A God (Apollo) Is My Co-Pilot

The Boeing B-17 has a special place in Star Trek history. (Above)  Second from the left is Sgt Walter M. Jefferies, flight engineer and original Trek production designer, standing with his crew in front of their B-17, circa 1943 in Tunis, Tunisia. Matt peers from the flight deck as he prepares to take a 17 up for flight testing. Design similarities between the 1701 and the 17 are abundant. The flight deck and upper turret reflect the bridge and sensor dome. The front of the engine nacelles only need a bussard collector. In the near future I’ll run an article examining these similarities.

When BarBara Luna introduced me to Mike Forest, we hit it off immediately. When we found that we shared a mutual interest in WWII history, and in particular the Army Air Corp, that was that. When we get together with the girls, Mike and I are off and running, discussing and debating. Every once in a while Luna bangs on the table and pulls us back, “No sidebars!” she scolds. We can’t help it. Last month when Dorth tore an article out of the LA Times saying that the B-17 Liberty Bell would be in Burbank, I knew what we had to do for Mike’s birthday. Diana Hale, Mike’s beautiful wife later told me that Mike was giddy and grinning all week. “He can’t wait! He’s like a little kid!”

(Below) Birds of a feather -  Mike Forest, known to Trek fans as the Greek God Apollo, and oh-so-serious Doug, prepare to get up in the blue via  the awe inspiring 65 year old Flying Fortress Liberty Bell.

(Above) Lookit Mike! He’s totally stoked by my deciding to go on the flight in full authentic 1943 AAF gear. I’m legit from head to toe, some of it original.

(Below)  Dorth and I had the honor and distinct pleasure of meeting two B-17 vets who were delighted to see me fully geared up. Top – That’s Charles N Stevens, 8th Air Force bombardier. He was a assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, 509th Squadron out of Polebrook , England in 1944. Bottom – Bill Blair was a 13th Air Force bombardier in the Pacific, assigned to the 5th Bomb Group, often referred to as the “Jungle Air Force”.

(Below) Here come Liberty Bell.

(Above) Nothing sounds like a B-17. The vibration of it’s engines reverberate clear through you.  12,677 B-17′s were built during the WWII. They came to symbolize strategic bombardment. Many classic films featured the “Flying Fort”…  Air Force, Command Decision, Twelve O’Clock High, The War Lover, and Memphis Belle featured it. The B-17 was one of the first  large, all metal, four engined monoplane bombers. It carried a crew of  eight to ten men and was mounted with twelve .50 -calibre machine guns.  It was designed to implement the concept of high altitude precision daylight bombing. The Americans would bomb targets of military value by day in clear weather, counting on tightly packed formations to protect themselves from fighter aircraft. In the early days of the war before fighter escorts were capable of accompanying them, it was a blood bath. There were missions when the Nazi war machine shot down 60 B-17s in a single day. War is hell.

(Above\Below) Legit from head to toe  with crusher cap, A-2 flying jacket, B-3 life vest, T-30-S neck mike, AN-6513-1A chest parachute and harness, ANB-H1 headset, A8B oxygen mask, A4 flying suit, B8 goggles, Ray Ban aviators, ditch whistle, B-3 gloves, A-11 leather helmet,s and type 1 boots.

(Below) Typical bomber crew circa 1943.

(Below) The B-17 looks large on the outside, but is cramped inside. Sort of a reverse Tardis. Here I am traversing the tunnel between the flight deck and the navigator\bombardier compartment. Man, I’d hate to have to try to get out of there in a hurry while fighting inertia.

(Above) Giving Dorth a helping hand while in flight over Burbank. You can’t make it out here, but D is crossing a catwalk in the bomb bay, not more than two feet wide, with swaying chains for hand holds. It’s a tricky, sharp, pointy, lurching and unyielding place to make your way around. I couldn’t imagine doing it at 40,000 feet, 40 below zero and all while driving straight through flak heavy enough to walk on.

(Above) Is that a happy face? Mike Forest had a mind blowing experience flying Liberty Bell. It truly is like taking a trip through time. Mr. Forest is on the flight deck. As flight engineer, Matt Jefferies station would be standing right about where Mike is sittting. Immediately to the right of his left knee you can see the claustrophobic tunnel which connect sthe navigator\bombardier compartment to the flight deck.

(Above) I’m standing in the radio compartment with it’s slide-back roof. The Liberty Bell crew called it the “air conditioner” and warned us to hang on to your hat when passing underneath.

(Above\Below) Mike at the bombardier’s position in the plexi nose of the bomber. It’s an amazing feeling and an incredible view. That’s the famous Norden bombsite that made daylight precision bombing possible. It was one of the most closely guarded secrets of the war.

(Below) A vintage shot from ’44 of a swing shift Rosey putting finishing touches on a plexi nose piece in the factory.

(Above) A contemporary shot from ’10 of a tough as nails production accountant (a good one), giving ‘em what for. (Below) Dorth’s view of the San Fernando Valley. FYI – never wear rank on one of these missions, you could get shot down over Compton!

(Above) Not us, but looking a lot like us, a contemporary photo of the B-17 Nine ‘O Nine (not Seven ‘O Nine) over starfleet headquarters in San Francisco.

(Beleow) I had an incredible experience on the flight and truly felt that I added to that experience for myself and everyone else bt going fully suited up. When the others looked up and saw me entering the radio compartment, it was a true slingshot through time.

(Below) Mike back at his position for our approach and landing and Bob Hope airport…

(Above) …and making his egress in full John Wayne fashion.

(Above) Dorth and Doug take one last shot before debriefing.

We owe much to the 47,000 American airmen of the 8th Air Force who gave their lives in the prosecution of the air war in the European Theatre of Operations. That’s right, 47,000 from the 8th Air Force alone. Without their sacrifice it would have been a sorrier world. Our thanks.