It was a Fortress coming home.

[Teller1900]

“They’re 20 minutes early. Can’t be the 398th.”
They could hear it before they could see it! Something was coming home. But what?
All eyes turned toward the northeast, aligning with the main runway, each ground guy and stood-down airman straining to make out this “wail of a Banshee,” as one called it.
Not like a single B-17 with its characteristic deep roar of the engines blended with four thrashing propellers. This was a howl! Like a powerful wind blowing into a huge whistle.
Then it came into view. It WAS a B-17!
Low and pointing her nose at the 6,000 foot runway, it appeared for all the world to be crawling toward the earth, screaming in protest.

http://398th.org/History/Articles/Remembrances/Ostrom_FortressHome.html

 

[maddog52]

Excellent read! Thanks!!

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Wow. Just wow...

 

[Steve]

Incredible.

 

[RickH]

Great read. I wish my wife's uncle was still around to share it with. He was a bombardier (togglier) on '17s with the 8th AF.

 

[gismo]

Wow. Just wow...

Indeed. +1

 

[Ghery]

Great read. I wish my wife's uncle was still around to share it with. He was a bombardier (togglier) on '17s with the 8th AF.

And my uncle was a pilot (co-pilot) on B-17s out of England at the end of the war.