and it's time to start the engines. The yellow/yellow flares arc from the control tower. The inertial starters of the engines begin to whine, then catch with a few coughs and clouds of engine smoke. Number 1, then 2, 3 and 4. The ground crew stand by with fire extinguishers in case of a flare-up. The whole base is alive with sound of engines. Chocks are pulled and the 17s start for the perimeter track on which they will move along to the takeoff runway. They move along the perimeter in single file in the dark with wing running lights on and an occasional flash of landing lights. Over the noise of the engines, high pitched screams of the brake applications can be heard. In the tail the ride is a little bumpy and noisy as the tail wheel oleo strut just ahead of you bounces along. She rides heavy with the full load of bombs and gas. Engines and brakes are used in combination to maneuver. As turns are made we hear our own brakes squealing, and RPM increases as power is applied to the outside engines in the turn. In the tail these brake applications result in exaggerated up and down motions one would feel on a seesaw. When sharp turns are made, the plane pivots at the main gear, but the tail sweeps around swiftly in a large arc. Because of the tails distance from the pivot point of the turn all movements are abrupt and exaggerated.

In the tail we have an Aldis lamp which is a bright portable signal lamp with a yellow lens installed. We point the yellow beam at the concrete surface rolling by beneath our tail as a protective warning light. Approaching the take off point each B-17 turns 45 degrees and stops on the perimeter track. This is so the engines can be run up to full power and "propwash" will not damage other aircraft with flying debris. Each engine is run up alone, to check magnetos, then all engines are run up to top RPM together. In the tail this gives one an idea of the power generated by all four engines. In the cockpit the control wheel is held tightly back and both pilots are standing on the brakes. The elevators are held in full-up position to hold the tail on the ground. Still the slipstream is so strong that the horizontal stabilizer raises anyway, and the ammunition boxes begin to chatter with the vibrations. It is a little like a flag snapping in a very strong wind. The slipstream is a loud screaming and you feel that the plane is going to shake apart. The tail wheel oleo strut is at full upward extension. Then the RPMs fall off and the shaking stops. Starting with the lead ship they move into take off position on the runway. The lead ship goes up to full RPMs and upon getting a green light from the control van, starts her heavy burdened take off roll. Another ship goes into position and 30 seconds later she is rolling. The tail gunner of each aircraft shows his yellow Aldis lamp directly to the rear on take off flashing the letter "G". Dah, Dah, Dit in international code. Yellow is the Group Identification color, and "G" is the 385th identification letter. A large letter G in a black square is painted as identification of the 385th Bombardment Group high on the tail of each B-17. Now it's our turn... We roll into a 90 degree turn to the left onto the NW/SE runway, our longest. Again, full power is applied with brakes locked. Again the tail rises, with more chattering of the ammunition. The green light flashes and the brakes go off. The tail suddenly sinks down against the tail wheel oleo strut and we start to roll. We are on our way! I place the Aldis lamp directly against the armor glass and flash the G...DAH DAH DIT about every ten seconds. We roll slowly at first but accelerate rapidly and one rally feels it as the speed mounts and the runway lights go whizzing by. Try kneeling backwards in the trunk of a car going a hundred miles an hour and that gives one a bit of the feeling. The ceiling is low this morning. The Pilot is flying a visual take off, while the the Copilot is already on instruments. The engineer is calling off the airspeed. In the tail, being so close to the ground, the sensation of speed is much magnified. The engines are roaring and the airflow is screaming by.

We are approaching 90 MPH then 100 the 110. We slowly lift off. The rumble of the wheels goes silent. We are in the air... pray for those blessed engines. Dim shapes flash by below...perhaps trees or a shed...then we are into cloud and on instruments. Nothing to see outside. Like flying in a bottle of chocolate milk. Roaring engines...little sensation of movement...We keep flashing the "G"...With only a thirty second interval between planes, now is not the time for nonchalance, and, it keeps us busy. We head south on instruments at a predetermined rate of climb toward our (385th) "buncher beacon". Just as we cross it, we get a signal, then go into a spiral climbing turn at a controlled rate of climb. Somewhere, 30 seconds ahead of us is another B-17, and 30 seconds behind, a following B-17...Keep that "G" going!