[303rd-Talk] Weary old pilots

[harold susskind]

to all:
Bombardiers and Navigators entered thru the nose hatch and went under the pilots seats to their position. Hal S.

> From: mjpmtmanenterprises at cccusa.net
> To: kvfly at yahoo.com; 303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com
> Subject: Re: [303rd-Talk] Weary old pilots
> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:13:42 -0600
> CC: 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "gene mccutchan" <kvfly at yahoo.com>
> To: "303rd" <303rd-talk at 303rdbg.com>
> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 2:25 PM
> Subject: [303rd-Talk] Weary old pilots
> 
> 
> > Several weeks ago I visited and went through a B-17.  The normal flow of 
> > traffic was up some portable steps in through the nose hatch.  However, 
> > since I am kinda gimpy now and no one else was there I was allowed to go 
> > in through the rear door.
> >
> > Never had I remembered having any trouble moving around in the 17 in my 
> > younger days.  On this one though, my pace was a snail=pace and I just 
> > barely,  barely was able to squeeze thru the bomb bay, almost got stuck.
> >
> > OK.  In the cabin there is the opening between the pilots seats allowing 
> > access to the nose.  I was unable to or did not feel it wise to try and 
> > gain access to the pilots seat.
> >
> > Question.  I am trying to remember if this opening was always open or did 
> > it have a folding door?  Probably a dumb question but 65 years leaves a 
> > lot of blanks.
> ==========================================================================
> Gene==Welcome to the "club"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> 
> I had the same problem. Last year "Sentimental Jouurney" was in Grand Island 
> NE..
> I took some memorabilia with me & the crew and onlookers were very 
> interested in them.
> One of the crew took me to the rear side door [with steps] for a free tour . 
> I tried to get
> in but my knees wouldn't bend at the same time as my back. I flew in a 17 3 
> times.
> #1=over the north sea on a close formation flight. #2 was on the 
> "continental express"
> [about May 12 ???] spent 81/2 - 9 hours in the nose.#3= Molesworth to 
> Casablanca
> on June 11 1945.
> 
> On flight #2 my friend was under the pilots feet sick as a dog and asleep.
> I believe that the space between the two seats was open.
> 
> On flight #3  I roamed the plane from the waist to the radio room.  It 
> seemed to me that
> the room in the durn thing had shrunk since 1945. Then it dawned on me. The 
> proper way
> to enter was to grab the top of the door frame, swing your feet in & then 
> stand up. I think I lost the
> "rubber band" in my back bone!!!
> AFTER THOUGHT--I was 21 when I Enlisted in '42==non combatant--Sgt-- Air 
> Corps Supply.
> 
> Yours in memories!!!!!---
> 
> Maurice J. Paulk
> a.k.a. The Mountain Man
> 205 W 12th St.
> Wood River Ne. - 68883-9164
> FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 303rd-Talk mailing list
> 303rd-Talk at 303rdBG.com
> http://lists.303rdbg.com/mailman/listinfo/303rd-talk

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail® goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. 
http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/versatility.aspx#mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_WL_HM_versatility_121208