has finished we will then be allowed to fly
our models free of charge, even if you did not have a go in a glider.
That should go on until roughly 5pm.

If our turnout looks as if it might be low, then the model flying will take place
during the day and the gliding will then be in the late afternoon early evening.

Any model is welcome as long as it is not too noisy.
Tibenham is an excellent site with excellent facilities, including camping/Caravan, shower,
cafe/bar and toilets.
Dogs are now allowed as long as they are under control.

If you can, please don't miss the chance to fly at this historic and superb site.
B24 Liberators flew from there during World War two.
Any questions please don't hesitate to contact me via email.


Tibenham Airfield
Norfolk
NR16 1NT

Regards Phil Goff

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
Remembering those who gave so much sixty nine years a go today,
so that we might be free.

Eisenhower's D-Day Speech
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to
Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.



Regards Phil Goff

hellcat56

My Feedback: (21)

Hellcat loaded and searching for TARGETS

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Magnificent! My Hellcat IS a target!

Ham639

My Feedback: (13)

NICE! Chad. Very nice.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Thanks Chuck, much appreciated.

nmacwarbirds

Dear All
It is just over one week to go until the 'Salute to the 445th Bomb Group Event'

If guests could try and arrive at about 9:30am please, but it does not matter if they can't.
Briefing will be at about 10am followed by an opening flight, which I am hoping
will be a large P47 Thunderbolt with a radial engine.

After that general flying will commence by that I mean a sort of flying off the peg for
the want of better words.We have two start areas one for jet and one for piston.
Pilots can position their models in the given areas when they want to fly.
All I ask is like models try and fly together, WW2 with WW2 etc
and that you consider your fellow modellers, we do not have timed slots at Tibenham
we leave it up to each Pilot to land after 10 minutes or longer if there is a large formation.
You will be cheating your fellow modellers if you do not abide by this unwritten rule.

This will cease at just before midday for the one minute
silence for the fallen from all sides. I have requested the Dakota to flypast at
12:01 local which would conclude the one minute silence nicely.

In the afternoon we try to get more serious with the formations etc,
I like to try to get unusual formations together like a P47 Thunderbolt with an
A10 Thunderbolt II, mini BBMF things like that.
At one event at Coltishall, we had our MR EE Lightning with Dickie Scarbroughs P38 Lightning.

The Tibenham WW2 Balbo will take place at approx 3:30pm
This is where we try and get as many WW2 fighters in the air together as possible.

Flying will continue until everyone one has had enough, we normally get the fun cub foamie
out then and do some foamie aertowing.

There will be a slot for everyone and 35Mhz is welcome but will be impounded.

Pioneers
WW1
Between the wars
WW2
Radial
Scale trainer aircraft
Classic jets

Modern Jets
Foamie scale
Multi
Electric etc

So there are no excuses for anyone not being able to have a go. My aim is to try and
get as many modeller's as possible to have a go at this type of event with
it's more relaxed atmosphere and hopefully this will then give them the confidence to
go on to show flying or at least attend other events.

The Tibenham '445th Bomb Group Ball' will take place in the clubhouse
after every thing has finished.

For those considering camping or bringing a caravan,
dogs are now allowed if kept under control.

Below are some pictures of a Dak in Burma plus one taken at sunset with the gear down, Beautiful.
There is also a picture of Tibenham airfield taken from the air, looking roughly to the North West.

Thank you.

Regards Phil Goff
PS. There will be a flypast by a Sea King helicopter at some time during the day.

Hot Rod Todd

My Feedback: (1)

Got my Zirolli P-40 done this year. Very happy with how it flies. Since it's such an iconic WWII fighter, I thought I'd post a couple of photos. Powered by a ZDZ90RV, 94" wingspan, 34.5 lbs. Best Pilots provided the pilot figure. With a 24X14 prop it hit 129 mph on the radar gun. Modeled after a scheme flown by Lt. Dallas Clinger of the 23rd fighter group in China, 1942.

nmacwarbirds

Todd,
The P40 looks very nice indeed, the only aircraft in my opinion that can wear the teeth.
129mph it certainly has a good turn of speed, thanks for posting it here.

Regards Phil G.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Beautiful P-40 Todd.

Sessholvlaru

Some of my warbirds.

splais

My Feedback: (25)

My just completed H9 30cc P-47, almost ready for combat duty.

nmacwarbirds

Splais,
thanks for posting a very nice picture of your P47 here, good luck with the maiden flight.

As an aside the weather looks very good (touch wood) for the Salute to the 445th Bomb Group scale model event this Friday the 5th of July 2013.
I think I might have wangled it so the Sea King Helicopter lands in and we will be able to look on board.

Regards Phil G.