[303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast

[Gordon Walker]

Hi Everyone,

This week end I went to Sacramento, California to see the Aluminum Overcast.  It was my first time aboard a B-17 and the first thing that struck me was how confining it was inside the aircraft.  We entered the plane through the hatch just below the cockpit.  They had the nose of the plane blocked off but it was just as well because it would have been difficult for a 78 year old guy to crawl into that area where the bombadier sat. It was also very narrow walking over the top of the bomb bay doors.  In any event, I came away with much more appreciation for those guys who manned these planes.  I was very interested in seeing the tail gunner position but that area was also blocked off but I was able to see enough to know that the tail gunner as well as the ball turret gunner had very very tight positions.

I came away with a couple of questions.  Many of the crew photos taken after missions show only 9 crew memebers and some 10 but even at 10, there were more guns than men so I was wondering who took on the job of manning more than one gun position?

Also, my son is into motorcycles and he was wondering if anyone knows the bore and stroke of the B-17.  I was able to find out that it was a 9 cylinder radial with 1690 cu. inches but nothing on the bore and stroke.

This is a picture of my son and myself looking the plane over.

http://www.scottylive.com/macswar/Main/aogw.jpg

Scotty Walker