Sentimental Journey: A Living Legend

By Paul Tannahill

Emitting a belch of white smoke, the number three engine of Sentimental Journey slowly comes to life. With a cost of over $2000 an hour (and climbing) to operate, continued public support and donations are imperative to keeping this important piece of history alive. (Paul Tannahill) Smoke wafts through the fuselage catching in the light that streams through the windows as one by one each of the Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone engines belches to life before settling down to a smooth rumble. Crewmember Robert Morril watches intently as each one turns over, looking for any signs of an issue. There are none. Slowly taxiing to the runway, the breaks emit a low groan as they work. Run up on an aircraft of this type takes a bit of time, but eventually we creep out to the runway centerline. With a steady surge of power and a roar like thunder the aircraft trundles down the runway.

As we lift from the ground I glance towards Robert and though he has done this countless times before, a wide grin stretches from ear to ear. I’m sure I look about the same. Undoubtedly, our reaction to the experience is quite the opposite of the feelings of the thousands of Flying Fortress crews as they took off to fly into the deadly unknown of the skies above Europe so many years ago. They are the brave individuals who truly made this glorious aircraft the icon it is today.

When the Flying Fortress was developed it was the fastest, highest flying bomber in the world, It was thought that these features coupled with tremendous firepower concentrated in large formations would render the B-17’s practically impervious to fighter attack. The reality of combat however proved this theory incorrect and bomber groups’ endured tremendous losses until effective long range fighter escorts could be secured. (Paul Tannahill)I caught up with the B-17G Sentimental Journey and her dedicated crew from the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force during a recent stop in Washington State. The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is based in Mesa, Arizona, where it maintains two hangars and a fleet of vintage military aircraft, many which are airworthy and regularly fly.

One of the most active of all the airworthy B-17’s currently flying, Sentimental Journey started its life as one of 2,395 B-17G’s built under contract by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Rolling out of the Douglas Long Beach factory late in 1944, it was accepted by the Air Corps on March 27, 1945 as B-17G-85-DL USAAF s/n 44-83514. Per standard operating procedures of the time, the aircraft was immediately flown to a modification center. In Tulsa, Oklahoma the aircraft was equipped with the latest updates which in an effort to keep production uninterrupted, had not yet been incorporated into the assembly lines. By the time ‘514 left Tulsa, the war in Europe was over, and the aircraft set out for the Pacific.

One of the most recognized of all B-17’s flying; Sentimental Journey has been actively touring the country for almost thirty years as a living monument to the sacrifices and achievements of the greatest generation. (Paul Tannahill)Apparently arriving too late to see any action, the aircraft ended up in storage at Tachikawa, Japan. The cessation of hostilities did not however mean that the venerable Flying Fortress had outlived its usefulness. In 1947, B-17 ‘514 was finally called to duty, carrying the designation of RB-17G, and assigned to the 5th Reconnaissance Group at Clark Field in Manila; the aircraft crisscrossed the vast expanses of the Pacific as a photo-mapping platform.

Eventually in 1950, the aircraft made its way back to the U.S. reconfigured as a DB-17G drone director attached to the 3250th Drone Group at Eglin AFB, in Florida. During this period the aircraft is reported to have also seen service in the Air Sea Rescue role, though it appears to have never received an SB-17G designation, making it unclear if it was ever modified to carry one of the large air-dropped life boats usually associated with this function. The following year, 1951, the aircraft became involved in “Operation Greenhouse;” its mission, to direct unmanned drones tasked with collecting samples and data during a series of atmospheric atomic tests. In 1956 the Fortress was re-designated once again as a DB-17P, indicating an aircraft specifically intended for the direction of QB-17 drone Fortresses, and transferred to the 3215th Drone Squadron, Patrick AFB Florida. With the 50s drawing to an end, the military found that it no longer had much use for its few remaining B-17s and on Jan. 27, 1959 the old Fortress was transferred to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona for storage and final disposal.

Considered by many to be the best seat in the house during a flight, the nose section provides a nearly unobstructed 180 degree view. The chin turret indicative of the G model B-17 was designed to dissuade Luftwaffe pilots from making the head on passes that had been extremely effective against earlier model B-17s. (Paul Tannahill)Its stay in the bone yard was a short one however, within months the Fortress was purchased by Acme Aircraft Parts for $5,289.99. In short order the aircraft was sold to Western Air Industries, Anderson, California, in late 1960 for the price of $8,000 netting a tidy profit. The aircraft was repositioned to their base where most of the military equipment was stripped out and tossed aside, and two 1,000-gallon tanks were installed in the fuselage. Now carrying the civil registration of N9323Z (which it still carries today) and numbered as tanker 17, the aircraft set out around the country to join a growing number of B-17s waging an new aerial battle, this time as the heart of America’s heavy Air Attack fire fighting fleet. In 1962 Western became Aero Union, based in Chico, Calif., it became the largest civilian operator of B-17s. More than one third of the B-17s used in the fire bomber role were lost. It was this treacherous line of work that enabled many of the Fort’s that exist today to remain until their historic significance could be fully realized. After 18 years of faithful service, the venerable old B-17s were being phased out in favor of newer equipment.

