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Ahab, you made me think. So I did a little digging, and the Shah at that time (1947) was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Sept 16 1941 to Feb 11 1979. I thought Mohammad Pahlavi assumed power in the 1950s. I didn't know that he had been in power since 1941........I learned something new today.

I just ran across this short article with pictures on postwar B-17 modifications. On 8-9-1946 TWA had Boeing convert B-17G 44-85728 to an executive aircraft at their Seattle facility. Boeing designated the conversion as the Boeing model 299AB. TWA used the aircraft to transport executives around...

Guyfang, I had a similar experience. Back in the 60s I was in Solvang CA walking around town, when I heard a loud noise. I looked up, and flying over head was a Ford Tri-Motor aircraft. And as you said, going so slow you'd think she'd fall from the sky.

My favorite B-17, "the Swoose" under restoration.

I understand the Swoose was parked at Andrews AFB for a long period of time, and vandals had pretty much picked her clean. That's the main reason they moved her to the Smithsonian, and now to the NMUSAF.

I couldn't find any photos of the present Liberty Bell restoration. These are some photos of the accident and fire.

Tom, I have a correction. I checked Wikipedia. There are 2 flyable B-17s in Europe, and 9 in the US. There are also more than a dozen around the world that are in various stages of restoration, for static display, and to fly.

The Memphis Belle in 2008, with another famous B-17 The Swoose. Both aircraft are undergoing restoration at the National Museum of the Air Force. The B-17 storage yard at Kingman Arizona 1947. When you look at the hundreds of B-17s in this photo, it's hard to believe there are just 13 left, and...

Back to the B-17 Flying Fortress. No aircraft in American history has served it's country in as many ways as the B-17. At the end of WW2, the B-17 was obsolete as a bomber, yet she continued to serve her country into the Atomic Age. Operation Crossroads, the Atomic Tests Able & Baker, were the...

Howard Hughes other famous aircraft, the Hughes H-1 Racer. 1. A young Howard Hughes with the H-1 racer, 2. Howard going over the pre-flight check list before a test flight. 3. Howard sitting on the prop spinner of the H-1 after running out of fuel, and then successfully belly landing the...

Howard Hughes was definitely cut from a different cloth than most of us. He was one of the great visionaries of the golden age of flying. Some people said he was a genius, bordering on insanity, and that may be so. I prefer to remember him as the designer & pilot of some of the most important...

Here is a close cousin to the B-17, the Boeing 307 Stratoliner. The 307 used B-17E wings, horizontal, and vertical stabilizers, along with and an all new pressurized fuselage. This 307 was originally owned by Pan American Airways (PAA), and then ended up being owned by Haitian dictator Papa Doc...

tobyS, great story about your Dad. My son was assigned to a sub during his silent service days, the (City of Corpus Christy) I believe.

Chaplain, I couldn't help but post the Burt Rutan picture. It just looked like something that he would design. A Cunard B-17, who would believe it. Then again who would believe a Polka Dot B-17. :wink:

Just some pictures of the B-17 in service as a flying engine test bed. 1. During WW2 the Air Corps. wanted a back up engine for the Wright R1820 radial engine, so the B-17 became the Allison V1710 powered XB-38. The XB-38 was slightly faster, but the need for a backup engine didn't materialize...

Your spot on Jim. Col. Frank Kurtz piloted the Swoose during the war, and after the war, he was responsible for saving the aircraft after it was sent to Arizona for scrapping. In the 4th photo Col. Kurtz is standing 3rd from left. The older gentleman standing next to the young lady is the Mayor...

My favorite B-17. The B-17D Swoose (half swan/half goose) is the oldest surviving B-17, and the only shark fin example left in the world. She was in action from the beginning of WW2 to the end, flying bombing and recon. missions in the Pacific theater. At one time she was so badly damaged in...

Brother Ahab. The best I could do. No the bombardier sits and the controls for the chin turret fold out of the way when not in use.

Bombardier was responsible for manning the chin turret.

It's a B17G model and 5000th aircraft, so I'll guess 1943/1944.