Sentimental Journey

This compilation of images was made after photographing the B-17G Flying Fortress at a recent air show. Messages had been scrawled onto the planes... more

by Jim Cook

Title

Sentimental Journey

Artist

Jim Cook

Medium

Photograph - Photo Collage

Description

This compilation of images was made after photographing the B-17G Flying Fortress at a recent air show. Messages had been scrawled onto the planes skin by men who had flown combat missions in them.
The Queen of the skies was designed by Boeing and was the first American all metal heavy bomber.
This particular bomber is one of only five still flying in the world today.
Approximately 13000 were produced from 1936 to 1945. 8000 of them were lost in combat. The messages from these pilots, bombardiers, radio operators relate missions flown and how some were shot down, captured and held as Prisoners of War. One gentleman who had visited the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum’s “Flying Legends of Victory” Tour, wrote of 13 missions he had flown, been shot down, then held as a POW for 14 months. He signed his message 97 years young as of Sept 06, 2020.
This B-17G now known as Sentimental Journey was built in November 1944 at the Douglas plant in California and then delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force for war service in March 1945.

Uploaded

October 19th, 2020