In 1977, an effort was made to sell ‘514. Decorated in military type markings and bearing the name “Class of 44,” the aircraft was taken to the annual CAF Airshow in Harlingen, Texas. Eventually CAF Colonel Mike Clark purchased the old bomber and donated it to the CAF. On Jan. 14, 1978, during a membership banquet, the aircraft was presented to the newly formed Arizona Wing. Volunteers set to work right away cleaning and polishing the airframe. The aircraft was decorated in the light blue markings of the 457th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. Of course no B-17 would be complete without nose art. A contest was held to name the aircraft; out of more than 800 entries, the name Sentimental Journey was chosen. Nose art came in the form of one of the most famous pinup girls Original military items such as this electronic compensating gun sight mounted to one on of the waste .50 caliber machine guns have been faithfully replaced on the aircraft helping to make Sentimental Journey one of the most authentically restored B-17s currently flying. (Paul Tannahill)of the 1940s, Betty Grable. Though the aircraft was operational and regularly flown when it became part of the CAF, its condition was less than pristine.

A combination of time and the rigors of fire fighting operations had taken its toll. Caustic elements in the fire retardant had a tendency to promote corrosion and with turrets and other original equipment long discarded, the aircraft was a mere shell of its wartime glory. In 1981 the Wing decided to ground the aircraft for restoration. Large areas of the nose and fuselage were re-skinned, the entire aircraft was rewired, the radio room was reconstructed, and replacement turrets were procured and installed along with bomb bay doors, just to name a fraction of the work preformed to on the aircraft. Remarkably, because the Wing did not yet have a facility in which to house the project, all work was performed outdoors.

For a majority of the surviving B-17s, this would be the end of the story. Having been restored and put on display a majority of the surviving B-17s serve as a silent reminder to the sacrifice made by so many in the greatest conflict the world has ever known. For the dedicated individuals of the Arizona Wing a silent reminder was not enough. After three years of intense work, the aircraft was once again ready to take to the skies. The mid-1980s saw the Arizona Wing send the B-17 on its first official tour, with appearances in 55 different cities. Since then, Sentimental Journey has been a regular sight in the skies above the U.S. Through the years, the tour has grown significantly. The Fortress generally sets out in late May, not returning home to Mesa, until early October. On average 80,000 visitors tour through the aircraft each year. Crews rotate in and out along the way as schedules permit. The operation of an aircraft as The Puget Sound slips by outside the waist gun position. On earlier B-17’s these windows were open, adding to the bitter cold crews were forced to endure at extreme altitudes. (Paul Tannahill)large and complex as Sentimental Journey is no simple task, especially when so much time is spent on the road. Tools, parts and equipment, all need to be packed along, either in the airplane or the support vehicles. Often this means packing light and when mechanical issues arise, it is up to the resourcefulness of the crew to source parts, equipment and sometimes, even the assistance of generous locals to get the old B-17 safely back in the air. When the tour is over for the season, the devoted volunteers of the Arizona Wing set to work on the aircraft performing scheduled maintenance and repairs, as well as continuing the ongoing restoration process adding original items as they become available. Their level of dedication and effort has yielded a beautiful example of one of the most authentically restored B-17s currently flying.  

A flight on Sentimental Journey is a rare treat, being one of only a handful of airworthy Flying Fortresses left in the world. It is certainly a departure from the modern aircraft most of us are used to. The mighty B-17 climbs out, the sound of the gear retracting brings my attention to the jack screw which is bringing the tail wheel up, its exposed strut extending into the fuselage right next to me. Shortly after the gear is up, we are signaled to get up and move around the aircraft. Passengers crowd around the large windows in the waste section each complete with its own .50 caliber machinegun.

Moving around the aircraft in flight is slightly more difficult than when it is on the ground. Maintaining a solid hand hold is a good idea to keep from loosing your balance. Explicit instructions are given before the flight to The distinctive light blue markings on the aircraft represent a B-17 that would have been with the 457th Bomb Group, of the Eighth Air Force based at Glatton, England during World War II . (Paul Tannahill)not grab onto the exposed control cables which run along the top of the fuselage. Unlike in the movies, flying in the B-17 is loud. The aircraft is un-pressurized, and is largely devoid of any sound deadening insulation, thus communicating with others requires a raised voice and leaning in very close. Ear plugs are offered before the flight.

Midway through the flight, word came that the bomb bay doors would be opened, so every one moved into the radio room to gaze at the ground below through the large hole that was opening in the bottom of the aircraft accompanied by a rush of outside air. Flight time is long enough to roam around and take it all in. Eventually, we are directed to take a seat as we return to the airport.

Back on the ground, as the four Wright radial engines fall silent, one can’t help but feel awed by the experience. A brief pleasure flight in this great aircraft is a far cry from a grueling eight-hour mission over Berlin where death stalks you at every turn; it none the less offers a tangible link to the past. Sentimental Journey is a mobile memorial to the men and women who built these magnificent machines, and the brave crews that flew them into battle, many paying the ultimate price, as well as to the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to make this proud aircraft what it is today, truly a living legend.

For more information about the CAF, the Arizona Wing or Sentimental Journey, or to get up to date information on tour stops and book a flight, get membership or donation information, individuals are encouraged to visit the website at www.azcaf.org or call 480/924-1940. The CAF and the Arizona Wing are non profit volunteer run organizations. All donations including donations for flights on the aircraft are tax deductible. Public support is vital in keeping these historic aircraft where they belong, in the air.