View source for Texas Raiders

{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Short description|American WWII aircraft}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = ''Texas Raiders''
| image = File:Douglas B-17G-95-DL Flying Fortress ‘VP-X - L - 483872 - X’ “Texas Raiders” (NL7227C) (50657253887).jpg
| caption = ''Texas Raiders'' during the 2019 Wings over Houston Airshow
| alt = <!-- Alt text for main image -->
| sole example of type? = n
| other_names = <!--Other names (nicknames, nose art names) this aircraft is known by-->
| type = [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing B-17G-95-DL Flying Fortress/PB-1W]]<!--Type of aircraft-->
| manufacturer = [[Douglas Aircraft Company]], [[Long Beach, California]] <!-- may differ from the main/original manufacturer of this aircraft's type -->
| construction_number = AC-1862 <!-- manufacturer's construction number -->
| construction_date = July 12, 1945 <!-- either roll-out date or span of time for lengthy projects, whichever seems more appropriate -->
| civil_registration = N7227C<!-- any civil registrations carried by this aircraft -->
| military_serial = 44-83872 / BuNo. 77235  <!-- any military serial numbers carried by this aircraft -->
| radio_code = <!-- military radio codes where this is a commonly-used way of identifying this aircraft (e.g. US, British, and German military aircraft of WWII -->
| first_flight = <!-- date of first flight -->
| last_flight = November 12, 2022
| owners = {{ubl<!-- owners or operators, whether private individuals, companies, or military services -->
 |[[United States Army Air Force]]
 |[[United States Navy]]
 |Aero Service Corporation
 |[[Commemorative Air Force]]{{efn|The officially listed owner of the aircraft at the time it crashed was the [[American Airpower Heritage Museum|American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum]] of Dallas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N7227C |title=N7227C Aircraft Registration |website=flightaware.com |accessdate=November 12, 2022}}</ref>}}
 }}
| in_service = <!-- time in military or revenue service, as a range of dates -->
| flights = <!-- number of flights made by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
| total_hours = <!-- total number of hours flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
| total_distance = <!-- total distance flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
| status = 
| aircraft_carried = <!-- type of aircraft carried, usually only for mothership aircraft -->
| fate = [[2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision|Destroyed in mid-air collision]]
| preservation = <!-- where this aircraft was currently preserved (if it is) -->
}}

'''''Texas Raiders''''' was an American [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]], a B-17G-95-DL built by [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas Long Beach]]. In 1967, it was purchased by the [[Commemorative Air Force]]'s [[Gulf Coast Wing]] "Texas Raiders" group, which maintained and flew the aircraft out of [[Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport]] in [[Conroe, Texas]]. The aircraft was destroyed on November 12, 2022, by a [[2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision|mid-air collision]] with a [[Bell P-63 Kingcobra|P-63 Kingcobra]] at an [[air show]] at [[Dallas Executive Airport]], Texas, that killed all five occupants and the P-63 pilot.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Federal authorities: 2 aircraft collide at Dallas air show |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/federal-authorities-2-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/2022/11/12/2f904c74-62c9-11ed-a131-e900e4a6336b_story.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

==History of the aircraft==
{{Third-party|section|date=November 2022}}

===Early history===
The plane was built in 1945 under license from [[Boeing]] by [[Douglas Aircraft Corporation]] at its plant in [[Long Beach, California]]. One of the last 20 B-17s built by Douglas, it was delivered to the [[U.S. Army Air Forces]] as B-17G-95-DL 44-83872 on July 12, 1945. On July 21, 1945, all 20 were transferred to the U.S. Navy to serve as [[PB-1W]] [[patrol bomber]]s. 44-83872 was assigned the U.S. Navy [[Bureau of Aeronautics]] Number (BuNo) 77235.<ref name=HIST>{{cite web |url=http://www.gulfcoastwing.org/index.php/index.php/history-of-b-17-texas-raiders |title=The History of B-17G Texas Raiders |publisher=CAF Gulf Coast Wing |website=gulfcoastwing.org |accessdate=November 12, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:US Navy PB-1W.jpg|thumb|US Navy PB-1W]]
The Navy used PB-1Ws as the original Airborne Warning and Command System or [[Airborne Early Warning and Control|AWACS]] aircraft, as well as for [[electronic countermeasures]], [[anti-submarine warfare]] and [[hurricane hunters]]. The Navy sealed up the bomb bay doors and installed {{convert|300|USgal|L|adj=on}} wing-mounted drop tanks and the AN/APS-20 Seasearch [[radar]] equipment in a bulbous housing below the former bomb bay. [[Radio direction finder]] (RDF), [[instrument landing system]] (ILS), and long-range navigation ([[LORAN]]) were also installed at this time. The aircraft was left unpainted, but waxed to prevent corrosion, and kept its original [[Browning M2]] machine guns.<ref name=HIST/>

