I was going through old pics on my phone and came across these and figured someone here might appreciate them. I got to fly on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed “Yankee Lady” back in 2021.

A little history on the plane:

Delivered to the USAAF in July of 1945, she never saw combat action in WWII. Instead, she was transferred over to the US Coast Guard and became a patrol plane. The turrets and guns were removed and an air droppable 27-foot lifeboat was mounted under the fuselage. She then went into private ownership for a few different companies and became an aerial survey plane and later an air tanker to fight forest fires. In 1969, she was one of 5 planes used in Hawaii for the filming of Tora! Tora! Tora!. It was then sold to Yankee Air Museum who then rebuilt it to be as authentic to its former combat configuration as possible. They eventually started giving rides to the public and did so for many years. In 2024 it was again sold to a private owner and has not flown since. I believe the new owner is working on restoring her to (hopefully) take flight again one day.

Enjoy the pics - not many of these flying around anymore!

1st pic: B-17 “Yankee Lady”

2nd pic: Taken inside the fuselage looking aft

3rd pic: Taken out of one of the port side windows

4th pic: Taken from the nose. You can see the Norden Bombsight here

5th pic: Taken from the starboard waist gunner station

6th pic: Taken from behind the pilots in the cockpit

PBY-5A(M) Modified Catalina amphibians were converted into seaplanes by the removal of the tricycle landing gear, self-sealing insulation on the fuel tanks and armour plating. The designation ‘M’ identified the aircraft as PBYs specifically modified by the RAAF for mine laying; records show that 45 were modified between December 1943 and March 1945. The modifications were performed at the Flying Boat Repair Depots at Lake Boga in Victoria and Rathmines in New South Wales. The purpose was to achieve deeper penetration behind enemy lines for mine-laying operations.

RAAF Black Cats: The Secret History of the Covert Catalina Mine-Laying Operations to Cripple Japan's War Machine

Inside the Largest WWII Weekend in North America: Tanks, Planes & Living History. This is part II of my adventure to WW2 Weekend in Reading PA. 2026.

Video is here: https://youtu.be/ia2NIz4XF-A

WWII reenactment, tanks, warbirds, and the sights and sounds of World War II Weekend in Reading, PA.This is Part II of my journey to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s World War II Weekend at Reading Regional Airport.For this episode, I stepped away from the polished documentary format and let the event unfold as it happened—raw battle reenactment footage, soldiers moving through the WWII village, armored vehicles, vintage aircraft, aircraft operations, and the natural sounds of one of the country’s most memorable living-history events.Experience the movement, noise, confusion, and atmosphere of the battle reenactments, then explore the aircraft and historic machines that keep the memory of the Second World War alive.This video is dedicated to everyone who fought, served, sacrificed, and lost their lives during World War II. Their stories are more than history in a textbook. They were lived by real people, in real places, at unimaginable cost.We remember them by preserving the stories, the aircraft, the machines, and the moments that inspire future generations to learn. Powered by aviation, fueled by history. #ww2 #wwiihistory #warbirds

In this episode of Wingspan Adventures & Flight, we travel nearly 1,200 miles from the Kansas City area to Reading, PA for World War II Weekend: A Gathering of Warbirds at Reading Regional Airport — RDG. This unforgettable event brings together WWII warbirds, veterans, reenactors, military vehicles, living-history displays, staged battle reenactments, and thousands of people dedicated to preserving the stories of the Greatest Generation.

This video captures the full experience of World War II Weekend, including the French Village battle reenactment, the battle on the flight line, historic aircraft on the ramp, WWII-era vehicles, period uniforms, blank-firing demonstrations, and the powerful atmosphere of one of North America’s largest World War II-themed gatherings.

You’ll see warbirds, living history, veterans, reenactors, and the people working to keep these stories alive for future generations. One of the biggest moments of the trip is our ride in a PT-19 that still carries history into the sky. (Possibly in Part 3 of WW2 Weekend)

This video is presented for historical education, remembrance, and preservation. Any Axis symbols, uniforms, or combat portrayals shown in this video are part of staged living-history reenactments and are not presented for promotion or glorification. The purpose is to remember history, honor those who served, and help pass these stories down so they are never forgotten.

Featured in this video:
World War II Weekend Reading PA, Reading Regional Airport RDG, WWII reenactments, French Village battle, flight line battle, B-25 Mitchell flight, B-17 Sentimental Journey, WWII warbirds, military vehicles, living history, veterans, remembrance, aviation history, and the mission of Wingspan Adventures & Flight.

Thank you for watching, supporting aviation history, and helping keep these stories alive.

Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck, from Todd, North Carolina, enlisted in July 1940 and served as a pilot with the 365th Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force, also known as the “Hell Hawks.” Houck was commander of the 387th Squadron from May 1943 until October 1944.

Houck wore his customized devil's helmet on missions over Europe, flying his P-47, “The Screamin' Weamie.” The nose art of his plane depicted a demon brandishing a pitchfork. Despite his extravagant appearance he was described by a group member as quiet, introverted and respected.

In 1944 Houck was responsible for almost entirely destroying a retreating German convoy in France. The convoy had been transporting gasoline and ammunition and its smoking wreckage was captured on camera shortly afterwards. Lieutenant Colonel Louis T. Houck destroyed destroyed 90% of this convoy in one pass somewhere in France.

After the war Louis relocated to Pleasant Valley, New York. He passed away on July 24, 2004 at the age of 87. Lieutenant Colonel Louis Talmadge Houck lies in rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Lest We Forget.

On August 20, 1945, during the end of WW2, Charles H. Zimmerman wanted to achieve the ultimate U.S. carrier-based fighter, leading him to create the Vought XF5U (also nicknamed The Flying Flapjack) it was the successor of the wooden V-173 (Flying Pancake), the XF5U feature 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7 radial piston engines with massive 16 foot diameter propellers, it was estimated to have a top speed of 425 mph and due to its aerodynamic efficient high-lift disc design it could have theoretically take off at low speeds of 40 mph and theoretically out-turn most fighters during low altitude dogfights, allowing for quicker takeoffs and engagements, it featured 6 × 50. Caliber machine guns, but some variants were designed to have 4 × 20 autocannons and can carry 2 × 1,000 pound underwing bombs but ultimately, it never flew due to severe propeller vibration issues, significant development delays, and shifting post-war military priorities leading to the project being canceled in March 17, 1947

Source

ORIGINAL CAPTION: "Crew chief S/Sgt Gerald Bentley of Gainesville, Texas, inspects the oil lines on a North American P-51 at an 8th Air Force base somewhere in England. Underneath is assistant maintenance chief T/Sgt Paul A. Fick of Fremont, Ohio, who is checking the hydraulic pump."

NARA 342-C-K-002110_001

One of several Blenheim photos from the IWM archive. Photo by Flt. Lt Bertrand John Henry Daventry, Royal Air Force official photographer

Sgt. Joseph T. Sipkovsky ASN: 35029797 (72nd Liaison Squadron (??) of Lorain Ohio, inspects German Me 109 fighter plane.

Source:NARA