B-17 Nine-O-Nine Crash And Fatalities

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 6:15 am

Well,Some Days Hold Tragic Consequences...
It's a Crying Shame when You Lose Your Life as a Student of History. As usual in the turn of Human Events,Expect the Unexpected. A Four Engined Bomber that wasn't at Combat Loading Level should've survived a Propulsion Malfunction and been able to Survive and bring All Souls Onboard back to Earth in one piece. In this case,it didn't happen.... My heart goes out to Everyone that got pounded on this one....

Post by **CoalJockey** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 6:22 am

That same plane spent time annually here at Martinsburg on the Wings Of Freedom Tour. If I knew it was in town I would constantly scan the skies for a glimpse of it and sometimes would get it.

One Saturday morning years back, we were all at the garage washing, greasing, etc when it flew directly over us. What a sight that was and I will never forget the sound of that engine... still gives me chills.

My prayers for the families who lost their loved ones... but what a way to spend your last minutes immersed in history!

gaw · Post by **gaw** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 7:14 am

It sucks but we are all going to be taken out some way, some how. I just hope I don't embarrass my family how I go. I heard they may have made contact with a runway light fixture while trying to land.

tcalo · Post by **tcalo** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 7:44 am

A shame indeed. Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones!!

samhill · Post by **samhill** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 8:31 am

I have some family that lives close to the airport, I know my B-in-L might have taken one of those flights if he were able. He was an engineer for Pratt & Whitney but sadly is now in a home with a type of dementia. I agree that under normal conditions of one reported engine problem it should have been able to make it back, things must have gone south in a hurry. We'll pray for those lost & injured.

Post by **franco b** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 8:39 am

One report said that the wheels touched down on the runway. It was after that , that it veered off and crashed into a building.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 9:15 am

Lost at least one engine, maybe more. It had just taken off and was struggling to gain altitude. The pilot had the most hours in a B17 than anyone else living but he was in his late 70s I believe. I think it was airborne for about 8 minutes.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 10:49 am

We are near the flight path when the WW2 planes do the tours...
Plus the runways are well exposed to public areas...
Love it when they arrive...
The kids did the walk and climb through tour...
Sad that we lost some history in the crash...

KLook · Post by **KLook** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 9:16 pm

Sad for the families, and the history, I missed the chance last year to tour and ride one here in Chattanooga. might have been this one, who knows? Very hard to replace the plane, and impossible to replace the people.....

Kevin

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Fri. Oct. 04, 2019 9:25 pm

The plane will still arrive this weekend...
But all rides are canceled...
Just a ground tour...
Going to have to get the timing right on the fly in fly out...