In January 1955, the PB-1W was phased out in favor of the new [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] PO-1W and WV-2 (naval versions of the [[EC-121 Warning Star]]) based on the [[Lockheed Constellation]]. BuNo 77235 was flown to [[Litchfield Park, Arizona]], and placed in flyable storage status until officially retired from naval service on August 25, 1955, with 3,257 hours flying time.<ref name=HIST/>

Aero Service Corporation bought BuNo 77235 for $17,510 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|17510|1957|r=-4}}}} today{{Inflation-fn|US}}) on October 1, 1957. Registered as N7227C, the plane flew aerial survey missions from Alaska to Central America to the [[North Sea]]. On January 12, 1965, it was used as a backdrop at the retirement ceremony of General [[Curtis LeMay]]. Aero Service Corporation sold the plane on September 22, 1967.<ref name=HIST/>

===Commemorative Air Force ownership===
The [[Commemorative Air Force]] (CAF), known as the Confederate Air Force until 2001, acquired the plane in 1967 for $50,000 or $80,000; sources differ.<ref name=HIST/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112980835/world-war-ii-ghost-visiting-airport-here/ |title=World War II ghost visiting airport here |first=David |last=Galante |newspaper=[[Democrat and Chronicle]] |location=[[Rochester, New York]] |page=1B |date=June 21, 1982 |accessdate=November 12, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112980917/world-war-ii-ghost-visits-airport-here/ |title=World War II ghost visits airport here |first=David |last=Galante |newspaper=[[Democrat and Chronicle]] |location=[[Rochester, New York]] |page=2B |date=June 21, 1982 |accessdate=November 12, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The plane was kept in [[Brownwood, Texas]], because CAF's home airfield in [[Mercedes, Texas]], was too short for a B-17.<ref name=HIST/> A CAF photo taken around 1969 shows the plane painted white with a large U.S. flag on the tail.<ref name=HIST/>
[[File:Aviation-002.jpg|thumb|B-17 N7227C, Confederate Air Force air show, Greater Southwest International Airport (AKA Amon Carter Field), Tarrant County, Texas]]

[[File:Douglas B-17G-95-DL Flying Fortress ‘VP-X - L - 483872 - X’ “Texas Raiders” (NL7227C) (50649642622).jpg|thumb|''Texas Raiders'' in flight in October 2019]]

In July 1970, the plane was given its first historical paint job, that of the [[366th Bombardment Squadron]] of the [[305th Bombardment Group]], with [[squadron code]] KY and call letter D on the [[fuselage]] and tail number 124592, suggested by retired general LeMay.<ref name=HIST/> In 1974, the CAF assigned the plane to its three-year-old Gulf Coast Wing.<ref name=HIST/> The plane was named ''Texas Raiders'' around 1973 to honor Texas combat veterans; the name had not been used by any previous B-17.<ref name=HIST/>
[[File:CAF-008.jpg|thumb|B-17G N7227C as restored ca. 1972; Confederate Air Force air show, Greater Southwest International Airport (AKA Amon Carter Field), Tarrant County, Texas]]

Over two decades, CAF worked to restore the plane to a B-17G configuration.<ref name=HIST/> Tradeoffs made in consideration of budget included disabling [[turbocharger]]s and the crew oxygen system.<ref name=HIST/> In 1977, the plane was repainted in the color scheme of the [[533d Bombardment Squadron]] of the [[381st Bombardment Group]].<ref name=HIST/> The livery was inspired by a real B-17G plane, ''Princess Pat'' (42-97503), including squadron code VP with call letter X, but using the actual tail number of ''Texas Raiders''.<ref name=HIST/> At this time, a [[ball turret]] and top turret were added, although the interior was not yet restored.<ref name=HIST/>

The plane was restored and rebuilt from 1983 to 1986 at a cost of $300,000 ({{Inflation|US|300000|1983|fmt=eq}}).<ref name=HIST/> This included restoring the interior of the plane to a B-17G configuration including the addition of period-correct equipment such as a [[Norden bombsight]], [[M2 Browning|M2 machine gun]]s (non-functional), [[bomb bay]] racks, and a chin turret.<ref name=HIST/> During 1993 and 1994, the plane was repainted and corrosion repaired at a cost of about $180,000 ({{Inflation|US|180000|1993|fmt=eq}}).<ref name=HIST/> The plane later underwent a lengthy and costly "[[wing spar]] terminal ends" replacement project, started in 2001 due to an [[FAA]] [[Airworthiness Directive]] (2001-22-06) citing corrosion in B-17 wings.<ref name=HIST/> Originally estimated to be a six-month process, the project turned into an {{frac|8|1|2}}-year effort costing nearly $700,000 ({{Inflation|US|700000|2001|fmt=eq}}).<ref name=HIST/>

