Bill Westphal's Photo Gallery

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Home > User galleries > wb6ypf > B-17 Ride

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Bob Westphal2364 viewsThis is the photo I was trying to recreate. As you can see i didn't get it exactly right. This is my Dad in front of a B-17 in Europe.
Thanks to the wealth of information available on the Internet, I found out that "WALLAROO" was part of the 303rd Bomber Group and flew 35 Combat Missions before being shot down Jan 14, 1944.
Glad my Dad wasn't on it.
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Ready For Takeoff2020 viewsAll strapped in (except me) and ready to go. We were about to taxi out to the runway.
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1906 viewsThe radio looked so simple. No "bells and whistles". It must have been tough sending CW (morse code) while they were in flight. It was pretty bumpy.
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2137 viewsMy Father-In-Law Ron Hanke at the Radio Operators position.
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30 Seconds Over Hollywood2216 viewsView from the right Waist Gunners position as we flew over Hollywood. The Hollywood Sign can be seen in the distance.
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1980 viewsView from the Bombardier's Position. It was really neat sitting in the chair up there.
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2073 viewsMe at one of the Waist Gunners position
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Me And My Shadow2020 viewsWe took off to the South and then turned West. As we banked in the turn, over the Los Feliz area I believe, you could see our shadow on the ground below.
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2217 viewsI was trying to re-create a photo that I have of my Father, Bob Westphal, in front of the nose of a B-17 in Europe during WWII. He was a Tech Sargent and repaired the radios in the planes. I hope to scan an image of that photo and place it here soon.
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Looking Back2266 viewsThis was the view looking back from the opening just behind the cockpit. It was like sticking your head out of a convertible going 165 MPH.
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Turning Towards Home2029 viewsWe made a sweeping right turn and headed back towards Burbank. We were over Calabasas and you can see the 101 fwy and Las Virgenes Road below.
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Tight Squeeze2190 viewsThis is looking forward from the Radio Room through the Bomb Bay. You had to walk through here to get to the front of the plane.
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