Boeing B-17 - Suzie Q - Part 3 - Work Trip to Pick Up Plane
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มี.ค. 2023
- OK, Gang, here’s the long-awaited Part 3 of 4 of our effort to bring home our Boeing B-17 from Paris, Texas!
We’ve been a bit distracted lately with other projects, so give us a few weeks to put Part 4 together and maybe go back and enjoy the previous episodes!
Kermit Weeks
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I want to live like Kermit for just 1 of his "Weeks"....
I agree! I dream everyday of owning a ww2 fighter! I save every cent i can to try and reach that goal, work overtime , holidays , long weekends, every chance i get! Im 34 now, and maybe by some chance i will be able to afford a t6 texan or north american harvard by the time im 60 and can still enjoy a few years flying it! Its not the fighter i want and dream of but it might be all i can ever afford if i even manage to come up with that money
When you bring this one back, keep her looking rough like she just returned from a mission!
Watching a video like this I can imagine what it was like during WW2 and crews working in remote areas not in the best of conditions.
@55Reever. Imagine being 24-28,000 feet in the cold winter war torn skies of Germany with 88mm flak shells bursting around you Or Luftwaffe fighters striving to take down your B-17 and her crew. Unpressurized crew compartments with nothing more than an oxygen umbilical with a 24 volt electrical line for your heated “long underwear” somewhat like an electric blanket. Woe to the gunner who lost his oxygen or electric at 24,000 ft and minus 0 temps. Waist gunner your 50 cal Browning M-2 jams up on a metal link you have a VERY short time to remove your leather flight mitten open the breach of that machine gun and clear that jam before severe frost bite sets in and disables your hand. Sir those 8th Army Air Force Heavy Bombardment crews were some BRAVE men. I had the very good fortune to know an 8th AF Bombardier. He served from late 1943-44. 91st Bomb Group out of England. He was the Range Master at the shooting range where I still am a member to this day some years ago. Like my dad who was US Army WWII he spoke very rarely of that which he experienced in the war. When he did I hung on every word as with my father. His was a perilous job. Vietnam era Navy vet here and I cannot begin to imagine the dangers that these brave men faced. Guys 18-21 years old 🤷🏻😱🫡🇺🇸
Any relation?😉
Thank you Sir Kermit for posting number three of this series, I have waited excitedly for this 👍👍👍
Well, that put a smile on this retired A&P's face.
This dude reminds me of all those ebay listings "too many projects...this ones gotta go!"
Always does my heart good to see a Fort up & being put through it's paces...thanks!
Tell you what, you have to have some big balls to get in a long dormant 40 plus year old WWII airplane and fly it again after bringing it back to life. Having loved WWII aircraft since a kid in the early 1970's, I've enjoyed watching over the past five decades the remaining old warbirds be collected up, restored and put back to flying status or into museums. I remember watching B-17's in S. California fighting fires back in the late 1970's and early 80's. A-26's and Privateers too. It would great if this one was put back to flying status again.
Up here in Connecticut, the "Nine'-0-Nine" was pretty popular back in the 1990s. I saw it fly right over my house in Naugatuck numerous times as it was visiting Waterbury Oxford Airport. We crawled inside it once. About 5 years ago in late October it flew over the hills of Watertown Ct. I will never forget the deep sound of those 4 P/W rotary engines!
Sorry, radial engines.
Brings back memories. Jr Burchinal gave me a heck of ride in his Stearman for $25 back in the 70s. I couldn't afford the $50 for the Mustang. I remember that B-17 sitting out there. I could not believe that it could actually take off from his short dirt strip.
It’s AMAZING that even 36 years ago, Kermit was still documenting his exploits on camara! 🤟😎🤟🛩️🛩️🛩️
Kermit are you familiar with the true story of the B-17 called the "Mi Amigo"? It crashed in Sheffield, England in 1944 after being badly damaged by German 109s over Denmark. It's a beautiful tragic story that I think you would be interested in knowing about. The pilot was attempting to land in a park after circling Sheffield and at the last moment with their engines falling just as they were about to set down, they saw children playing directly in their path and had to overshoot the field into the trees. When they crashed all on board were lost. I sincerely believe the brave men who flew these amazing airplanes in wartime were the most remarkable people this world has ever known. I'm sure you know most of them were very young, many pilots were only 19 and 20 years old! How cool that you have actually taken on the work to repair such a valuable piece of American history! Thanks for sharing your adventure! t
Great video, Kermit. Can't wait for part 4. As to the paint scheme? You know, in these video's, it looks like what I always imagined a War Time B-17 would look like.. I love the worn look of the the Plane and if it was mine, I would not touch it. Id leave it just like it is. 👍
Very nice, Kermit! I absolutely love the Susie Q as she is presenting there, just so weathered and wore, like a true vet that has seen much better days!
