B-17E and groundcrew at Plaines des Gaiacs airdrome, New Caledonia The tale of how the Army Air Forces brought B-17s to the South Pacific in July 1942 and managed to operate them is a good example of what all units in the South Pacific faced The first component of the future Cactus Air Force to reach SoPac was the Seventh Air Force's 11th Heavy Bombardment Group, Colonel Laverne G. “Blondie” Saunders, equipped with the Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, the first combat-capable version of the famous bomber. They were trained and initially deployed to undertake search-reconnaissance flights and/or maritime long range bombing missions. On June 20, 1942, the day Brigadier General Willis Hale assumed command of the Seventh Air Force, the count of operational, relatively modern B-17Es in the Pacific Theater was 63: 47 on Oahu and 16 on Midway.
I didn't know Gene Roddenberry had flown 89 combat missions til I looked him up after seeing his photograph here. I only knew him as the creator of Star Trek. The things we learn!
The crudeness of operations at Espíritu Santo is amazing, TC. The sheer obstinacy of the ground and flight crews must have been the most important component of success. And just the thought of manning that ball turret is the stuff of nightmares. The greatest generation... indeed!
Talk about literally, "on a wing and a prayer."
I didn't know Gene Roddenberry had flown 89 combat missions til I looked him up after seeing his photograph here. I only knew him as the creator of Star Trek. The things we learn!
Thanks, TC!👍
I thought readers would get a kick out of that photo.
Thanks, that was my next stop!
And now we know the basis for Montgomery Scott's legendary ability to repair anything on the Enterprise with no parts, no tools, and no time to spare.
I laughed out loud.
Thanks.
The crudeness of operations at Espíritu Santo is amazing, TC. The sheer obstinacy of the ground and flight crews must have been the most important component of success. And just the thought of manning that ball turret is the stuff of nightmares. The greatest generation... indeed!
I never realized how unprepared they were and how they had to improvise and learn things in so little time. It's just amazing.