17 Images of Damaged B-17 Bombers That Miracilously Made It Home

[Gabriel92]

@Nihonjin1051 @SvenSvensonov @C130 @AMDR ...

The B-17 Flying Fortress was famous for being able to take a lot of damage and still make it back to base. We have collected a number of incredible images of damaged B-17 Flying Fortresses that made it home.

According to the Liberty foundation, there were a total of 12,732 B-17’s that were produced between 1935 and May 1945. Of these 4,735 were lost in combat, a staggering 37%.

Each image could and should be an article in itself but wherever possible we’ve added some descriptive text.

A B-17 of the 100th Bomber Squadron of the USAAF rests in an English airfield after being severely damaged by flack over Frankfurt. She was eventually repaired and returned to normal duty, 1944. [via]





Two shots from a B-17 from the 379th Bomb Group with most of the nose missing [via]
On the second one it seems the Pilot is looking up at the damage [via]



B-17 Eager Beaver Tail Damage (C. 1942). Serial No. 124393 full of holes.

The entry in the pilots diary, dated Feb 18, 1943, says, “New waist gunner shot hell out of tail today. Ship out for a week.” For the full story and all entries from dad’s diary, see my book on Amazon.com “A WWII Journal” by Randy Graham. [via]



B-17G 43-38172 of the 8th AF 398th BG 601st BS which was damaged on a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany, on 15 October 1944; the bombardier was killed. [via]





Boeing B-17F-5-BO (S/N 41-24406) “All American III” of the 97th Bomb Group, 414th Bomb Squadron, in flight after a collision with an Me-109 over Tunis. The aircraft was able to land safely on her home base in Biskra, Algeria. [via]



4 February, 1944 Boeing B-17F-90-BO Flying Fortress, 42-30188, “Temptation” of the 413th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, during takeoff for a Frankfort mission, suffers runaways on Nos. 1 and 2 propellers. Lt. Joseph Meacham attempts landing at near-by as yet unfinished base, but crash lands at East Shropham, Norfolk, All eleven crew survive but the aircraft is damaged beyond repair and is written off, fit only for parts salvage.

 

[Gabriel92]

This is 42-107040, Shirley Jean of the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

B-17 Little Miss Mischief after an emergency landing in Bassingbourn [via]



B-17 damaged in collision with Fw190 in head-on attack [via]

Waist gunner killed, ball turret gunner killed, radio operator blown out of the airplane completely, but this Fort still managed to get home and land without cracking in half. [via]



401st Bomb Group B-17G Belly Landed in England, October 29 1944



B-17 91 Bomb Group 324 Bomb squadron heavy flak damage [via]



The “Belle of Liberty” Lockheed/Vega B-17G-15-VE s/n 42-97479 327th BS, 92nd BG, US 8th AF. Damaged on the 6 March 1944 mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Erkner, in the outskirts of Berlin. This aircraft was repaired and went back into service. [via]



This B-17 took a direct flak hit in the waist over Debrecen, Hungary which killed three crewmen and wounded two others. Threatening to come apart in mid-air the pilot nursed it home to a safe landing, but the weakened fuselage collapsed on touchdown.

17 Images of Damaged B-17 Bombers That Miracilously Made It Home - Page 2 of 2 - WAR HISTORY ONLINE

 

[Aepsilons]

You fought honorably , old nemesis....

 

[C130]

sad to see them all shot up like that.
these beasts could really light up a city with all the bombs they carry.

even in this day and age such a old relic like that could put a hurting on some terrorists.

bet ol' doctor bashar assad wish he a had a few dozen at his disposal.

 

[Georgeclark]

You fought honorably , old nemesis....

haha True

 

[Aepsilons]

The Flying Fortress flown by Captain Wheless on the 14th December 1941 was found to have 1200 bullet holes in it after he managed to crash-land at the airfield on Mindinao, saving his crew from further injuries.



