Very sad.

Link

Man that's sad. Not many of the old birds still flying.

The FAA confirmed to CBS News that the vintage aircraft crashed at the end of Runway 6 during an attempted landing at 10 a.m. The FAA said the aircraft is a civilian registered aircraft and was not flown by the military.
The Bradley International Airport put out a statement on Twitter that said, "We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport. We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available."
There is no word yet on possible fatalities. Several pictures posted on Twitter show a fire with black smoke rising from near the airport.

No sir, there aren't.

I think there are (or were) roughly a dozen airworthy B-17s in existence, with all but just a few registered in the U.S. This is sad to see, not just for the loss of life, but also the loss of an important piece of history. The Collings Foundation has a number of vintage aircraft that they fly to airshows, etc. and their B-17 was one built very near the end of the war, never seeing active combat, but kept in the USAF inventory for a decade or so doing other missions. I think I remember that the Foundation has a second B-17 undergoing restoration.

When I was 12 or so we were hanging out at the Olney airport and a B-17 landed for fuel and so that the crew could stretch their legs. I was already a warbird aficionado and seeing that Flying Fortress up close was a dream come true. Other kids my aged loved their rock and sports stars. I loved WWII combat aircraft.

Multiple injuries are being reported.

Sad to see I have flown into Bradley many times and think I know exactly where it crashed! It's not much inside the perimeter fence.

Hope her crew made it out. RIP, Nine-O-Nne.

For those that have access to USAF bases, such as Base Exchange or Commissary privileges if you are ever in the Abilene area, take a trip along the static display of vintage aircraft on the main road into Dyess. There are about 40 vintage aircraft on display.
http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvorm/dyess-afb-visitor-center/
https://www.dyess.af.mil/News/Featu...-aircraft-tell-tales-of-a-different-era/

dang, kinda freaky. i'm sitting here watching the movie memphis bell

Sad news there

Very sad indeed.

For those with HBO, I stumbled across this last weekend, excellent documentary narrated by B-17 crew members.

https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-cold-blue

Charlie

some interesting reading. I can't even imagine. I'm proud to have been part of the 8th Air Force. so much history.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Raid_on_Schweinfurt

Yes sir, it is very good.

Wow, 22% of the crews were lost on that raid. Incredible.

We owe a great debt to the men and women in WWII.

A lot of times the problem in flight especially right after take off with piston engine airplanes is jet fuel was pumped into the tanks instead of av-gas.

Sad for sure, the last I saw was 7 dead and 7 injured. I know that airport really well, my DIL will be flying out of there Friday morning and back Saturday. I will be flying in there for the last time on the 15th. Prayers for the families that lost loved ones today.

Very sad deal. Love those old war birds

Aftermath of fatal B-17 plane crash

Makes your stomach turn.

That was horrible, even worse there was loss of life.
It was the first b17 I ever saw and got a tour of. When I was 6
Read on wiki that 44 b17s are left, only 10 or 11 airworthy