Slightlly O/T Bomber gas Station w/pics

A while back there was a thread about Bomber Gas stations so I took a drive out to the in Milwaukie, OR today and took a few pics. I guess the nose has been restored and is on display but the close early on Mondays so I didn't get a chace to check it out. It was cool to see anyway, hope you enjoy.

 

Nice! I've got a photo around somewhere from when it was in operation. Is that the original location or has it been moved?

The Thunder Ranch sounds like some kind of whore house.

 

I wonder what resto outfit wound up with that B-17's nose. I'm suprised they haven't nabbed the whole thing.

 

cool thanks for the pics

 

I believe it's the original location. It shut down in 1991 but there is still a Diner there that is ran by the family of the guy who bought the plane and flew it there.
The website is http://www.thebomber.com/ There is a pretty good story behind the guy getting the plane there on the sight if anybodys got a few minutes to read it.
And I wasn't around long enought to find out what Thunder Ranch was, but your right.

 

Most likely, without looking too closely at a map, the thunder ranch mentioned is the famous firearms training facility. Actually a pretty cool place.

http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

 

Very Interesting!

 

There are some cool stories about the Bomber. My dad had a grocery store that was in site of the plane. Story goes the 2 guys that bought it,surplus in Nevada, only one of them knew how to fly. And they also told them they needed three pilots to fly. Seems they made a dummy and took off to Oregon. They landed at a small airport in Hillsboro Oregon, about 20-30 miles from where its at now. When permits to tow the plane on the public roads were sought, they were told some crazy price. They got all there buddys together early one Sunday morning and just did it without permits. Funny thing is they were fined just a fraction of what the permits cost. A travel trailor from a few years ago has a really in depth article on "The Bomber".........OLDBEET

 

Yea it sounds like this guy was pretty determined to get that plane there. Sounds like a lot of stories I hear about guys buildin hot rods, makin things work even if the law isn't real happy about it.

 

The nose is in restoration. I have some info on it somewhere what she use to look like.... let me see if I can dig them up.

 

That is INSANE !! Man, I go get there to see this one the next trip ! Ididnt know about this B17 on display. Thanx for posting man.

For a B17 nutcase, I simply cant miss this one!!

Rat

 

Classy56, what is this scanned from?

 

awesome story and pics guys thanks for sharing i enjoyed reading it.

 

Funny, I'm sitting here wearing the T shirt I bought after a flight in "Aluminum Overcast' the B-17 the EAA owns. I'd buy a few with the Lacey Lady logo if I knew who was selling them to help fund the restoration.

 

Final Cut
The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors
by Scott A. Thompson

 

Really an interesting story, thanks. There is another great story concerning a B-17 that went down in New Zealand on its first mission. Use "Swamp Ghost" as key words.

 

I drive by that thing every day on my way to work and never knew the story behind it. By the way, I've got a girlfriend who would kill someone for that Ranchero! Looks great!

 

For those of you that are interested in B-17s, P-51s, P-47s,P-38s, and history in general, I found this book at Books-A-Million on sale. It's loaded with pictures of the planes of the Eighth Air Force and the people who flew them. I haven't found volume 2 yet.


Mutt

 

Nose is on display where??

 

clssy thanks for the info really good stuff..............

 

kustom delux cool pic i think i have to go check it out........flyn

 

hey mutt thanks for the info on the book, j live next to an airport,every wed (club nite) as we play with our cars theres at least 4 to 6 t 6s that go up and play,,fly around the valley to cool,,,,sometimes there are a couple of p51s that fly out of there it sounds so good i can tell every time its a p51 just by the sound..........would love to have/fly one for now its chopped cars ,,,,,,thanks flyn

 

Thanks for the heads up on the girl thats going to kill me for my car clash i'll watch my back since I drive it everyday in the Portland area. Guess it's a good thing I'm movin soon. HaHa, anyway thanks for the compliment.

 

I've said this before in another post, but I lucked out that the second oldest B-17 in existance, B-17E "Desert Rat" is being restored to FLYING conition right in my "back yard." This is serious for a long time Fortress freak.

 

That is the most awesome thing I have seen. I'll be planning a trip as soon as Lulabelle is running.

 

I remember as a kid, the plane was open for tours. I could never talk my parents into letting my see it. When my dad used to gas up there, I'd try to crane my neck outa the Maverick window to stare up at the plane belly and wondering if it could still fly. I think the nose is on display somewhere on the site, restaurant maybe?? There was an article in the local paper last year about how the cockpit, and nose, have been restored and they were planning on putting it back together. The tail gun assembly has been removed, and theres a big piece of plywood covering the hole. Really looks like shit. Part of the tail was polished a few years ago, then nothing else has been done on it since. Most of the time theres someone selling plants, or carpets, or some other crap under the plane. There was a camper sitting under it for a really long time. There's a restaurant, and a locksmith on the property too. I've heard that pieces of the plane have been sold off to other collectors or restorers over the years. It looks like it's a big bird house now.
I've wanted to get a picture of my car underneath it for a long time. But there's no nose, and a big piece of plywood on the tail, and with the usual junk sitting around there, it doesn't make for a good picture from any angle.

I drive by it every day, it's really a shame to see it rotting away like that. Maybe there's plans in the works, but I've seen no change in several years.

There's also a story about how Lacey flew a P-51 Mustang underneath the Oregon City bridge in the 50's. Don't know if it's true.

I think theres been an effort to get car shows on the property. Not sure about that either.

Oh yeah, the Thunder Ranch isn't the the gun training facility, it's a big western bar that moved in across the street.

 

It's in restoration according to the web site.

 

great story and article. thanks -

 

The nose/cockpit is in a small building/museum in the back. Its cool.

You can donate to it...$1 a rivet to help get it restored.

Lots of the critical parts are missing from people who have toured the plane. THIEVES.

They say, once done, Mr. Lacy wants to take it on another flight before he passes on.

I have seen it a few years back. I figured they would be further along w/ it by now.

Its a cool display, and restraunt on sight.



I hope his dream comes true.