14th December 1941: Bombing mission to attack Japanese Philippine landings wins Captain Hewitt T. Wheless the Distinguished Service Cross


On the 14th December Captain Hewitt T. Wheless was piloting one of four Flying Fortresses from the airfield at Mindinao when they were attacked by around 18 Japanese fighters. They kept going to their target, the landing beaches on the island of Luzon, successfully bombing and sinking 6 Japanese Transports.

The episode gained attention when it was mentioned by President Roosevelt as an example of the way Americans were fighting back. Captain Wheless later gave this account to the press:




The Japs came in like greased lightning. Sgt Russell B. Brown and Sgt John M. Gootee were on the side guns. They got the two coming in on the side. Private William C. Killin, the radio operator, was in the “bathtub” — the tunnel underneath. He had just traded places with Cpl William W. Williams, who was trying to unjam the top radio guns. Just as Killen crawled into the bathtub the Jap on our tail let loose, and Killin was killed. Our number 2 engine was shot out, at the same time as the Jab got the throttle cable.


Things began happening pretty fast then. Williams got it in the hip and it tore his right leg wide open down to and below the knee. Just the same, he boosted himself up and tried to man the radio guns. He was pretty badly smashed up. But he tried.


The way the bullets were coming through the fuselage it was like being out in the open in a hail storm. But Sgt Albert H. Cellette — the bombardier — got the beam on our target and unloaded. We dropped about 4,800 pounds of stuff on them while their planes were coming at us like a bunch of hornets from a kicked over nest. Yep — we were sure busy.


I was looking for clouds. When we came in toward the target we had a nice overcast to hide in. But when we came up on the target — wham — no clouds. Completely clear.


The Japs were getting underway — eighteen of them — or there abouts — no one had time to stop and count — were swarming all over us. I was dodging in and out of what cloud scraps I could find. We’d be in one for ten of fifteen seconds, which gave the guys a chance to reload.


My co-pilot Lt Taborek, and I did what we could. But it wasn’t much. Bullets were coming into the cockpit like rain. The instrument panel was shot to hell. A high explosive shell hit the radio and it opened up like a flower. Another one got the No 4 tank and the gasoline poured out.


Ol’ Gootee caught a bullet in the hand and it just ripped his whole hand almost off. Only thing that kept it from falling off was a couple of threads of flesh. So he put on a glove to hold his hand on his arm and helped Brown load and aim.


That boy Brown was busy as a two-headed cat in a creamery. He ran from one side to the other operating the side guns in the tail. Gootee’d reload for him while he was busy on the other gun. Then one of the Japs got a bead on Brown while he was working over the mess with his gun, shot the sights right off the gun and got Brown in the wrist. Without stopping his relay race between the two guns, he tied a handkerchief around it — tight — and went on shooting.


The Navigator, Lt William F. Neenagh, went back to see if he could get Killin’s body out of the bathtub. But he couldn’t get him out. Williams’ gun jammed and Neenagh tried to help him fix them, but it was no go. So he came on back to is post and sort of alternated between what gunners were left.


Cellette was down in the bombardier’s bubble at the guns. But we never get a head on attack so he couldn’t do anything but sit there and be shot at. Another round of fire got our flattener controls so the plane was wobbly as hell. We did the best we could, keeping her on an even keel with the rudder. By this time the fortress looked like a worn out sieve.


About seventy-five or a hundred miles later, the Japs wheeled and went off. Out of ammunition I guess. God knows they threw enough at us.


Nobody said anything for a long while.

 

[Georgeclark]

View attachment 207151
The Flying Fortress flown by Captain Wheless on the 14th December 1941 was found to have 1200 bullet holes in it after he managed to crash-land at the airfield on Mindinao, saving his crew from further injuries.



14th December 1941: Bombing mission to attack Japanese Philippine landings wins Captain Hewitt T. Wheless the Distinguished Service Cross


On the 14th December Captain Hewitt T. Wheless was piloting one of four Flying Fortresses from the airfield at Mindinao when they were attacked by around 18 Japanese fighters. They kept going to their target, the landing beaches on the island of Luzon, successfully bombing and sinking 6 Japanese Transports.