A real "Keep 'em Flyin' " episode. I love it. Whem my son was 2 and I was in A&P school he had a swaetshirt with a C-54 and a "Keep 'em Flyin" logo.
Thank you Kermit for preserving this part of our aviation history. The nation owes you a great debt.
I really like the war-weary look, far more authentic than the highly polished finishes you see on most display aircraft. In fact, were it not for the absence of the turrets, much of the footage looks a lot like original wartime film.
Hey Kermit. Airplane lover and Vietnam era Navy veteran here. Also lived for several years as a child directly across the street from the current site of the Air Force museum in Dayton OH. Hmm 🤔 that may have played a big part in the love for aircraft that beats in my heart. Back then MATS still had more than a few propellor powered aircraft in it’s fleet. Ahh the twilight years of props and radials but, I digress. Central FL resident and have visited FOF many times over the years along with Tom Reilly’s Flying Tigers air museum before he shut down and moved which is where I saw Suzy Q’s fuselage sitting in Reilly’s hangar near Don Brooke’s Liberty Belle that was under restoration at the time. As a matter of fact there was a set of B-17 wings sitting in front of that same hangar at the time. It was really cool peaking into Suzy Q’s fuselage at that time. Really great to see Suzy Q in the air and like the P-51 and it’s distinctive sound so too those Wright Cyclones on the ‘17 have their own sound. Thanks for sharing this video Kermit. OBTW my uncle was an Army Air Force instructor pilot for B-17’s and later transitioned into the B-29 during the war. He later worked for Boeing in Seattle WA. All the best to you and best wishes for your new endeavor at FOF. Thank you too for those wonderful visits at FOF. Blue skies and tailwinds sir.
Thanks for another great video.
It was interesting and enjoyable.
Absolutely wonderful video of getting the aircraft ready with the new engine and ready to fly it home. The test flying went good and ready to head for home. Appreciate your comments Kermit. Most interesting. These are most interesting videos Kermit. Let’s go. That is history flying. I have tears. Wow.
Retired Air Force veteran.
I have always loved the B-17,ever since I saw Twelve O’Clock High as a kid. Then they made a TV show of it in the early 60’s. Never missed an episode.
WW-II Mechanics, doing this with block and tackle in a combat environment.
the guy filming sure knew what he was doing, documenting this great feat of bringing her back home.. i'm just gobsmacked at the amount of footage. Great putting it back together and letting the future generations (me) in on what's what. Personally, when someone said " the engines had to come off" ... i never realised on the b17 that the engines where only the front section hanging off what i perceived as the entire engine"block" .. Had seen it before on a C46/DC3 but never realised what i was actually looking at. Thanks for teaching!
Really enjoying this series, great to be able to look back with you!
There's nothing like a Trip down Memory lane 👍
A looong time ago my dad and brothers visited Mr. Burchinal’s strip outside of Paris.He let us look at all his planes and let us sit in a couple. I have loads of pictures somewhere of his 51,38 this b17 and others. Thanks for sharing these videos.
great video from the past Kermit, you have a little bit of Spielberg in you, thankfully for us!
Man I love this footage.
Suzy Q was the first B-17 I saw in person with my Dad.
Hopefully she flies again some day.
It's funny you mentioned the engine positions because I was noticing the same thing as you said it. I didn't realize the #1 and #4 were set farther back than #2 and #3. Great videos and adventures...oh to be young again. Thanks for sharing.
im definitely a kid inside when it comes to b-17s as well kermit!
Sir Kermit your inflicting pain on me making me wait for these brilliant videos 😂😂
Sorry!
Great vid, and to think these planes flew in thousands, across the Atlantic, and then the Channel too .... and the crews were so young, wasnt it average age of 21, thats mental by modern times, brave lads
Flash from the past----What a great crew!
I saw one of these at RAAF Darwin, and was suprised how small it was in real life, similar size to DC-3 Dakota = C-47. Amazing aircraft!
Kermit, on 11 June, 1987 I was in Fort Leonard Wood Mo...9 days out of high school.
I remember cox field and Junior Birchinal. Quite a character.
I grew up about 90 miles south of there in a little town called Kilgore.
Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
What an awesome adventure Kermit! 👍
B-17 flying history and B-17 flying in your history....Looks like history does repeat itself.....Thanks Kermit hope you and yours are doing well....
Shoe🇺🇸
this series is pure GOLD
I wish you would make Suzy Q fly again, Kermit. Maybe that's why she went back outside and into that field, she wants to fly again! I was fortunate enough to see "I'll be around" and walk through "Sentimental Journey" during her annual inspection. I hope to fly with Sentimental Journey soon: The B-17 is such an awesome bird, thanks for sharing with us. Salute from the 49th State!
