Story Courtesy of
The Collings Foundation

The sixth annual Bomber Camp held at Taigh Ramey’s Vintage Aircraft in Stockton, California was held on May 29-30 featuring the Collings Foundation’s famous B-17 Nine-O-Nine. Being used for the first time to drop 250 lb. concrete bombs this former air-sea rescue SB-17G s/n 44-83575 had last dropped a lifeboat more than 60 years ago prior to taking on this new role. Since its start in 2008 Bomber Camp had used the B-24J ‘All American’ to make the bomb drops, however his year Nine-O-Nine was called on to make two missions at the popular event. Taigh Ramey used the Norden bombsight in Nine—O-Nine to lineup his target for the drop. Safety was observed at all times with Jerry Anderson flying the chase/photo aircraft for the flights. (Jim Dunn) The most widely recognized and revered aircraft type of World War II, the B-17 Flying Fortress, takes to the skies again. The B-17G (Serial # 44-83575) has been returned to its wartime configuration under the auspices of the nonprofit Collings Foundation of Stow, MA and given the name Nine-O-Nine.

The Collings Flying Fortress was built at Long Beach, Calif. by the Douglas Aircraft Company and accepted on April 7, 1945. Although she was too late for combat, #44-83575 did serve as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron and later in the Military Air Transport Service.

In April 1952, #44-83575 was instrumented and subjected to the effects of three different nuclear explosions. After a thirteen-year “cool down” period, #44-83575 was sold as part of an 800-ton scrap pile and Aircraft Specialties Company began the restoration of the aircraft.