In writing about three B-17s that served as air tankers or firebombers, I am starting with the B-17 that is now known as "Nine O Nine" owned by the Collings Foundation because I saw her late last summer when she was here in NJ on tour along with Collings B-24 ("Witchcraft") and the Collings P-51.
In 1965 she was purchased by Aircraft Specialty Company in 1965, and was modified to serve as an tanker, flying until sometime in the early to mid1980s. She saved a lot of lives on the ground as you flew fires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground.
The Collings Foundation purchased her in 1986 and restored her to a configuration similar to that of B-17 bombers that flew during World War II.
Revised October 7, 2019
On the morning of Wednesday, October 2nd, the Collings Foundation B-17, "909" crashed at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut while on a stop on the 2019 Wings of Freedom Tour. Seven died, seven injured including one on the ground.
Direct link to video on Youtube from Savannah66
I wrote about a an article honor 909 and those who died and were injured on October 7, 2019
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