Letter to B-17 air tankers

Letter to B-17 air tankers:

I wish that I could go back in time to see the first  time you flew as a tanker back in 1960, probably somewhere in or near California. I don't know what fire you flew on, but it doesn't really matter. More of your kin came into service, so by the mid 1960s there were many of you flying fires, carrying 1,800 gallons of retardant. 

The 1960s were still the early days in the air tanker business. There were many tanker crashes and some of your kin were lost, but those of you who survived continued to fly fires. 

You were built for stability so you were difficult to turn. Tanker flying always requires thinking ahead and knowing an escape route. Your pilots had to plan way ahead, but you kept flying fires.

You were not the fastest tanker in the fleet but in some cases you carried more retardant than the faster tankers. You got to the fire, made your drop, and got back to the base to get another retardant load, because you wanted to fly fires.

You flew a long time, for something like 25 years. That is a long time in the tanker business. Some of you are restored as warbirds, in WW II configurations. You continue to be loved and a part of our culture.

Today, you stand as testament to your designers, builders and the brave people who crewed you.  You are a much decorated veteran of two wars, one foreign and one domestic. Your service to the fire fighting community will not be forgotten.