Fortress in my town, back in '45 - Printable Version

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Fortress in my town, back in '45 - 102nd-YU-Patak - 08.10.2010

Hello gents! This is true story of one B-17 flying fortress, part of 483rd Bomber Group, 15th US Air Force.

On April the 16th, demaged B-17G crash landed at "Sombor" airbase in Yugoslavia.
Crew survived, and with the help of the Partizans, were soon transported back to their main airbase in Italy.
Demaged plane, no longer in flyable condition, was abandoned by US Air Force, and left to YAF (Yugoslav Aif Force).
Aircraft atracted YAF mechanics to take a look. As the plane wasn't seriously demaged, they started to repair the mashine, using parts from other wrecked B-17s.



Finally, they managed to repair it for full flying condition. In order to claim airplanes nationality, they painted red star with yellow outline over existing US markings on the fuselage. Also, small black star was painted under big letter Y on vertical stabiliser, to claim Yugoslav nationality.





But, as the plane was ready for flying, mechanics had new problem. Since the YAF had no conditions, or resources to form heavy bomber section ,we had no pilots with training and knowledge of how to fly this 4engine beast.

Then the Russians came, advancing their way towards 3rd Reich. As soon as they lay their eyes on this, fully flying heavy bomber, they requested the YAF to give them this machine. Sadly , but we couldn't say no
And so the B-17,with tail number 44-4622 took off with Russian crew, and flew towards East, to anknown destination.

Only thing ramaining for me, are those photos, and a good story to tell.

And one photo to honour this wonderfull machine



Cheers !

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Re: Fortress in my town, back in '45 - caldrail - 17.10.2010

What an interesting tale. It is often forgotten how involved a large bomber can be to operate. I had the privilege once of sitting near two B17's starting up their engines for an airshow back in the 90's. I can't help remembering that rumble. A suprisingly understated cacophony, but what a gorgeous soundtrack.

A part of me thinks the Russians were taking the mick (besides the B17 too), because there can't have been many with four engined bomber experience to begin with, never mind any qualified to fly B17's. Of course a lot of WW2 aeroplanes were flown ad hoc, without checkouts or training, such as ferry pilots or indeed captured aircraft, but wht exactly did the Russians stand to gain from their new acquisition? They certainly weren't going to fly it operationally. To study it? It seems interesting that German designs were largely discarded (the gossip about german research spawning the next generation of aircraft is a little exaggerated) and that the Russians eagerly grabbed hold of a B17. Why? They were already acquainted with them due to bomber formations operating from Russian airbases on long haul missions. They must have known B17's were not state of the art by 1945, and the only reason they could have had to do that (apart from perhaps just being larcenous or wanting to claim a prize) was in considering America as a potential enemy following the defeat of Germany.

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