B-17 lost today

[69camfrk]

It looks like "Nine-O-Nine" flown by the Collings foundation piled up this morning. Pictures look bad as it burned.

[Jobaka]

Damn shame.

World War II-era plane crashes at Connecticut airport

A vintage World War II airplane crashed while trying to land in Connecticut on Wednesday morning, sending giant plumes of smoke rising from Bradley International Airport.

The B-17 owned by the Collings Foundation — a group that hosts regular historical re-enactments — crashed into a shed while trying to land at the airport in Windsor Locks, witnesses told the Hartford Courant.

Photos showed flames and huge clouds of black smoke that could be seen for miles as at least two dozen fire engines raced to the scene.

Multiple injuries had been reported, the paper said, while @EasternCtFire tweeted that there was “one seriously burned victim, numerous yellow tags.” It was not clear how many people had been on board when it crashed.

“We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport,” the airport said on Twitter. “We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed.”

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a “ground stop” for all flights heading to the airport.

“A vintage Boeing B-17 crashed at the end of Runway 6 while attempting to land,” the FAA said in a statement.

“It is a civilian registered aircraft, not flown by the military.”



The Nine-O-Nine, a Collings Foundation B-17 Flying Fortress, flies over Thomasville, Ala., in 2002.

https://nypost.com/2019/10/02/world-...ticut-airport/

There's some video of the fire at the link.

[snide]

That's a shame.

[04 commemorative]

Over our back yard a few years ago

[BADRACR1]

Sad loss of a piece of history.

[Dan Dlabay]

Hate to hear that. A piece of history gone.

[Stevedore]

That really is a shame, as they're not making any more.

I recall watching one at an airshow many years ago, & thought it was interesting when the pilot, or whoever, slid back the side window, elbow hanging out, so he could watch as each engine started up. Not unlike myself starting one of the various hoopties I've owned in my life. Such basic machines by today's standards, piloted, in many cases, by teenagers.

[04 commemorative]

I feel more sad for the people injured and killed......then the loss of a piece of history

[VITE1]

Very sad.

[Jobaka]

At Least 5 Dead After WWII-Era Bomber Crashes at Airport in Connecticut

POSTED 8:45 AM, OCTOBER 2, 2019, BY ASSOCIATED PRESS, UPDATED AT 12:15PM, OCTOBER 2, 2019

A World War II-era B-17 bomber carrying 13 people crashed and burned at the Hartford airport in an aborted takeoff attempt Wednesday, and a state official said at least five people were killed.

The four-engine, propeller-driven plane struggled to get into the air and slammed into a maintenance shed at Bradley International Airport as the pilots circled back for a landing, officials and witnesses said.

It had 10 passengers and three crew members, authorities said.

The state official who gave the death toll was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Connecticut Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella said hours after the crash that some of those on board suffered severe burns and “the victims are very difficult to identify.”

The retired, civilian-registered plane was associated with the Collings Foundation, an educational group that brought its Wings of Freedom vintage aircraft display to the airport this week, officials said.

“Right now my heart really goes out to the families who are waiting,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “And we are going to give them the best information we can as soon as we can in an honest way.”

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate the cause of the crash.

The plane was a few minutes into the flight when pilots reported a problem and said it was not gaining altitude, officials said. It lost control upon touching down and struck the shed just before 10 a.m.

One person on the ground was injured, officials said. The airport _ New England’s second-busiest _ was closed after the crash but reopened a single runway about 3½ hours later.

Flight records from FlightAware shows the plane went down about five minutes after it took off. The data shows it had traveled about 8 miles (13 kilometers) and reached an altitude of 800 feet (244 meters).

Brian Hamer, of Norton, Massachusetts, said he was less than a mile away when he saw a B-17, “which you don’t normally see,” fly directly overhead, apparently trying to gain altitude but not succeeding.

One of the engines began to sputter, and smoke came out the back, Hamer said. The plane made a wide turn and headed back toward the airport, he said.

