B-17 modification
Moderators: Niner Delta, joseyclosey
- Niner Delta
- Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
- Posts: 5001
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:51 pm
- Location: Sequim, WA
B-17 modification
This is one of the oddest aircraft built by the US during WWII.
It seems that when the B-17 was undergoing modifications to the nose, introducing the G model chin turret, a young courier at the Boeing plant was taking the final mod prints to the factory floor, from the design department. On the way, he was trying to sneak a peek at the drawings and tripped over a cable, spilling the prints all over. While picking them up, they became out of order and mixed up. Not wanting to admit to his mistake, he handed the prints to the factory foreman and left without saying a word.
The factory built the planes according to the mixed up prints and the error wasn't caught until the third plane came off the assembly line. This is also one of the earliest known uses of the cunard forward wing.
The flying characteristics were no improvement over the previous models so the three were scrapped before the USAAF discovered the Boeing mistake and started a congressional hearing about wasting government funds.
For more information see;
www.en.wickipedia.org/Boeing/OhShit/B-17
Vern.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
It seems that when the B-17 was undergoing modifications to the nose, introducing the G model chin turret, a young courier at the Boeing plant was taking the final mod prints to the factory floor, from the design department. On the way, he was trying to sneak a peek at the drawings and tripped over a cable, spilling the prints all over. While picking them up, they became out of order and mixed up. Not wanting to admit to his mistake, he handed the prints to the factory foreman and left without saying a word.
The factory built the planes according to the mixed up prints and the error wasn't caught until the third plane came off the assembly line. This is also one of the earliest known uses of the cunard forward wing.
The flying characteristics were no improvement over the previous models so the three were scrapped before the USAAF discovered the Boeing mistake and started a congressional hearing about wasting government funds.
For more information see;
www.en.wickipedia.org/Boeing/OhShit/B-17
Vern.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Peace is that brief, quiet moment in history.......... when everybody stands around reloading.
- DuncaninFrance
- Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
- Posts: 11080
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:08 pm
- Location: S.W.France
- Contact:
LOOKS MORE LIKE A 71-B



Duncan
What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.