[303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast

[Hangartner MaryJo]

I, too, toured the Aluminum Overcast in the summer of 1996 in Waterloo,
Iowa, with my dad (James Miller Pierce, Paper Doll), a ball turret
gunner.  What an experience!  If I had had the money, I would have liked
to go for a cruise, but I don't think Dad was at all interested.  We
spent most of the afternoon there, and Dad was an instant celebrity.  As
soon as people found out he had actually flown in one, they asked him
all kinds of questions.  Other veterans there, many of whom had not
flown in a B17 but had served in other places and modes in WWII, were so
wonderful to Dad.

Dad was 72 in 1996, and he could still grab the entrance on the bottom
of the plane and swing his feet up, to show us how they entered the
plane, something my students and I have watched many times in WWII
movies.  Just couldn't angle his bottom and upper torso in like you guys
used to do.

I have an 8th grade student who also toured the Aluminum Overcast just a
couple of years ago, and enjoys telling everyone in my classes what the
inside of the plane was really like.  Wasn't that the B17 that Jack
Rencher was in in that TV newscast last year?  By the way, Jack, one of
my 8th grade techies has saved that on a flash drive for me so I can
show it to Dad someday if I can ever get a compatible laptop home with
me.

Dad is 84 right now.  Still at home and coping with several health
issues.  I print messages front this website often to take to him.  I'm
always out here reading, and ever so appreciative.

Mary Jo Hangartner

-----Original Message-----
From: 303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com
[mailto:303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com] On Behalf Of bill runnels
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 8:18 AM
To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum
Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] The Aluminum Overcast

Scotty,
   
  At age 78, in my case 83 the B-17 is confining. However, at age 18 and
145 pounds we had lots of room. Regarding the number of guns, keep in
mind that every member of the crew, except the pilot and co-pilot were
certified gunners. With a nine man crew, one gunner handled both waist
guns.
   
  Bill Runnels
  Bombardier - B-17

Gordon Walker <gskywalkers at citlink.net> wrote:
  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
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