The B-17 Flying Fortress in New Zealand

[noooby]

Ask Don Subritzky. He has a fairly large collection of accident reports from that era.

[errolmartyn]

May 26, 2017 12:38:45 GMT 12 robertb said:

Does anyone have a copy of the Texas Tornado crash investigation report? - the guys writing up the crash site excavation are after it. We know it is available at Archives - just trying to avoid paying for it if someone has already copied it. We might be able to get the US version.

I'm personally interested to know if they were able to determine if the pilot disengaged the gust locks, since the behaviour of the aircraft after take off would seem to be consistent with this being a potential cause. The risk of overlooking this would be increased with no pre-flight check, and take off in the dark. The geometry of the aircraft would allow it to leave the ground and gain some height with them on, which I understand happened with the prototype.

I obtained a copy of the 50 page US report on the accident to B-17E 41-2667 when preparing my For Your Tomorrow trilogy. If you care to email me at [e-mail] I will forward you a copy.

Errol

[robertb]

Thanks Errol, much appreciated. Have emailed you. Robert

[camtech]

Just found these 4 photos of 2458, at Wigram, I assume. Quality is not great, but the original negs are not brilliant. The negs were given to me quite a few years back, so memory of the exact details are vague. But for history's sake, here they are.
B17 41-2458 in hangar no prop by Les Billcliff, on Flickr
B17 41-2458 prop change by Les Billcliff, on Flickr
B17 41-2458 engine run by Les Billcliff, on Flickr
B17 41-2458 outside hangar by Les Billcliff, on Flickr

I do note that the engine being worked on is the starboard inner, rather than the starboard outer, as described in one account earlier in this thread.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, very interesting photos there Les.

[johnnyfalcon]

So, no "TEXAS TORNADO"...

[camtech]

Apparently not. Although murky there is no sign of any adornment.

[markrogers]

Great photos even if they're not the best quality. The B-17 has those toothpick props so must be an early model B-17E.

[Dave Homewood]

The same B-17 appears several times earlier in the thread, at Woodbourne.

[Dave Homewood]

This is apparently The Texas Tornado. The Auckland Libraries Heritage Images sites has it poorly labelled as "World War II: Bomber explodes 1942, Airmen for overseas, Weraroa Flying school"






New Zealand Herald Photos from Auckland Library Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1370-683-03'

[TS]

Ummm. Where did davidd and my posts go?

We say it is Whenuapai. It is the B17 that crashed there, in the first photo you can see the numbers 6 and 7 on whats left of the rudder.

[Dave Homewood]

You might note that I have moved the photos from the Wereroa thread to the B-17 thread, after you both kindly and correctly pointed out it was the Texas Tornado, making your posts surplus to requirement.

[johnnyfalcon]

Great photos - what a blast...!

[TS]

Boom--- barda--- boom....

[ErrolC]

Via Key, there is a lecture reporting on the excavation tomorrow.
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/97452061/World-War-II-crash-explored-as-part-of-the-Auckland-Heritage-Festival

...
Brassey said he has been able to pinpoint some of the real causes behind the crash. More will be revealed during his lecture, he said.

The Whenuapai Air Base was the site of a number of fatal accidents during World War II.

In 1943, a second American aircraft crashed in the area, killing 15 Japanese internees and Thai nationals.

Brassey described the failure of this secret prisoner exchange as having political ramifications at the time.

Hear more about the Texas Tornado at the West Auckland Heritage Conference on October 8.

[Dave Homewood]

I hope someone can get along and report back.

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a B-17 visiting in 1947



From here

And a larger version here:
ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE12310947&dps_custom_att_1=emu

[angelsonefive]

44-83785 is shown in the pic. in transport mode, with gun turrets removed and waist gun positions covered over.
This Fortress is still in existence in the USA. Restored to original B-17G configuration with chin turret etc, it was on static display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon, and is now with the Collings Foundation.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortresses

[Dave Homewood]

Hmm, wasn't that recently sold in the sales of all Evergreen's planes?

Also that makes three B-17's that visited New Zealand still in existence in the USA, this one, Swoose and Swamp Ghost.

[angelsonefive]

Jan 13, 2018 18:12:26 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Hmm, wasn't that recently sold in the sales of all Evergreen's planes?

Also that makes three B-17's that visited New Zealand still in existence in the USA, this one, Swoose and Swamp Ghost.

It appears that the plane was acquired by the Collings Foundation, and had its first engine run in ages in July last year.
The intention was to restore the aircraft to flying status.