Ww2 B17
 

I was a B17 pilot in the 15th AF, my tour was from 7/1943- 2/1944, 50 combat missions. I will try to answer questions asked of me.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Perhaps it is not the right question, but how did you regard your enemy and how do you regard him today?

You often read about former enemies coming together and sharing a common bond. Can that still apply in your case?

How did and do you regard the german pilot that fought you in the sky?

And did you ever manage to find a job in the airline industry?

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Ruy,

I hated the regime, not individual persons. Re: I didn't hate the German pilot, even though we tried to kill each other. We were at war and we just followed the rules.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Hallo Jules,


What Group were you with ? I have a particular interest in the 97th BG at the moment. Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

I was in the 99th BG, I had some friends in the 97th

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Hallo Jules,


Some or all of the following may have been in the 97th BG;

2/Lt. George L. Ludolph
2/Lt. F. G. Altman
2/Lt. H. W. Blank
2/Lt. T. C. Dick
2/Lt. Manuel E. Flores,Jr.
2/Lt. W. C. Smith

Do you recall anything about any of them ? Thanks in advance.

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

No, I didn't know them. My tour was from7/43 to 2/44

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Why fifty missions? Isn't that rather high for a tour?

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Hallo Jules,


It was a long shot on my part, but thanks anyway.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

That was the quota while I was in the group. UK quota was 25 missions, they were tougher but we flew 2 to their 1, many times with poor equuipment.

Re: Ww2 B17
 

Would you help to keep the Colljngs Foundation bombers flying?

The Collings Foundation B17, B24 and B25 permit to fly the planes for 30 minutes with paying passengers (to help defray the costs of flying and maintaining the aircraft ) will expire in 2 weeks. To help getting the permit renewed please write to the follwing and include in your letter the specifc info that I will enumerate.
Marion Blakey, FAA Administrator e-mail marion.blakey@faa.gov
Ida Klepper, Office of Rulemaking e-mail ida.klepper@faa.gov
Collings Foundation exemption letter 6540F
B 17 N93012
B 24 N224J
B 25 N3476G
It would be a terrible thing for living history to go down the drain, and to deprive future generations of the WW2 era. My generation will not be around too much longer, so please write and help to keep them flying

I would appreciate it if you would send me a copy of your letter. Also be sure to mention where you live.
jhor9@comcast.net

Re: Ww2 B17
 

The Collings B17, B24 and B25 received their permit to fly passengers. Thanks to those people who wrote to the FAA. It kept living history from going down the drain.