06/18/2026
Day eighteen of the June 2026 fundraiser for the rebuild of Boeing B-17F "Lucky Thirteen" (42-3455, 384BG) in Asheville, North Carolina.
As previously mentioned, a supporter has offered to match up to 1,000 USD in donations, picking up from the 2,000 USD mark reached by Bobby Poston’s initial challenge. So far we have raised 150.52 toward this challenge. There are twelve more days to go – can we make it?
I hope people are reading these updates, as I know I can be long winded. Today I wanted to do another historical update, one that I have a local connection to –
On this day, 83 years ago, Asst. Secretary of War for Air Robert A. Lovett (R-NY) submitted a letter to CG USAAF GEN Henry H. Arnold concluding his inspection tour of the US 8AF (17 May - 30 May). The vast majority of Lovett's recommendations echo those of CG US 8AF MG Ira C. Eaker - better training, shifting theater alterations to the US, more aircraft, crews, and maintenance equipment, etc. - but his biggest concern was long range es**rt.
When the 8AF began operations, it was the Lockheed P-38 that possessed the longest range. However, these were quickly transferred to North Africa to support efforts there and, with additional needs in the Pacific, there just were not enough P-38s to go around. Republic's showing with the P-47 was certainly not strong. There were several pushes throughout 1942 for research into fighter rang extension, the immediate result of which was development of wing-mounted pylons with sway bracing and fuel attachment feeds, as well as increased internal fuel complement. While Lockheed and North American were able to field such improvements in the P-38 and new P-51 by mid-1943, the P-47 was noticeably tardy. P-47s with increased wing pylons did not enter service until 30 November 1943 (Block D-15) and with increased internal fuel capacity until 15 March 1944 (Block D-25).
So, with the POINTBLANK directive now going into effect (remember our update of 14 June), US bombers were having to begin deep penetrations without fighters capable of es**rting them the whole way. Centerline drop tanks on P-47s could only do but so much, and there were issues with durability, pressurization, and simply getting enough tanks manufactured.
Lovett not only recommended that P-38s be returned to the 8AF, but he strongly urged Arnold adopt the North American P-51 as an es**rt fighter, endorsing it over a slew of other fighter designs.
I am sure everyone has heard the story of how the P-51 was originally equipped with an Allison engine and the improved performance that came from the UK installing a Rolls Royce Merlin. But here is where the local aspect comes in –
Near where I live is a small city called Aiken, South Carolina. Locals call it the “winter colony” as most residents are decidedly not Southerners. A very wealthy, affluent area, Aiken is centered primarily around equestrianism. There is even a beautifully preserved nature trail where groups go fox hunting on horseback, complete with all the traditional garb. It is called Hitchcock Woods. Hitchcock Woods is named for Tommy Hitchcock, son a horse-racing hall-of-famer and, himself, an inductee of the Polo Hall of Fame. A student of Harvard and Oxford, he was even the inspiration for one of the characters in The Great Gatsby.
Hitchcock was also an Army aviator. A veteran of the Great War, in the Second World War he served as the assistant air attaché to the U.S. Embassy in London. It was Hitchcock who pushed Lovett into endorsing the P-51. There was some resistance to adopting a fighter originally designed for foreign export, especially one using a foreign engine. But the situation was critical and Hitchcock and Lovett made it happen. The P-51 flew its first es**rt mission on 5 December 1943.
Hithcock was eventually killed test flying a P-51 the following April. But not before the aircraft was named for him – P-51 Mustang. Fitting, as a Mustang is, after all, a wild horse.
If you enjoy our little historical write-ups, and/or want to see us bring forth a B-17F of historical fidelity never-before-seen, please consider contributing. It is easy to stand back and not get involved, even when it is something you care about. But if everyone only watched from afar, projects like ours would wither and die. Please do not be afraid to show your support - it means more than you know!
The Hangar Thirteen Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit charity dedicated to bringing back a B-17F representative of the bloody counter-air campaign of June 1943 through March 1944.
Donations to this project are tax deductible. If you can spare a little to help this project, you can guarantee that you will see the results here on Facebook and on our website: www.HangarThirteen.org
You can contribute through our website's Donate page or, to avoid a PayPal fee, you can send something via the mail to:
Gerad Allen Blume
Hangar Thirteen Foundation
442 Old Chalk Bed Road
Batesburg, SC 29006
If writing a check, please be sure that it is made out to the “Hangar Thirteen Foundation.”
Volunteers are also always welcome. In fact, you need not be an Asheville resident – you can work from home! Persons skilled with metal fabrication, machining, CAD modeling, metal casting, 3D scanning, and laser/waterjet cutting, are particularly helpful. Just reach out to us to get started.
Keep the show on the road!
