Reissue A-2, Cockpit USA

[Siggmund]

I'd like that. Curious about his thoughts about the men who flew missions: does he often think about them or is he just in the "do the job" mode? What's it like to fly it - or the P-51? Not the sensations but more like what does it mean to him?

 

[Cocker]

As far as I can remember, only the cockpit and the nose had a heating system on the B-17. It used glycol up to the late -G models which used the turbochargers as an air heating exchange system. The rest of the crew positions had not heating but they provided plugs for the electricaly heated suits.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

Here is what my friend said:

Most of the B17s now flying, if not all, have no heat. From what I've gathered they relied heavily on the electrically heated suits. Although I've been told that those were problematic. There's no doubt that bomber duty at high altitude was pretty difficult.

G. Kent Holiday

 

[Cocker]

From what I've gathered they relied heavily on the electrically heated suits. Although I've been told that those were problematic.

Indeed, they were! Either they were not working, or too hot, or overheating, causing small fires, or short-circuited, causing small fires... On top of that, they had to be worn below the shearling jackets and trousers, in combination with numerous other pieces of uniform.