The episode gained attention when it was mentioned by President Roosevelt as an example of the way Americans were fighting back. Captain Wheless later gave this account to the press:




The Japs came in like greased lightning. Sgt Russell B. Brown and Sgt John M. Gootee were on the side guns. They got the two coming in on the side. Private William C. Killin, the radio operator, was in the “bathtub” — the tunnel underneath. He had just traded places with Cpl William W. Williams, who was trying to unjam the top radio guns. Just as Killen crawled into the bathtub the Jap on our tail let loose, and Killin was killed. Our number 2 engine was shot out, at the same time as the Jab got the throttle cable.


Things began happening pretty fast then. Williams got it in the hip and it tore his right leg wide open down to and below the knee. Just the same, he boosted himself up and tried to man the radio guns. He was pretty badly smashed up. But he tried.


The way the bullets were coming through the fuselage it was like being out in the open in a hail storm. But Sgt Albert H. Cellette — the bombardier — got the beam on our target and unloaded. We dropped about 4,800 pounds of stuff on them while their planes were coming at us like a bunch of hornets from a kicked over nest. Yep — we were sure busy.


I was looking for clouds. When we came in toward the target we had a nice overcast to hide in. But when we came up on the target — wham — no clouds. Completely clear.


The Japs were getting underway — eighteen of them — or there abouts — no one had time to stop and count — were swarming all over us. I was dodging in and out of what cloud scraps I could find. We’d be in one for ten of fifteen seconds, which gave the guys a chance to reload.


My co-pilot Lt Taborek, and I did what we could. But it wasn’t much. Bullets were coming into the cockpit like rain. The instrument panel was shot to hell. A high explosive shell hit the radio and it opened up like a flower. Another one got the No 4 tank and the gasoline poured out.


Ol’ Gootee caught a bullet in the hand and it just ripped his whole hand almost off. Only thing that kept it from falling off was a couple of threads of flesh. So he put on a glove to hold his hand on his arm and helped Brown load and aim.


That boy Brown was busy as a two-headed cat in a creamery. He ran from one side to the other operating the side guns in the tail. Gootee’d reload for him while he was busy on the other gun. Then one of the Japs got a bead on Brown while he was working over the mess with his gun, shot the sights right off the gun and got Brown in the wrist. Without stopping his relay race between the two guns, he tied a handkerchief around it — tight — and went on shooting.


The Navigator, Lt William F. Neenagh, went back to see if he could get Killin’s body out of the bathtub. But he couldn’t get him out. Williams’ gun jammed and Neenagh tried to help him fix them, but it was no go. So he came on back to is post and sort of alternated between what gunners were left.


Cellette was down in the bombardier’s bubble at the guns. But we never get a head on attack so he couldn’t do anything but sit there and be shot at. Another round of fire got our flattener controls so the plane was wobbly as hell. We did the best we could, keeping her on an even keel with the rudder. By this time the fortress looked like a worn out sieve.


About seventy-five or a hundred miles later, the Japs wheeled and went off. Out of ammunition I guess. God knows they threw enough at us.


Nobody said anything for a long while.

Who knew that after 60 years the same nations fighting to death will be the best allies ever today FRANCE - JAPAN - USA.

 

[Aepsilons]

Who knew that after 60 years the same nations fighting to death will be the best allies ever today FRANCE - JAPAN - USA.

hahaha, that's the funny thing, eh? From fiercest of enemies to...buddy ol pals we play golf with in the course.

 

[Georgeclark]

S

hahaha, that's the funny thing, eh? From fiercest of enemies to...buddy ol pals we play golf with in the course.

something like this

 

[Aepsilons]

S

something like this

LOL!!! why..yes!

 

[Desert Fox]

​

 

[Aepsilons]

​

LOL. Such a Germanophile..

 

[Desert Fox]

LOL. Such a Germanophile..

I just had to do it.

BTW, thought you guys would find this video interesting and informative:

@Nihonjin1051 @C130 @Gabriel92​

 

[Penguin]