david3 0 #1 February 15, 2011 Very cool. QuoteThe next day, Sept. 6, 1943, "Skeets" Swierz and the rest of the crew of the B-17 nicknamed "Bomb Boogie" took off from their base in England, but didn't make it back. Shot down and taken prisoner, Swierz would spend the rest of his war days in a POW camp and not fly in another B-17 for close to 70 years. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/15/AR2011021500718.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akjmpplt 0 #2 February 15, 2011 I used to fly the B-24 and B-17 (made it to Quincy the last year) for the Collings Foundation. It was a special day when the veterans were onboard.SmugMug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #3 February 15, 2011 Thanks for sharing that story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 860 #4 February 15, 2011 I called them recently in hopes of getting some jumpers to enjoy the bomb bay doors when they are at an airport with a DZ on their upcoming tour. I was told their insurance doesn't allow jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 February 15, 2011 Quote I called them recently in hopes of getting some jumpers to enjoy the bomb bay doors when they are at an airport with a DZ on their upcoming tour. I was told their insurance doesn't allow jumping. A whole bunch of jumpers in the NW jumped from their B-17 a few years ago. Got the video. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
david3 0 #6 February 15, 2011 Quote Quote I called them recently in hopes of getting some jumpers to enjoy the bomb bay doors when they are at an airport with a DZ on their upcoming tour. I was told their insurance doesn't allow jumping. A whole bunch of jumpers in the NW jumped from their B-17 a few years ago. Got the video. I jumped it at Quincy. I still get goose bumps thinking about straddling the bomb bay doors as they opened. Amazing. We had video too. Great shot, video guy left a second ahead of the rest of us. The classic exit shot of us pouring out of a plane except the plane was a B-17 and the doors were bomb bay doors. Saw it once and then one of our group was going to take it and burn copies for all of us. Never saw it again. It’s a running joke now about how we all wish we could see it again. Oh well, It’s burned into my memory and I’ll never forget it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #7 February 15, 2011 Quote I still get goose bumps thinking about straddling the bomb bay doors as they opened. That just makes me want to do a rodeo jump while slapping the "horse" with my cowboy hat and screaming "YEE-HA!!!"."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #9 February 15, 2011 Maybe some day they will have B52 jumps! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
david3 0 #10 February 15, 2011 Quote Quote I still get goose bumps thinking about straddling the bomb bay doors as they opened. That just makes me want to do a rodeo jump while slapping the "horse" with my cowboy hat and screaming "YEE-HA!!!". YEE-HA!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 860 #11 February 15, 2011 Not the best copy....but still. Waaaa-Hoooo!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
futuredivot 0 #12 February 15, 2011 Seriously? Wish you had let me know.You are only as strong as the prey you devour Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
david3 0 #13 February 15, 2011 Quote Not the best copy....but still. Waaaa-Hoooo!!! Shah riding a rocket…? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #14 February 15, 2011 Quincy 99 Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #15 February 15, 2011 Quote Quincy 99 I still have my "Genuine Meat Bomb" shirt from jumping her.I made sure the PIC signed my logbook, too. Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #16 February 15, 2011 Quote Quote Quote I called them recently in hopes of getting some jumpers to enjoy the bomb bay doors when they are at an airport with a DZ on their upcoming tour. I was told their insurance doesn't allow jumping. A whole bunch of jumpers in the NW jumped from their B-17 a few years ago. Got the video. I jumped it at Quincy. I still get goose bumps thinking about straddling the bomb bay doors as they opened. Amazing. We had video too. Great shot, video guy left a second ahead of the rest of us. The classic exit shot of us pouring out of a plane except the plane was a B-17 and the doors were bomb bay doors. Saw it once and then one of our group was going to take it and burn copies for all of us. Never saw it again. It’s a running joke now about how we all wish we could see it again. Oh well, It’s burned into my memory and I’ll never forget it. -------------------------- Jumped it at Rantoul. I was the only one with video. I gave the video to the production guys that were to play it on the big screen that night. I never saw the video again. Saw it on the camera viewer and that was it. Whaaaaaaaaa. They lost my tape.With all the snag points in that plane, I don't think it's a good idea to have jumpers on board. But what a cool jump to see so much wing span on exit. And the ride up was a rare experience that would take a long time to describe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #17 February 15, 2011 My ride on the 909 is one of my four most memorable jumps. Others are my first, my first tandem, and my first tandem with my (now) wife. Elvisio "she'd whip my ass if I didn't include her in the list" rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
