A Devastating Loss for America


Special K

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Aug 23, 2016
1,775
Franklinton, LA
As you may have already heard, there was a tragic mid-air collision yesterday November 12, 2022 involving a Boeing B-17 and a Bell P-63. While the loss of life is paramount, the loss of these two aircraft are nearly as devastating.
The P-63 was the last airworthy one of its kind and the B-17 was the last of a few. This incident hits me especially hard as I’ve flown in that plane, rode in the Bombardier seat, and learned about many of it’s specific details while on board.
The crew was extremely passionate and dedicated to keeping “Texas Raiders” airworthy and regaled us with stories of how they would scour parts wherever they could find them. We shared some special moments when I showed them some behind the scene photos of the “Swamp Ghost” B-17 which was shot down in the pacific, spent 60+ years in a Papua New Guinea swamp, and more recently hidden in a Ford Field hangar at Pearl Harbor. The knowledge lost from this is immeasurable and the task of keeping these old birds aloft grows more difficult.
We’re all gear heads on here, and the passion from cars, racing, and their history naturally extends to the skies. Please take the time to read up on them and if your interested, help support their efforts.


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extrap

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 16, 2020
1,751
Gainesville FL
Well, damn 😟
 
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davidn

GT Owner
Mar 11, 2007
125
Carrollton,Texas
......315515844_8672642666094321_4375986763038898871_n.jpg
 

Tomcat

GT Owner
So sorry for this loss of people and planes!
 
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jr66

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 22, 2017
272
scottsdale
sad
 

jaxgt

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 12, 2006
2,794
Tragic loss. Sorry to hear
 

TO AWSUM

Ford GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 4, 2007
1,506
Niceville FL
Yes, very sad indeed. It makes no sense what the P-63 did. The B-17 was in straight and level flight and the P-63 was making a descending turn towards the rear of it. The P-63 had to have seen the B-17 and could have rolled out of his turn and descent easily to avoid a collision. Makes no sense at all. What a sad, avoidable accident.
 

TEXAS GT

2006 Twin Turbo
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
This was very sad and a huge loss in a number of different ways. Your picture flying over New Orleans makes it a little more personal to me. Just under the tip of the propeller is a 12 story red brick building where we own a condo. If you don’t mind I’ll copy that picture and have a canvas wall print made of it to always remember the crew and passengers.
 
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davidn

GT Owner
Mar 11, 2007
125
Carrollton,Texas
....
 
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Special K

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Aug 23, 2016
1,775
Franklinton, LA
This was very sad and a huge loss in a number of different ways. Your picture flying over New Orleans makes it a little more personal to me. Just under the tip of the propeller is a 12 story red brick building where we own a condo. If you don’t mind I’ll copy that picture and have a canvas wall print made of it to always remember the crew and passengers.
DM me and I’ll text you all the ones I have, they’ll probably be a better quality than these uploaded.
 

mmlcobra

GT Owner
May 25, 2013
1,215
This is terrible!
My wife and I were passengers on the Collings Foundation B-17 Nine-O-Nine three times.
She crashed on landing probably a couple years ago, with loss of life.
Tragic!!!!
 

Special K

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Aug 23, 2016
1,775
Franklinton, LA
This is terrible!
My wife and I were passengers on the Collings Foundation B-17 Nine-O-Nine three times.
She crashed on landing probably a couple years ago, with loss of life.
Tragic!!!!
I remember seeing that and thinking the “Texas Raiders” was one of the last flying in our area.
 

TEXAS GT

2006 Twin Turbo
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
DM me and I’ll text you all the ones I have, they’ll probably be a better quality than these uploaded.
Thanks but I’ve already gotten the canvas made. I’m going to hang it in New Orleans condo next week.
 
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Fast Freddy

GPS'D 225 MPH
Mark II Lifetime
Aug 5, 2005
2,684
Avondale, Arizona
I went for ride in the collins foundation B-17 about 7 years before it crashed. I stuck half my body out into the airstream through the hatch located in the top of the fuselage as we were flying. I also went for a ride in the B-29 superfortress called Fifi. I sat in the bombadier seat up in the nose. The pilot asked me where i wanted to go and i told him to fly over my house. It was Epic.
 
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