I have posted  2 photos of my dad's aircraft Flatbush Floogie 42-97083. I have a question for the people that visit this forum. My dad was hurt in the downing of his aircraft. Here is what he said to me as a kid and I am trying to figure out what he was doing and how he got hurt.
He told me one of the left side engines had been shot out by flak and he ducked down out of the top turret to feather the props when a second flak shell exploded, above the top turret, hitting the left side of his face and knocking him out of the turret. How do you feather the props and where are the switches or knobs or whatever you touch to feather the props? Also can you tell me how the engines are numbered 1 2 3 4, where are they?
Thanks,
Jim

Attached Image(s)

Jim,
As you sit in the pilot's seat # 1 is the outboard engine on the left wing, # 2 inboard left, #3 inboard right, #4 outboard right.
 
Feathering the props is done at the pilot controls.  Because the Top Turret / Engineer is located just behind the pilot's seats he would often help when needed.  For whatever reason he was trying to help the pilots. 
 
For further information check out this thread titled: Props: feathering, windmilling, run away  see:http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_105104/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#105104
 
Cheers,
Keith

-Keith Hardie
Nephew of John David Hardie, 447th BG waist gunner.
www.447bg.com

Teammaico,
 
      Between the pilots was a pedestal which contained the engine controls including throttles, prop controls, mixture, supercharger, etc.  At the top of the instrument panel were four feathering buttons.  The first step would be to close the proper throttle, push the feather button, mixture to idle cut-off, fuel valve, boost pump and ignition off.  After that the prop control would be moved to 'Low RPM' and generator would be turned off.  This info is from the pilot's manual and my Dad's memory.  There may be others here who could add more.  Jim Peters was a B-17 FE and certainly could answer  your question in detail.
  Obviously,  the pilots would have had their hands full just flying the airplane, which is why your Dad was trained to do what he did.  The engines were numbered from the pilot's left to right.
Hope this helps.
 
Steve G

Steve G...You covered the subject very well and accurately...When we had a runaway propellor, my copilot's shoulder harness reel locked up, and he was unable to assist...I was in the top turret when I heard the engine start to scream..by the time, I got down from the top turret, the pilot who was flying had retarded the throttle, and pushed the feather button, but had not moved the prop control...he motioned to the prop control and I moved it from cruise to HI Pitch-LOW RPM to assist the feathering of the propellor, and then we waited for the prop to feather.
 
When the propellor was winding up, the aircraft was shaking and vibrating and SCREAMING...so much so that at Debriefing after the mission, both the FEs of the ships on eiither side approached me and told me we had had a runaway propellor...and informed me that they had heard it runaway OVER the sound of their own engines. (we werer the lead of the second element, and as such, had a B-17 on either wing).
 
A malfunctioning prop governor was the cause.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)