[[File:B-17 Texas Raiders September 2022.jpg|thumb|''Texas Raiders'' [[nose art]] in September 2022]]

''Texas Raiders'' returned to flight on October 14, 2009, and was featured at Wings Over Houston that month as a static display.<ref name=HIST/> In March 2010, the plane was moved to the Tomball Jet Center in [[David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport]] (KDWH) in [[Tomball, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ultimatetomball.com/2010/03/refurbished-b-17-headed-hooks-airport |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110809140111/http://www.ultimatetomball.com/2010/03/refurbished-b-17-headed-hooks-airport |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |title=Refurbished B-17 headed for Hooks Airport |first=Bryan |last=Kirk |website=ultimatetomball.com |date=March 2010}}</ref> ''Texas Raiders'' rejoined the air show circuit in 2010, just in time to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the B-17. It traveled to the [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]] airshow, where it was featured in AeroShell Square.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.airventure.org/news/2010/100728_b17s.html |title=Seventy-five years of Flying Fortresses |first=Frederick A. |last=Johnsen |website=airventure.org |date=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015113652/http://www.airventure.org/news/2010/100728_b17s.html |archive-date=October 15, 2010 |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112981398/b-17-takes-stage/ |title=B-17 takes stage |first=Jennifer K. |last=Woldt |newspaper=[[Oshkosh Northwestern]] |location=[[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]] |page=1 |date=July 29, 2010 |accessdate=November 12, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> That summer, the plane appeared at Thunder Over Michigan as one of eight restored B-17s, flying in formation with ''[[Yankee Lady]]'', movie ''[[Memphis Belle (aircraft)|Memphis Belle]]'', ''[[Nine-O-Nine]]'', ''[[Aluminum Overcast]]'', ''[[Liberty Belle (aircraft)|Liberty Belle]]'', ''[[Thunderbird (aircraft)|Thunderbird]]'', and ''[[Sentimental Journey (aircraft)|Sentimental Journey]]''.<ref name=HIST/>

On May 8, 2015, ''Texas Raiders'' flew in the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover in Washington, D.C., an event that commemorated the 70th anniversary of [[Victory in Europe Day]] (VE Day).<ref name=HIST/> The Gulf Coast Wing commissioned a complete new paint job and brand new nose art for ''Texas Raiders'' in late 2016, costing $190,000.<ref name=HIST/>

The plane was moved in March 2017 to General Aviation Services at Conroe North Houston Regional Airport in [[Conroe, Texas]].{{cn|date=November 2022}} Beginning in 2018, organizers worked with an Air Force parachute team to conduct demonstration skydives from the bomb bay during air shows.<ref name=HIST/>

== Destruction ==
{{Main article|2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision}}
[[File:NTSB Nov 22.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Photograph from Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report by the [[Nation Transportation Safety Board]] showing the debris field following the crash]]
The aircraft crashed on November 12, 2022, after a mid-air collision with a [[Bell P-63 Kingcobra]] at Dallas Executive Airport while performing during an air show. The P-63 collided with the B-17's port side on a descending trajectory, severing the fuselage just aft of the main wings. The bomber then fell to the ground, destroying the remaining airframe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sentendry |first1=David |url=https://twitter.com/davidsfox4/status/1591522623376211968 |website=Twitter |publisher=FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth |title= A mid-air collision involving two planes near the Dallas Executive Airport, today|format=Video|access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref> All six people aboard the two aircraft were killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/11/13/6-killed-after-vintage-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/ |title=6 killed after vintage aircraft collide at Dallas air show |first1=LM |last1=Otero |first2=Jill |last2=Bleed |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=November 13, 2022 |accessdate=November 13, 2022}}</ref> The cause of the accident was immediately placed under investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/november/12/wings-over-dallas-caf-p63-b17-midair |title=Warbirds Collide During Wings Over Dallas Airshow |website=AOPA.org |first=Alyssa J. |last=Cobb |date=November 12, 2022 |accessdate=November 12, 2022 |quote=A Bell P–63 Kingcobra and a Boeing B–17 Flying Fortress, Texas Raiders, collided midair November 12 during the 2022 Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Dallas WWII Airshow at Dallas Executive Airport in Texas.}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Texas Raiders (aircraft)}}
*[https://www.gulfcoastwing.org/ Commemorative Air Force – Gulf Coast Wing]

{{B-17 family}}
{{Portal bar|Aviation|Texas}}
[[Category:Individual aircraft of World War II]]
[[Category:Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]