“Then we heard all the rumbling and the thunder, and all the smoke comes up and we kind of figured it wasn’t good,” Hamer said.

Antonio Arreguin said he had parked at a construction site near the airport for breakfast when he heard an explosion. He said he did not see the plane but could feel the heat from the flames, about 250 yards away.

“I see this big ball of orange fire, and I knew something happened,” he said.

Only a few of the roaring Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses are still airworthy. The planes, 74 feet (23 meters) long with a wingspan of 104 feet (32 meters), were used in daylight strategic bombing raids against Germany during World War II _ extremely risky missions that helped break the Nazis’ industrial war machine.

The Collings Foundation said the same plane in Wednesday’s accident also crashed in 1987 at an air show near Pittsburgh, injuring several people. Hit by a severe crosswind as it touched down, the bomber overshot a runway and plunged down a hillside. It was later repaired.

The B-17 was built in 1945, too late for combat in World War II, according to the foundation.

It served in a rescue squadron and a military air transport service before being subjected to the effects of three nuclear explosions during testing, the foundation said. It was later sold as scrap and eventually was restored. The foundation bought it in 1986.

“This is kind of shocking. It’s a loss to lose a B-17,” said Hamer, whose father served in the Air Force. “I mean, there aren’t very many of those left.”

Source

[RedLS1GTO]

Terrible on many levels. The loss of the aircraft is sad but nothing compared to those onboard who won't be returning home tonight.

[chinaski]

I'll admit, the thought crossed my mind when I flew in EAA's B-17 a few years ago. It's a bit spooky, but I just reminded myself that taking a quick ride around the block is a far cry from flying through hostile territory to drop bombs was a lot riskier. I just put on the big boy pants and went through with it. Enjoyable Experience.

RIP to those who died today. Really sad.


Being in a plane crash is a terrifying experience. I hope to God I never have to go through another...

[MrPeabody]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Terrible on many levels. The loss of the aircraft is sad but nothing compared to those onboard who won't be returning home tonight.

Yes. They said there were 13 on board, three crew and ten passengers. That means some of the casualties were passengers. They also said one person on the ground was injured.

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Terrible on many levels. The loss of the aircraft is sad but nothing compared to those onboard who won't be returning home tonight.

You're right man. Terrible in every way. I posted a pic of me inside that aircraft circa 2013, when a few Collings foundation planes were at Perry airport near the house. I will get my ride on a B-17 before I die. However, I want it to be the one the CAA flys as the "Memphis Belle". Just having been on this aircraft makes it a little more personal for me. MY youngest son was with me when we toured it.

[GRN ENVY]

Terrible tragedy. Every year I had the pleasure of seeing this plane take off and land In February when the airshow was in Naples. The airport was across from the CarMax I was working at.

Thoughts and prayers for the families

[JRD77VET]

Seven perished

https://www.foxnews.com/us/world-war...uries-reported

[CubSmurf]

How unbelievably terrible. I've taken a ride on this very plane, and their B-24. Don't believe they allow it now, but when I flew on the 24 you got to crawl around everywhere in flight. Made sure to point out NOT to step on the nose gear door as it was an emergency exit for the crew. Didn't realize how crazy it was to be crawling near that door in flight until much later.


Prayers to those on the flight.

[Grey Ghost]

I've been a WW2 aviation collector, enthusiast for 40 years.

Heard it was loaded with Jet A instead of 100LL

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I've been a WW2 aviation collector, enthusiast for 40 years.

Heard it was loaded with Jet A instead of 100LL

Preventable mistake

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Back in 2013, 'Nine-Oh-Nine' was at Boeing field, about 3 miles from my house.
Great tour! Rides were about $300 to $400 depending where you sat.
Too rich for my blood but just sitting in the different areas of her was fantastic!
Best view was up in the dorsal port looking rear at that gigantic tail!