"The Old Man's Ordeal"

Published June 03, 2015

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DAYTON, Ohio - A close up of "The Old Man's Ordeal" by Jack Fellows. Jeanne Greenlee donated this photo to the National Museum of the U.S. AIr Force after the artist indicated it was her father's wish it go to a museum. Greenlee's father was the bombardier in the B-17 pictured and assisted the artist in details of the scene. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Note: This item is currently in storage.

The donor's father, Thomas Lloyd "Breezy" Boren Jr., a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress named "The Old Man," and his fellow crewman were flying a solo reconnaissance mission over the Solomon Sea and Gasmata, New Britain, in March of 1943 when they were intercepted by as many as 13 Japanese Zero fighter planes. A 45-minute battle ensued and Boren quickly jettisoned four 500-pound bombs and the long range fuel tank to lighten the aircraft in order to gain airspeed. By the end of the battle, five Zeroes had been shot down and the B-17 bomber limped back to an airfield in Papua New Guinea.

Years later, Boren worked with noted aviation artist Jack Fellows on details of the battle scene. The painting, named "The Old Man's Ordeal," depicts the moment when the bombs and fuel tank were released.

Donated by Ms. Jeanne Greenlee.

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"The Old Man's Ordeal"

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