(The following was written by Training Captain Peter Kuypers with the B-17 Preservation Group that operates B-17G 44-85784, otherwise and better known as the “Sally B,” long based at Duxford in the United Kingdom and the only airworthy B-17 in the old world. The text and photos are graciously reproduced (with permission) from the “Sally B News,” Winter/Spring 2023/2024 edition. It tells of a memorable formation flight between the B-17 and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster at the Imperial War Museum Duxford Air Show during the weekend of September 16-17, 2023. I think it should be of interest to the B-17-minded readers of this website. You can help keep Sally B flying…see details at the B-17 Preservation website.)
The last time Sally B (B-17G 44-85784) flew in a formation with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster was 30 years ago. Times have changed since then, and rules are stricter now. Although I often said that I would love to fly in a formation with the RAF Lancaster, I never believed it would happen. In 2021, at the end of a CAA meeting, I spoke with FDD Al Lockwood about the possibility of having these two historic WWII heavies flying together at Duxford. Fast forward to spring 2023 when Al surprised us all by saying that he had spoken to the Officer Commanding BBMF, Squadron Leader Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, and that there were possibilities. A lot of emailing followed, and a plan was agreed to do three passes at the minimum altitude of 300ft. During the discussions, it was also decided it would be best for the B-17 to lead the formation primarily due to engine design. Radial engines do not like multiple power changes, and it is easy to damage them, whilst the Rolls Royce Merlins could better stand power changes required by the wingman. Also, I knew Duxford well, which was where we would do these flights at the September show.
Elly (Sallingboe) had decided we needed to have a face-to-face briefing, so on the 14th of September, two days before the Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow, co-pilot Paul Szluha, Al and I flew in a small aircraft to RAF Coningsby to brief with the Lancaster commander Flt Lt Paul ‘Ernie’ Wise.
The Final Plan
I had prepared some possible scenarios which after an open discussion had to be altered slightly. One of the these was a pass with bomb doors open to show the difference in the American and the British aircraft designs. I thought this would be easy to do but not so, the Lancaster has a maximum speed with the bomb doors open of 150 kts and a minimum speed overall off 130 kts. The B-17 has no maximum speed for bomb doors, and our minimum is slightly lower. We would just have to keep the speed under control in the relatively small gap without large throttle movements, which would upset the formation. The final plan was a low pass from East to West followed by a climbing turn around Duxford village, then descending towards Duxford whilst opening the bomb doors, circling and flying towards the West for the break, with the B-17 turning left and the Lancaster right.
We Knew It Was Behind Us
Two days later it was show time, and we took off early from Duxford to meet with the Lancaster who was doing various flypasts in the area. As planned, we met up with Ernie and his crew between Duxford and Cambridge. Steve Carter was the first to see them. Once the Lancaster had confirmed they were visual with the B-17, I cleared them to join in an “echelon right” formation. This was the only time I could see the Lancaster as once it was behind us, there was no way I could see the aircraft – but we all absolutely knew they were there. Soon after it was time to instruct the Lancaster to “line astern” and a few minutes later, we were “running in” – and straight after the display director cleared us to display. After the first pass, we made a climbing turn around Duxford village and I added a bit of power, not too much because we are flying in formation and I had a Lancaster behind me! Soon the Duxford runway came into sight again and both bombers opened the bomb bay doors and started a slow descent. This was the tricky part as we had to reduce power due to the Lancaster’s maximum speed with the bomb doors open. Once approaching the runway, we started a left turn and I added some power. On Saturday, this was done during the turn while on Sunday I added power a bit earlier which worked much better. Continuing the turn, we closed the bomb doors and tried to keep the speed and altitude at the correct values and avoiding overflying the display line.
Break, Break, Go!
At this stage, the wind was blowing us towards the display line and the public, so corrections for this had to be made even before the apex of the turn. It was a lot more difficult than it looks, but it worked. Next we were climbing away to the West and once clear of the public, I called “Break, Break, Go” with the Lancaster turning right to crowd rear and Sally B Left for a short solo display. What an incredible flying tribute to the memory of the many thousands of fallen airmen of both Bomber Command and the USAAF. This unique formation was last seen at the 1993 Great Warbirds Air Display Wroughton, when Sally B also flew in formation with the French operated B-17 Pink Lady.
