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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (N7227C) - Just before the crash of the B17 Texas Raiders and the P-63 A horrible tragedy
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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (N7227C)

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Just before the crash of the B17 Texas Raiders and the P-63 A horrible tragedy

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Brian Rushfeldt
P63 well out of his lane and was he hotshoting ???
Brian Rushfeldt
tremendous shot
William Crooker
He was painted olive drab which matched the ground below thus harder to see from above before executing his turn.
befreefilm
Air Boss had the fighters and bombers switch lanes. Bombers from the 500 foot line to the 1,000 foot line and the Fighters from the 1,000 foot line to the 500. They were doing what they were instructed to do.
Rest in peace un-replaceable men and machines.
Brian EllingPhoto Uploader
befreefilm 100% true
Hawk Moore
An absolutely horrible tragedy that could have been avoided with std heavy and fighter altitude deconfliction. Read the NTSB preliminary report (https://www.flyingmag.com/ntsb-releases-preliminary-report-on-fatal-texas-midair-collision/?utm_campaign=Newsletter%20-%20Flying%20Mag%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=236399297&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_RpIT4XZeykp5HkCILRDfK3RU66jogAVSGC9wWBqnZEk_fhnkHlxGMOYHtsSfE6GAL_-e4AyXrqPBsassTPYXLasNf9g&utm_content=236399297&utm_source=hs_email) and watch the video (https://youtu.be/IRVqg-pCb6o)
Vaughn Blue Jr
P63 was out of sequence, but the Air Boss holds the greater responsibility for having the fighters to cross the flight path putting the planes on this dangerous course. Watch Juan Browne's @blancolirio channel for best explanation.
ken kemper
Great Photo Brian........

Tragic Day
An aviation moment you will not forget (unfortunately)
Chris Hingst
Seconds to live
Id Rocketeer
I was shocked at how the 17 was cut in two. Sadly, while her crew probably didn't know what had happened to them, they certainly lived long enough to know they were screwed. RIP
Chris Cotter
@Brian Rushfeldt Blancolirio reported that the Air Boss instructed them to change lanes which required the planes to cross paths. I so hope it wasn't something like that though. The P63 pilot likely never saw the bomber at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRVqg-pCb6o
Michael Carino
Rest in Peace to both planes and crew so sad to see that B-17 Cut in half like that
Linda Nitzschke
Is this a legitimate photo of the actual two planes, or is it a recreation? Such a tragedy...such a toll to lose those historic planes but ESP. the loss of those lives!!
rbt schaffer
This still makes me sick. The lives lost. The 10's of thousands of hours of loving restoration. All so we could witness a brief show in honor of the WWII heroes that fought and died for our country. All I can say is keep them flying as they can be destroyed by many natural disasters and there is nothing like seeing and hearing and touring these birds at airshows.
Patrick Spencer
Absolutely sad photo, great timing sad photo. Patrick
William Owens
OMG RIP crew of the Texas Raider. Our company used to own this B17 when it was bought by the CAF. A real gur punch. This airplane flew all of the Texas coverage for Aero Service Mapping company before they moved from Philadelphia to Houston Texas. Harold Perdue was the person working with the CAF on the sale. A great company.
Keith Russell
Not the smartest photo to publish considering the end result. No compassion for family and friends. Poor from FLIGHTAWARE as you are not people aware……
Charles Webb
Maybe it's just me but the P63 looks way out of scale to the B17 in this photo.
bob reeves
GREAT SHOT, Great BIG BUMMER
Michael Hamann
(1.)The P-63 versus B-17 photograph appears "Photoshopped" or worse, made from whole cloth. The skies that day were hazy, not clear blue.
(2.) The angle of both the B-17 and P-63 appear to be taken at the same altitude as the aircraft, not from the ground.
serge LOTH
My thought are for all these crew and families..
Peter Sayers
RIP to all flyers, horrible tragedy.
Brian EllingPhoto Uploader
Michael Hamann 100% incorrect
Donn Avers
Not something I want to see here.
Poor taste.
lat900
That's a P-51 'Tang' in pic
Champdriver
Look again lat900, with two inlets in the wing roots for the radiators it isn't any P-51.
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