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 B17-G
The Yankee Lady |
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 History of the "Yankee Lady" The Yankee lady is a B-17 G-110-VE USAAF serial number 44-85829. The airplane was built by the Vega Division of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California and was delivered to the USAAF on July 16, 1945. It went to Dallas, Texas for modifications, and in September of 1945 was placed in storage at South Plains Field, Texas along with other brand new B-17s. The YAF is certain that this aircraft did NOT fly in combat missions during WWII. In 1946, the aircraft was one of sixteen "Flying Fortresses" that were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. These aircraft were re-designated as PB-1Gs, "P" signifying patrol, "B" denoting designed by Boeing, "-1" for the first model of its type, and "G" for Coast Guard. The aircraft then became PB-1G serial number 77255. All the guns and turrets were removed, and a radar dome was installed in the position formerly occupied by the chin turret. It was used for air-sea rescue and iceberg patrol duties out of Argentina, Newfoundland, Elizabeth, North Carolina, and San Francisco, California. At one time it carried an air-droppable, 27 ft. long, 3300 lb. Wooden lifeboat under the fuselage for rescuing people stranded at sea. The aircraft was retired from the U.S.C.G. in 1958. On May 11, 1959, the airplane was sold to Ace Smelting Inc. for $5997.93. It was assigned the civil registration N3193G. In November of 1959, Fairchild Aerial Survey Company, who used it for airborne survey work purchased the aircraft. In 1966 the aircraft was sold to Aircraft Specialties Inc. of Mesa, Arizona. The company used numerous B-17s as air tankers to fight forest fires and apply pesticides on crops and trees. During 1969, the aircraft was one of five B-17s flown to Hawaii for the filming of the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora." In 1985 the aircraft was amongst four B-17s that were put up for auction held by Globe Air, the successor company to Aircraft Specialties. The aircraft remained unsold until it was purchased by the Yankee Air Force for $250,000.00 in June of 1986. After several local test hops, the aircraft was flown from Mesa, Arizona to Willow Run, Michigan on July 2, 1986. It was not to fly again for over nine years. The Restoration History: A comprehensive inspection and repair/rebuild program was begun almost immediately after the B-17 arrived at Willow Run. The primary goal was to return the aircraft to a safe flying condition, with the secondary objective of reinstalling as much authentic combat equipment as was obtainable and practical. Upon close examination, it was found that the aircraft was quite literally only a shadow of a WWII combat configured B-17. All turrets and guns were missing. Floors had been lowered and bulkheads removed during its long and varied post war career. A large cargo door had been installed in the left side of the fuselage, and the Cheyenne tail turret was replaced with one that literally looked like it was made with cave men and stone tools. The vertical and horizontal tail surfaces were removed in order to repair areas of corrosion. All control surfaces were recovered using modern fabric, and the control cables were inspected and replace as necessary. The cargo door was removed and a left waist gunner window installed in its place. The floor in the radio room has been raised up to its intended position, and original radios installed along with a table for the radio operator and several seats. The two 1000 gallon retardant tanks were removed, and the bomb bay doors reinstalled along with the equipment required to be able to open and close them in flight. Bomb racks were built from scratch. The roof above the bomb bay was taken off in order to repair the structure that had been modified when the chemical tanks were fitted. The outer wing panels were removed to allow replacement of the aileron attachment channels, which were corroded. The long range Tokyo auxiliary fuel tanks have been removed since they will not be used. All four engines were dismounted and the two outboard engines were overhauled at a cost of over $25,000.00 a piece. Every hose and electrical wire in the aircraft has been replaced. A Sperry ball turret and a Bendix chin turret were required, renovated, and reinstalled in the aircraft. A top turret dome has been fitted along with cheek guns in the nose compartment. A replacement Cheyenne tail turret was obtained in a trade and restored to it's WWII configuration. The aircraft has been painted in the markings of a typical B-17G assigned to the 8th Air Force, 381st Bomber Squadron flying out of Ridgewell, England. The color scheme is a memorial to the late Joseph Slavik who flew 35 missions as a pilot with the 381st. Mr. Slavik and his brother Stephen made a significant financial contribution to the Yankee Air Force that aided in the acquisition of the aircraft. The "Yankee Lady" name and the nose are do not replicate that of a known combat veteran B-17, but it is rather meant to be representative of the era. All of the above mentioned work was accomplished almost entirely be dedicated Yankee Air Force volunteers who generously donated their time, talents, and financial resources to what has been truly a labor of love. The first post war restoration flight took place on July 13, 1995. You can visit the Yankee Air Force at www.yankeeairmuseum.org. If you have the need and the available funding you can actually take a ride on this magnificent aircraft. Flights are scheduled for Wednesday evening from April till October, Departing from the Yankee Air Museum on Willow Run Airport, Belleville, MI. Reservations are required and may be made by phoning 734.483.4030 Ext. 216 or by E-mail to yankeeairmuseum@provide.net. Each seat is $400.00. Specifications: Length 74 feet 4 inches Height 19 feet 1 inch Wingspan 103 feet 9 inches Cruise Speed 160 mph Range 2,000 miles Ceiling 35,600 feet Fuel Consumption 200 gal/hr Max Weight 65,500 lbs Normal Combat Crew 10 Powerplants 4 Wright R-1820-97, 9 Cylinder, 1200 hp Turbocharged Radials Fuel Capacity (Standard Tanks) 1,700 gals Fuel Capacity (Tokyo Tanks) 1,080 gals Additional Fuel Capacity (Bomb Bay Tanks) 810 gals Bomb Load (Normal Mission) 5,000 lbs Armament 12 .50 Caliber Machine Guns Operating Cost Approx. $1,500.00 per hour |
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© Text and Images Copyright 1999-2006 Jay Schultz Web Design By: MJT Designs 2006 |
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