Collings fdtn B17 crash at Bradley ITNL

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   This B17 was in Rapid City and I and two friends went to see it along with a B24.  Side by side. My father in law, a pilot,  flew B24's and bombed Iwo Gima (SP?). His leather flight jacket is covered with red bombs for each mission. We still have it. He never talked about his experience. Later he flew SA16 sea planes and did air/sea rescue. Later, B36's and served with SAC. He retired a Lt. Colonel.   
While at the airport I ran into a fellow wearing a WW2 flight jacket . Turns out he was a flight engineer on B17's.  I had quite a conversation with him about the generator that was in the rear of the plane there on display. He flew with the 8th out of England. He said the generator was never in the plane. It sat out under the wing before a mission , charging the batteries. If it was running, they were going. If not, they weren't. Funny how a thing like that sticks forever in their memories. It was a terrible experience since over 70 % did not return. No wonder they vomited and climbed in. Most will never talk about it. Some, never would get in another plane. Tells you much about the bad experience. The technology of these old war birds was great for the time and still they were dangerous. When they were shot up and hit with flak, the cable controls and hydraulics were vulnerable. Once they were damaged they had no time to repair them and down they went. Engine fires with all that high octane gasoline, stuck bombs, a dangerous situation.

It sounds like something caused engine failure, low power and they didn't make the runway. It hit some runway lights or items that damaged the running gear and caused it to veer off into de-icing buildings and equipment at the airport. Then burned and killed 7 out of 14 in the plane. The pilot and co pilot were fatalities. A fellow on board with broken legs and ribs managed to get a hatch open and helped save 7. He was carrying fire resistant gloves and was a experienced emergency person. This all is very sad and I'm sorry for the loss of life.    