B-17G Flying Fortress - My Fathers Plane
by Connie Fox
Title
B-17G Flying Fortress - My Fathers Plane
Artist
Connie Fox
Medium
Photograph - Outdoor Color Photo
Description
B-17G Flying Fortress at the Wings Over Houston Air Show, Houston, Texas, October 2013. This view features the cockpit, the top turret with lens flare, and one of four engines with propeller.
The B-17 is a vintage aircraft designed and built by Boeing for the purpose of strategic bombing. It is famous for its crucial role in helping the Allies prevail over Hitler in World War II. B-17s carried a crew of ten.
On this particular model, the B-17G, my father flew 31 missions over Europe out of Polebrook, England. He was part of the 8th Air Force, 351st Group, and 510th Squadron. As lead bombardier, he often flew at the request of the generals. It is possible they flew on this very plane. Thankfully my dad, an only child, returned home unscathed, married as decisively as he had enlisted for the war effort, and later sold boots and hats to one of his fellow service members from Polebrook, actor Clark Gable.
The B-17G was used by the following squadrons of the 8th Air Force: 508, 509. 510, and 511. (Source: Classic Aircraft of World War II, Bison Books Ltd., London, England.)
Copyright 2013 Connie Steitz Fox
All Rights Reserved
Nikon D80
On behalf of the Commemorative Air Force, which produces Wings Over Houston, The Point Group has granted permission to display this and other images from this years air show. My thanks to each of these groups. According to Wings Over Houston, publicity for the show greatly benefits our community, so feel free to promote.
Posted for Veterans Day in memory of my father, who lived to be 90. This image, shot in 2013, was retouched in 2019, signed, and resubmitted here for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in honor of all who served. For that reason, I am placing it among my New Images.
Featured in November 2013 in the following groups: Today's Best Art (David Dehner), Beauty Captured (Ella Char), Hotel Lobby Art (Karen Wiles). First-Place Winner in the Propellers Contest, December 2013. A Top Finisher (tied for Fourth Place) in the WWII Contest, August 2014. THIRD PLACE in the World War II Aircraft contest, August 2022. Thank you for the votes!
Featured in Amazing FAA Photographers, Memories and Nostalgia, and Women Photographers, November 2014. Featured in Weekly Fun For All Mediums, December 2014, 500 Views, October 2015, Images That Excite You, May 2017; All Things Vintage and Showcasing the South, March 2021; 1000 Views, USA Photographers, and People Movers, December 2021; The ABC Group, May 2023, The Meandering Photographer and The Art Workshop, August 2023.
CONTESTS BY INVITATION ONLY: Transportation at its Best, Christopher James, Administrator, 1000 Views on 1 Image, August 2023.
B-17G Flying Fortress - My Fathers Plane
Vintage military aircraft photograph by Connie Fox
Uploaded
November 6th, 2013
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Viewed 1,787 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/25/2024 at 7:05 AM
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Comments (54)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "Photographic Camera Art" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2023 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!
Christiane Schulze Art And Photography
Beautiful image Connie…….congrats on Artist Of the week in the 1000 Views group f
Gary F Richards
Outstanding B-17G Flying Fortress composition, lighting, shading, excellent color and artwork! Congratulations on your beautiful moving Special Feature! F/L
Donna Kennedy
Great photo Connie! Congratulations on Artist of the Week in 1000 Views!...F/L
Connie Fox replied:
Donna, thank you for your wonderful comment, congrats, and l/f. I always love hearing from you!
Christopher James
You have been selected as Artist of the Week in the 1000 Views On 1 Image Group. Thank you for all the support you have rendered to this group.....It is greatly appreciated
Connie Fox replied:
Thank you very much, Chris, for this honor! I'm thrilled to have been chosen. It's my pleasure to be an active part of this group. It's definitely a favorite and has helped me grow.
John Hughes
Wonderful image, voted for in TRANSPORTATION AT ITS BEST CONTEST BY INVITE ONLY Contest.
Steve Rich
Your wonderful work deserves to be FEATURED on the homepage of "The Meandering Photographer”. Please consider adding your photo to the "Feature History, The Meandering Photographer (Aug-Sept 2023)" active discussion thread. 8-06-2023
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your terrific art has been featured on the ABC Group home page from the A is for AIRCRAFT week, March 13,2023 - March 20, 2023. You are invited to add your wonderful art in the Features Archive Discussion in the ABC GROUP as a way to preserve your feature.
Kay Brewer
Congratulations on your 3d place win in the World War II Aircraft contest! voted l/f
Connie Fox replied:
Thank you very much, Kay. Because of you, I'm just now learning about 3rd place. Pleased about that.
Gary F Richards
Outstanding B-17G composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! Your father must have enjoyed this one! F/L
Connie Fox replied:
Dad sure loved flying this bird--31 missions, which was one over the limit. I interviewed him at my kitchen table on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He was proud to have served, and I was proud of him for signing up. Thanks for your comments!
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group ..... Please place your featured image in the Feature Archive and any other appropriate Archives l/f/p
Kathi Isserman
CONGRATULATIONS! Your FANTASTIC image has been FEATURED on the home page of "SHOWCASING THE SOUTH” L Please add the photo to the 2021 “FEATURED IMAGE ARCHIVE THREAD.” Thank you for participating in the group.
Connie Fox
Dawn Snyder, it's an honor to see this image beautifully displayed on the homepage of All Things Vintage. Thank you so much!
Jerry Bokowski
My uncle Ernie was a tail gunner in a B-17, Connie. He told me that near the end of the war, his plane was not camouflaged in olive drab but just silver aluminum. As a boy I built several models of the B-17 including the Memphis Belle. As an adult, the movie by that name showed the peril, emotion, and sentiments of all the young men that flew missions over Germany when the Luftwaffe and 88 flack canons were at their fiercest. Very nice description by you for this famous plane.....Fav / like
Connie Fox replied:
Thank you, Jerry, for your generous and informative comment. Loved finding it! Thanks, too, for the Like/Fave.
Connie Fox
Thanks, John Bailey, for featuring My Father's Plane in Images That Excite You. Happy to share it with more people.
Connie Fox
Mariola, thank you for featuring my "B-17G Flying Fortress - My Father's Plane" in your group 500 Views. I'm glad so many people have had a chance to see and enjoy it!
Connie Fox
Thanks, Chrisann Ellis, for featuring my "B-17G Flying Fortress" in Weekly Fun For All Mediums!
Connie Fox
Denyse Duhaime, thank you for featuring this image in Amazing FAA Photographers. That's quite an honor, and I appreciate it!
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