[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

So what did the RAF think of the B-17s and B-24s they received from the US? Was it a case of no matter what, nothing beats British aircraft. Or did they actually like them over the home grown stuff?
- Shawn

(The thoughts of Three guys I actually met , who served on B.17 & B.24's)


My Ex Brother-in-Law's Grandad (Navigator) flew a tour in R.A.F. B.24 Liberators, over the Adriatic, against the Germans & Croatians.

I asked him directly only two or three years ago,what he thought of the B.24 (one of my favourites) & he said, he, & his crew thought they were (quote) "marvellous" & "light years ahead of a draughty Wellington" (which he was on, previously).


Met another guy who spoke to, & addressed all the Lads at the Hornchurch I.P.M.S. club, as a local resident, & 'Guest' speaker

He was a 'Pilot' on Coastal Command, who flew PBY's & B.24's during the war, & Halifaxes & Lancasters AFTER the War.

He actually said that he loved the Auto-pilot system on the B.24, during long-overwater flights, but when disengaged, the B.24 was a handful !!!!

Showed those present (that were interested), the MOST MOUTHWATERING UN-PUBLISHED (private) Black & White shots of 'His' various a/c (had me salivating)


Also, when on Holiday in 2002, was at the foot of the famous 'Dover Cliffs' (St Margarets Bay), playing with my 2 x kids when an elderly Gent came up & started chatting, remarking on how well behaved my kids were !

Turned out he was a Flight Engineer on R.A.F. B.17-G's at the tail end of W.W.II mainly flying Meteorlogical missions towards Norway.

I was gob-smacked, as there weren't many Late-Model (B.III) RAF B.17's around, so to meet one of their crew-members by chance was remarkable.

He said his a/c were (only ever) overall silver, with just RAF Roundels & fin-flashes, with Black serials - he remarked they were often given cold stares & eyed with suspicion by other crews at bases where they dropped in for breakfast (other than home base - Sculthorpe, in Norfolk) as their B.17's were distinctly unusual - (again, HIS crew Loved their late '17).

(no nose turret - just a faired over H2S set in the nose-fairing, i.e. teardrop shape)

[Captain Eddie]

Interesting comments from those that were there, Hornchurch, thanks for sharing them!

[swoop]

Sorry Shawn, wasn't my intention to start a full blown debate. Sensitivities sometimes can be so insensitive.

[ZS-VAN]

Great post there Hornchurch. Enjoyed going through it! Not often I hear comments from the bloke who flew the aircraft.

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by swoop

Sorry Shawn, wasn't my intention to start a full blown debate. Sensitivities sometimes can be so insensitive.

No worries. I just had a feeling the B-17 and B-24 while not liked by Bomber Command, were enjoyed by thier crews.
- Shawn

[tank nut]

I am reading a book right now called the mighty eighth by Gerald Astor good book so far I would recommend it to you all. Anyway In the start of the book it talks about a mission that the RAF went on with b-17's they welcomed about 20 new forts and took them on a raid to wilhelmshaven where the raid did not go so good for them. They dropped there bombs from 30,000 feet and missed there target and the guns foze up on them when the germans attacked, this was done in dayligt unlike later when they went to night bombing. Other missons by the RAF crews with the b 17 agaisnt shiping and other targets did not get very good results for them, and eight of the 20 bomber where lost or grouded for repairs. With this rough start they lost enthusiasm for the planes.

[Aircrafty]

I've also read that the guns in the earlier B-17's froze up which didn't impress the Brits, I guess this was fixed in later versions. Although the RAF used both aircraft in different roles I think they preferred the Lib to the Fort.