[303rd-Talk] request for information on B-17 bombing mission

[Bill Jones]

Hello
  I'm replying off list so as let the veterans reply themselves. 
However I'd recommend that you look for the video called "Target for 
Today", which was filmed by the actual airmen during the war, but was 
to some extent "simulated".  But it shows better than anything I've 
seen, exactly went on in all phases of a mission from recon to decide 
what target to strike, to weather forcasts, to planning, to sending the 
orders to the bomb groups, to loading the bombs, to flying the 
missions, to debriefing after the missions, etc.   A very good film. It 
used to be available at Amazon.com, and other places.



On 5 Oct 2008 at 20:44, kurt timmerman wrote:

> Hello,
>  
> I am new to this list, having just signed up tonight. The first thing I
> would like to do is thank all the veterans for their service and
> bravery. I don't know how any of you were able to continue to fly
> missions after you had heard of and experienced the dangerous and deadly
> situations I have read about.   My main reason for joining this list is
> to hopefully get some answers to questions concerning teamwork
> concerning B-17 bombing missions during WW2. I am performing research
> for a paper I need to write in an aviation history class I am taking. I
> want to write about the teamwork involved in getting a B-17 from his
> home base to the bombing site and them back home again.   On the surface
> the teamwork would seem to be tightly contained among the crew members
> of the B-17 but after thinking about this a while it seems that there
> were many more 'team members' involved such as:   1. Intelligence group
> 2. Commanding officers group 3. Briefing group 4. Ground crew group 5.
> Pilots of other bombers flying in same formation 6. Fighter support  7.
> In flight intelligence 8. Allies ground support group??(bomber guidance
> with radio signals?, light signals?) 9. Base medical group 10. Search
> and rescue group 11. Allies search and rescue group for downed planes?  
> These are just my thoughts on the teamwork group involved in a B-17
> bombing mission. I may have much of this wrong.   I would like to know
> if there are any B-17 crew members who would be willing to respond to a
> list of questions I have concerning teamwork in a B-17 bombing mission.
>   I could post all my questions to this list and then anyone willing to
> answer them could if that would be a better way? If anyone is willing to
> answer some questions please let me know.   Thank you, Kurt Timmerman  
>  
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 303rd-Talk mailing list
> 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com
> http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk
> 


Bill Jones         N3JLQ
Sweden Maine
wejones at megalink.net
http://www.megalink.net/~wejones