Great archive Kermit and she really does look like she's been through the wars ! But runs very sweet indeed Thankyou Kermit and l too was half my age and like yourself just don't believe it . Still a kid at heart ! 💗
You have had the greatest aviation experience with your entire lifetime and the best part is that it continues and shows no sign of ending. You speak of the crew of young "boys" in WW2 in the B-17. My father was too young young to be in WW2. He lived and farmed with his father in Sullivan Indiana. When he was 7 years old, standing between 2 cornfields, a crew of "boys" had gotten their B-17 down close enough as to de-tassel the corn with the props. They flew right over him. As it approached him, he and the crew member in the nose looked into each other's eyes. It must have been an unbelievable experience for a young boy on the farm.
The day of his funeral, the Yankee Lady was at Madison Indiana. We were in the limo on the way to the service. We watched it approach from the south and enter the pattern. My father had worked part time at the funeral home. He was a local legend along with his best friend. They had flown a 1958 Comanche on several adventures all of which culminated with the circum navigation of the earth. I share his love of aviation although at present am earth bound. My son, now age 12, embodies an almost transcendental enthusiasm for the skys. He lives it through books. The funeral was delayed by the funeral home owner as he instructed our driver to take us to the airport to watch it land. Now the good part. We arrived just as the Yankee Lady was taxing to the ramp for shut down. We got out of the limo dressed to the nines. My wife and daughter were enjoying the spectacle but my son was in awe. We had been noticed by the crew as they did house keeping and chocked the wheels. We had the aire of "Mr. BIG" given our appearance and method of transportation. My son asked me what he should do. I told him to go introduce himself to the man under the #3 engine and talk with him about what you know. As they began to discuss the attributes of the airplane and particularly the dash number of the engines, my son had a new friend. He promptly booted him into the airplane. I have a wonderful picture of him in the nose in his suit and tie. We explained our situation and solleum duty we had. They told us to come back after we were done and they would give us the grand tour. They flew rides. We buried dad's body, but not him. It gets better. We had the limo for the entire day. We returned to the airport and the crew made good on their promise. We crawled all through it. I'm sure dad had a hand in it and was watching. There's one more thing. My father had 3 brothers. Richard and John had preceded him in death. Paul was still alive at the time but just recently passed. The people's names of the crew who took us through the airplane were Paul and Richard. My eternal best friend and A&P/IA, John was there with us and we gathered in his work hangar for a more fitting service. Paul, John and Richard. Same names. I have been to fantasy of flight in the mid 80's. It was and is wonderful. I was in the 1989 EAA air academy class and saw you fly your Mosquito. We have come so close to meeting and hopefully we will someday. I wish you could meet my son. It's born in him. You understand what I mean. He just knows too much about airplanes. Maybe someday our paths will finally stop at the same point.
Great. Thanks for sharing.
Yes sir.
I also was privileged to see Delmar ring out his R-2 at Oshkosh. Glad you have it for safe keeping. You are probably one of the few people who have the skill and experience to fly it. When I was building a control line model of an R-2, I called him to discuss some scale details. He was very helpful and personable. He and Steve's construction of it was certainly a gift to all of us who wish we could have seen the original turn the pylons.
Kermit, you have been a "Flying toys are us" kid forever. I don't see you changing now, not a all- God bless and speed your endeavors! Fr
I flew with Ken Morris and Scott Hartwig in the EAA's Aluminum Overcast. I had to get check out in Mark Clark's DC-3 at the time
Neat stuff Kermit. Thank you Sky Pilot. Let's go for a ride in the Grumman Duck again. Splash it and beach it, right up the boat ramp. Spring and Summer is on the way. Love the Grumman Duck. What I wouldn't give,,just to ride in "the basement". Heck,, go do some fishing, outta the cockpit, standing on the wing. Bring back some duck, with the Duck, type of plan.
In 1994 or 1995 when we lived in Michigan at Selfridge ANG base in the off-base housing, The Lone Star Flight Museum's B-17 flew over our house one evening when we were outside playing, just about as low as that first pass! I still remember that. I hope that you can get one or both flying again!
Thanks for another chapter in this story it's always a pleasure watching along with your narrations.
So good to see a piece of history still flying and those beautiful sounding radial engines. Thanks for the video.
Fantastic footage can't wait for part four!!!
Been there got the T. Kermit rocks.
Thank you again for sharing. It’s almost like being there.
The crew look really happy to be there. Good vibes.
Kermit, love watching these old war birds fly. Love to ride in one.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
During WW2 a B-17 made an emergency landing right outside of my small town. Due to fog the crew became lost and low on fuel. They landed on a blacktop highway and veered off into a corn stubble field. Of course it had rained quite a bit and the B-17 sank nearly to the wings. An Army Air Force small army came out first having to lay down perforated steel planks just to get to the B-17 along with laying them all around it as the field was pure gumbo. They disassembled it and hauled it out piece by piece over two weeks. The crew members lived it up in our small town, staying at the hotel and as one old-timer claimed "laid nearly every woman in town".
