Early B-17 problem

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) March 18th, 2008, 08:55 PM

Thought I would ask an obscure quiestion

.The Early B-17s had a problem with the bomb bay doors freezing up. Does anyone else know the reason why?

LOL.

Erich · #2 (**permalink**) March 18th, 2008, 10:07 PM

where did you hear this ?

JCFalkenbergIII · #3 (**permalink**) March 18th, 2008, 10:53 PM

It is from a book I read many years ago.The title escapes me. The problem was found out in Europe I think by inspectors from Boeing.

JCFalkenbergIII · #4 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 02:34 AM

Any Guesses?

Slipdigit · #5 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 04:01 AM

I've not heard of it, for what it's worth.

JCFalkenbergIII · #6 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

I've not heard of it, for what it's worth.

I'll wait a few and see if there are any guesses.

scarface · #7 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 04:42 AM

This is just a guess, but does it have something to do with using the 'relief tube' at altitude?

-whatever

-Lou

JCFalkenbergIII · #8 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarface

This is just a guess, but does it have something to do with using the 'relief tube' at altitude?

-whatever

-Lou

Bingo!! Kind of. The early marks of the B-17 were also sent to the UK. While flying there they had problems with the doors freezing at a certain altitude. When flying below it the doors worked fine. Above it they froze. The Reps from the US then discovered that since there were not any relief tubes on the aircraft that the crew were then urinating in the bomb bay! And thats what was causing the problems. The urine at lower altitudes stayed liquid and just ran out the openings and disappeared. At the higher altitudes of course it froze solid LOL.

scarface · #9 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

... The urine at lower altitudes stayed liquid and just ran out the openings and disappeared. ....

Just for the record, it didn't '....just disappear..." - I'm sure there were some innocent Bitish civilians that, had they known what was going on over their very heads and sprinkling down upon their beloved countryside, would have had some choice words to say!

'disappeared' indeed!

-whatever

-Lou

Kai-Petri · #10 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 08:05 AM

Guess it was the same problem as with many planes in early phases when the guns jammed in higher altitudes because of freezing and they had to figure how to send some hot air to the guns to stop this.

Martin Bull · #11 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 09:08 AM

That's true. The story was told to me by a 100th BG veteran at their 2002 Thorpe Abbotts reunion - and it wasn't just pee that was gumming up the works in the bomb bay.....

scarface · #12 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Bull

That's true. The story was told to me by a 100th BG veteran at their 2002 Thorpe Abbotts reunion - and it wasn't just pee that was gumming up the works in the bomb bay.....

What a load of crap!

-whatever

-Lou

Martin Bull · #13 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 06:20 PM

Apparently, the Boeing field engineer who arrived at Thorpe Abbotts was NOT amused !

scarface · #14 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 07:34 PM

You know, the truly amazing thing about this whole story is that they had to call in the Boeing engineers to figure out what the problem was!!!

I can just hear the company rep

"Well, good grief! QUIT PISSIN' AND SH**IN' IN THE BOMB BAY, YOU BLITHERING IDIOTS!!!!

I KNEW I should have enlisted."

-whatever

-Lou

Martin Bull · #15 (**permalink**) March 19th, 2008, 11:22 PM

You'll never believe this, Lou - but according to the veteran I was speaking with that - or at least, the first line - is EXACTLY what the guy did say......