B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

I recently found a B-17 Control Column in France. It originated from a plane that crashed in France I am guessing in 1944. It is in fantastic condition as it was pulled by a local and remained in storage the past 60 years.

Under the BOEING Disk in the centre of the control wheel is the inscription of the names of the crew and the name of the aircraft.

Everything was inscribed by hand, so it is a bit hard to make out, but it looks like is has the aircraft's name and a personal message or something...

"Miss Dixie Ma...tti" (It could say "Miss Dixie Mai", or "Miss Dixie May" as the last letters are faded. Could also say "Winnnie"

1025012814 (some of these numbers may be scratches_...could be 1025w2814

Reyanne Wyo...
...Bomb Bay
...boarding (?) with this shit.

I would like to pass on some photos to those who can help. My main concern is finding out if the details of if there was a Miss Winnie or Miss Dixie, and if the numbers represent an aircraft serial of a plane that possibly crashed in France...

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

It would be easier if you could post any crewmen's names.
Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

whoops!

Sorry...when I was typing the post, I thought it was the crew names that were inscribed...but it was not. i did not correct it in the post.

it is VERY hard to read as it is faded...

There is only the name of the B-17 and the inscription above.

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

42-31065/Dixie Baby (BO) 306/367/GY-Z 12/09/1944 Aka "Miss Irish" - Shot down by flak. 1 KIA, 8 POW MACR 8827

42-39940 Dixie Jane. 452nd BG, 731st BS. Lake H. Jameson (Pilot) Febr. 8, 1944. Crashed near St. Pierremont, France, due to being out of fuel. MACR 2521

42-31354 Dixie Jane. 452nd BG, 731st BS. Sorensen (Pilot). March 08, 1944. Crashed near Zerbst, Germany, due to enemy fighters. MACR 3191

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Hey Thanks batura...

Do you have anything with a "Winnie"?

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Might I suggest that "Reyanne Wyo... " might actually be a reference to "Cheyenne Wyoming". Just a guess.

Frank.

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Now we are getting someplace!!!

You are 10000% Correct Frank!

Looking closer it says, Cheyenne Wyo!!! I thought it was a stylized R, but it was a "Ch".

So...

I know it says the following...

Miss Winnie Mai*******tti

1025w28 4 could be 4025ww284
Cheyenne Wyo
Good Luck Bay????
***f
"with this sky" or "will this sky" or "with this shit"

Maybe it is some sort of poem or phrase?

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Mike,

There are several B-17s named Winnie. If you make a search on Google, I believe you can find some info.

Best wishes,

batur

Re: B-17 : More info ?
 

Hello,
Couldn't former owner of this column give you any information about the date of the crash ? Exact place ? That could ne easier ...

Stephane

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

One possibility is that was written at the construction plant by the women who finish the airplane, I have ear that often they put message for encourage the future crew.
The number is maybe the construction number of the A/C in that plant, or the team in charge of the A/C, the C/N is not the same than the contract number who was on the tail
Regards
Phil

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Cheyenne , Wyo. was Modification Center for New B - 17s.
Cheers

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Interesting!!!!

Well, the Column was found in Paris. But where the actual crash was is unknown.

Is there anyplace I can find construction numbers?

So maybe rather than it being the aircraft name, it could be a message "from" a Miss Winnie??

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

It was common practice for Ladies to write names and notes to B - 17 Crews so these may be their names.
A possibility:
42- 102501 BK H " The Challenger "
384th BG 546th Sq.
Delivered Cheyenne March 9 , 44
Ditched North Sea Feb. 2 , 45
3 KIA - 6 RTD Parts Recovered ?
Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Hi shooshoobaby...

Some info you provided has really brought this all together...

So far this is what I have gathered...

Miss Dixie (Winnie?) Mai M......tti
1025w284
Cheyenne, Wyo
Good Luck Boys
Cha..g Je....ding
with this sky

I've attached pics in-case anyone can read the handwriting better than I can... :)




http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4170.JPG



http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4173.JPG








http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4176.JPG



http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4177.JPG



http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4180.JPG










http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4186.JPG

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Mike - I think this is an address. Gals put it in so Boys could write them.
B- 17s with MAI ---- Examples
Maid of Tin
Maiden America
Mairzy Doats
Mainline
Have you gone through www.b17-france.org Lists all B- 17 crashes in France. serial#s , names etc.
Scratch the 384th B- 17 - it Ditched middle of N Sea.
Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Hi Mike,


So...from that info, it has to be an 8th airforce bird...

Turns out you are right on the address part...

It reads:

1025 W 28th
Cheyenne, Wy

I thought the "th" was a 4, but after a close look it is 100% a "th"

The Miss Dixie (Winnie?) part is her name, not the aircraft
1025 W 28th
Cheyenne, Wyo
Good Luck Boys
Happy Landing

The aprt I NOW need to figure out is the last sentence...

It looks like either...

a) happy landing with this sky

b) happy landing with this shit

c) happy landing with BLUE sky. This makes more sense, but if you look at the above photos, it in no way looks like Blue.

d) happy landing with thin sky

What do you think?

You have been a great help!

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

I would say:
'Happy landing with this stick'.
It must have been difficult to inscribe it in 'free hand', so don't judge too hard on the handwriting.
Kind regards,
Ivo

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Mike - Most likely 8th AF B - 17 but 15th AF B - 17s did Bomb targets in July , August 44 in Support of " Operation Dragoon " - Southern France.
The Column could also be from Crash in Germany , Italy , CZ. Etc.
Who Knows?
The Hub on the Wheel with Boeing Logo - I believe it is the old style from F Model - anybody ?????
Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

I don't know myself, but I have seen a later style that had a white circular ring around the logo...

Mike

http://www.geocities.com/mr-bigg@sbc...t/DSCN4187.JPG

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

happy landing with this ship ?

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

Hey!

I think you aare tight with that one!!!

So...

Does anyone know if this is an F or G?

Mike

Re: B-17 EXPERTS NEEDED ASAP!!!!
 

I think this is from an F Model. The G Model Hubs I have seen are
Different.
Suggestion - Post Hub Pic and Question this Site: http://www.armyairforces.com
Cheers