The sound of those 4 engines are wonderful 😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing 👍
I landed at Flying Tigers Field in 1972 in a 177 Cessna Cardinal just ahead of Junior in that B17. He was giving type ratings to a couple of fellas from San Francisco. After they shut down and de-planed , Junior gave me and my brother in law permission to go in and look around in the plane. Sheesh,,,there were wires hanging down from Everywhere in that thing. From the radio compartment, and where the top turret was. It was kinda scary looking. Some guy, I guess was a mechanic was looking at the right main when we came out, and he asked if I was there for a type rating. I just laughed and said No way.
That was an interesting stop tho,,,,,,Junior had tw B25's that were used in some war movie. He also had a P51, a P38. (that I heard he wrecked later), a T28, and two Jets. A T33, and a Navy Panther. I was sad to hear that he got in trouble. He seemed like a nice fella.
Junior was overcharged imo probably to motivate him to testify against the drug smugglers.
More great stories Mr. Kerms...many thanks.
Fantastic!
Now that is a great video.
Good Memories and a wonderful Video! Thanks Mr. Kermit......🙃
Great video, can't wait to see part 4👌👍💯%!
Kermit just wanted to say that I really love all of your Awesome videos. My name is Dan and I'm big into the RC airplane hobby. I wish I would of known about your place when I lived in Florida I would of enjoyed seeing your collection. My favorite Airplane is the P51 and I like the Cripes all mighty one that you have its beautiful. Thank you for everything you do for the Airplane community.
Great video Kermit, it would be cool to get it flying again and to see if you can still three point it as perfectly as you are here!
Sooo good. Thanks for allowing us to live this a little.
That's what a warbird should look like!
My favorite plane. Thank you for this great video... keep 'em coming!
The B17 was always my favorite - Thank You!!
Kermit .... This is just wonderful old footage, and a testament to how you started-out. Is there any hope of footage similar to this for the times you spent in and with the B-23? God how I wish you could put that thing back together. One of the most beautiful airplanes (and rarest) of that time period. Coopman
Real mechanic
So wonderful to watch B-17's flying!!! The neighbor we had growing up was an engine mechanic on B-17's of the 8th Air Force in England. We never got many "war stories" from him. But I now understand that losing Air Crews most likely took its toll on him, silently, like so many of his generation.
Very nice! Thanks fore the commentary, she’d good light!
Big, Beautiful, Bom'ma!
Sweet! Been waiting for the next part to be posted!
Nice!
Awsome!!!!love the old war Birds!!!
Weathered paint job looks great. Keep it.
Great Video Kermit, can't wait for part 4 ;)
This is as epic as Kee Bird and way more successful!
Yes Darryl Greenamyer really screwed that up.
Love this series !
The wrecker truck needs to add “Anything” To the side of the door along with “Anytime, Anywhere”
Brilliant. Many thanks!
My Dad was a tail gunner in A B17F in WWII.
Suzie q is also an Aussie boomerang fighter.
Very cool. I like these old videos.
Nice flyin Kermz.
going to have to rename her "the phoenix" when you get her flying again lol.
Leave the B-17 beat up looking. Real warbirds never looked pristine. Battle worn is a badge of honor.
It’s still flown by kids, just kids a bit older
back in the day i had a 66 GTO and i was bad a-- ,but kirmit had a P-51 he was much Bader lol .
I guess all the big windows up front were added for movie cameras.
That was nice, Although I have to say the paint job looked as if it had one too many missions to Germany and this was filmed when Kermit had lots of hair.
"I'm still a kid" - me too!
A British ww2 veterans pilot explained to me that 3 point landings are not standard practice.
Fly that tail the tail they said. It was more of a competition driven thing for beers in the pub if a pilot made a 3 pointer.
But for sure it was not a common practice. This is mind I never aimed for that goal flying old tailwheel planes.
Ask "Buffalo Joe" McBryan.
Me parece muy curioso el nombre de este B 17 Suzie Q que es el título de una canción de una banda de rock muy famosa creedence clearwater de los 60s
Hey Kermit I would love to see that b24 if you still have it at fantasy of flight
👍👍 ✌
i have a b-17 flier i got in NLR AR of the texas raider 17 that i got a oil sample from the NO.1 engine with my finger about 2 yrs a go .and met the guys --- so sad .
In reality the way it looks is probably how they looked during the war
✈️✈️✈️
I often wonder, if you had all the original jigs and machines and bits and bobs, would it be a lot faster to restore old war birds, and if so how much faster. Maybe its the skill of the people that dictates the pace, I dont know.
Kermit , did the missing mid upper hatch affect the aerodynamics over the tail noticeably?