The American Air Museum, USAF 8th & 9th Air Forces Europe

**Scott Gilmore** · 27th March 07, 08:04 PM

My fathers wings. He was with the 8th Air Force as a tail gunner in a B-17. My favorite kilt pin.

Thanks for another great photo tour, cessna152towser.

**James73** · 27th March 07, 08:35 PM

Thanks for sharing the pics! I have wanted to make it out to Duxford since my first trip 'cross the pond in 2003 but I have never made it work out.

**auld argonian** · 28th March 07, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Scott Gilmore

My fathers wings. He was with the 8th Air Force as a tail gunner in a B-17.

You're very fortunate. My dad was a navigator and from what he's told me those tail gunners and the belly gunners were the ones who most often didn't make it back.

Best

AA

**terraedwin** · 28th March 07, 09:45 AM

Thanks for taking us on a snapshot journey through the museum. Great pics as always.

**cavscout** · 28th March 07, 09:52 AM

Great Pics! Thanks!

I think I see a Fraser Hunting Kilt in second row of that first picture. Very nice!

My wifes grand-father was in the 8th, as a mechanic I believe. Truly the Greatest Generation.

**walkerk** · 28th March 07, 10:23 AM

Thanks for the great photos. Glad to see those huge hangars now keep the airplanes safe from the weather.

**David White** · 28th March 07, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

Such as these mechanics servicing a B-17 Superfortress.

One of my Dad's best friends was a ball gunner in a B-17. He took a piece of flak through the ball, it tore through where the inner leg ends at the upper thigh. Jay always joked that another inch and he "would have been a queen instead of a king". He also ripped part of his ear off bailing out when the fort went down that day.

thanks c152t

**David Dalglish** · 1st April 07, 12:46 AM

Great photo's Alex, The museum looks good

**Woodsheal** · 1st April 07, 09:41 AM

Great shots of great warbirds! The B-17 Flying Fortress (not "Superfortress;" that's the B-29) is my favorite plane of all time, though my deceased uncle would hate to hear me say that! He was a tail-gunner in B-24's of the 15th USAAF, flying out of N. Africa and later on Italy. He was shot down into the Med on that first disastrous Ploesti raid.

This is him inside the waistgun position, helping to load a belt of .50 cal:

**RCallan** · 1st April 07, 01:08 PM

Great Photos.
At one time I had a step-father that was a pilot flying B-25's out of N. Africa and Italy during the war. Great stories about some of his missions.