[303rd-Talk] Pilot Ratings

[Keith Hastie]

Jack,

As always, thanks for the insight.

Best regards,

Keith

jprencher at aol.com wrote: Keith,
???? The formation rating would NOT become a permanent rating at all. In training in the states formation would be 3 airplane width out and 3 airplane lenghts back. In the 303rd we called close formation with?ones wing tip maybe 3 to 5 feet out from ones lead wing tip and maybe 3 t0 4 feet above or below it. If one was flying directly behind his lead he would keep his nose behind the leads bomb bay but not over 10 feet or so behind his tail. We did not fly this close except when we were on the bomb run or when enemy fighters were in the area.? If one?was having troublle with our formation?within the next few days we would get a 3 plane formation together and put an instructor?with the 2 wing men and practice over England. The lead might well be some one slow timing a new engine. All squadrons were not the same in formation I do not want to start a rucus here but I personally think the 360th and 358th flew the best B17 formation in the 8th AF. Usually it was new pilots that
 needed help.?It?usually took them a few missions to get it. That is why they were usually tail end charlie. They couldn't louse up our formation back there like?they??could up front.
???? The mission reports should say absolutly NOTHING about ones ability as a formation pilot. Every one of us were new once and everyone who flew two or more missions had to have a first one.

???? The first pilot was the boss so he could fly in any seat he wanted to. As far as I know he always flew in the left seat regardless of their position in the formation. I?personally took several first pilots on their first mission. I always put them in the left seat as they were used to it.??I personally had about 1000 hours?in B17s when I joined the 303rd, about half in the left and half in the right so??I was equally not at home in either seat.??
???? Best Wishes Keith,
??????????? Jack
Bob,
???? Not on every mission. Just on some of them. It was the Operation Officers chosing. He was Robert J. Lynch when I was there. He was one Fine Officer, A very Sharp Pilot and a credit to the Human Race.
???? Best Wishes to you?too Bob,
?????? Jack
????????????
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Hastie 
To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum <303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com>
Sent: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 8:00 am
Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] Pilot Ratings



Fascinating Jack.  Would these pilot ratings or grades become permanent records 
of the squadron/group, or just temporarily maintained then discarded (in other 
words, might they still be available)?  Do the mission reports include details 
of planes or flights that were lagging behind or otherwise out of position 
during the mission?

Also, did the 1st pilot always fly the left seat during a combat mission, or 
might he fly in the right seat depending on his plane's location in the 
formation?

Thanks,

Keith 

jprencher at aol.com wrote: 
Bob,

????? Yes often, at least in our 303rd.Not always But a pilot, usually a very 
good co pilot would ride in the lead airplane as tail gunner and rate the 
formation.
? lBest Wishes,
?????? Jack


-----Original Message-----
From: bob levandoski 
To: 303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com
Sent: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 9:06 pm
Subject: [303rd-Talk] Pilot Ratings




Gentlemen,  were pilots rated on their formation flying ability during every 
mission they took part in by someone in the squadron ?  Especially during the 
bombing run ?
   
  thanks!   bob levandoski

       
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