KRATZMC

A B-17G owned by the EAA (Aluminum Overcast) came to my local airport last weekend. Unfortunately, I got there too late for a ride.

A few years ago I took my Daughter for a ride on the EAA’s other B-17G “Fuddy Duddy” and it was definitely an experience of a lifetime.  I do what ever I can to support the organizations who help keep these old Warbirds flying.  They are a living testament to our own History and a reminder of sacrifice, duty and honor.

“Aluminum Overcast” or B-17G # 44-85740 never flew in combat, reaching Europe in 1945.  It was purchased from Uncle Sam in 1946 for $750 in flyable condition and in the early 80’s donated to the EAA to help keep it flying.  It has been meticulously restored inside and out and has been painted in the scheme to commemorate the 398th Bomb Group and B-17G #42-102515.  B-17G #42-102515 was shot down on it’s 34th Mission over Le Manior France On August 13th, 1944.

I hope you enjoy the photos I took, along with several wartime photos from the EAA’s website of the 398th Bomb Group.

Hamilton Standard Propeller

The Super Charger for the Wright Pattterson Engine

The Norden Bombsite

DESIGNED BY:  Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington

BUILT UNDER LICENSE BY: Vega Aircraft Company (now Lockheed)

MODEL:  B-17G Flying Fortress

ARMY AIR CORPS SERIAL NUMBER:  #44-85740      DELIVERY DATE:  May 18, 1945

REQUIRED CREW:  Ten—Pilot, Co-pilot, Navigator, Bombardier, Flight Engineer (top turret gunner), Radio Operator, 2 Waist Gunners, Tail Gunner and Ball Turret Gunner

POWER:  The B-17G is powered by four 1,200-horsepower Wright Cyclone Model R-1820-97 engines. These engines are nine cylinder, radial, air-cooled type with a 16:9 gear ratio. The propellers are three-bladed Hamilton Standard propellers, 11 feet, 7 inches in diameter.

WEIGHTS:  Basic Empty Weight 34,000 lbs.  Gross Weight (Wartime) 65,500 lbs.

FUEL CAPACITY:  1,700 gallons

RANGE:  1,850 miles. Range could be extended when equipped with “Tokyo Tanks” which provided a total capacity of 3,630 gallons.

WING SPAN:  103 feet, 9 inches     LENGTH:  74 feet, 4 inches  HEIGHT:  19 feet, 1 inch

SERVICE CEILING:  35,600 feet

ARMAMENT:  Thirteen Browning M-2 .50 caliber machine guns. Fire rate approximately 13 rounds per second. No gun on a B-17 carried more than one minute’s supply of ammunition.

BOMB LOAD:  Depending on types of bombs, maximum normal load could go to 8,000 lbs. If B-17 was fitted with special external racks, maximum normal short-range bomb load could go as high as 17,600 lbs.

NUMBER BUILT:  12,732.

SPEEDS:  Maximum 300 mph. at 30,000 ft.  Maximum continuous 263 mph. at 25,000 ft.  Cruising speed 170 mph.  Landing 74 mph.
Rate of Climb 37 minutes to 20,000 ft.

COLORS:  398th Bomb Group

ALUMINUM OVERCAST is owned and operated by EAA and is based at EAA’s AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.