| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-80-BO: 42-29932 to 42-30031 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 379th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 526th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | LF-E |
| MACR | 1297 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (16 August 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-30001 / Mary Ann
Delivered Cheyenne 25/3/43; Smoky Hill 3/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Assigned 526BS/379BG [LF-E] Kimbolton 23/6/43; Missing in Action Le Bourget 16/8/43 with Ray Bidwell, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Cannell, Ball turret gunner: Tom Johnson (3 Killed in Action), Co-pilot: Jack Ryan, Navigator: Mario Delivered Re, Bombardier: Wayne Bader, Radio Operator: Vic Chesquier, Waist gunner: Pete Murray, Waist gunner: Elvin Cocherall,Tail gunner: Larry Prentiss (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Plessis Chenet, near Corbeil, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1297. MARY ANN.
B-17 42-30001 / Mary Ann Details
The aircraft that played the part of B-17 ‘Mary-Ann’ in the film ‘Air Force’ was B-17 #38-584
This page was last updated on 14 February 2020
07. February 2018 access_time 4:19
Speaking as a 100% Service Connected Disabled Veteran, this bomber, and the movie, is an inspiration to us all to by proud Americans and PROUD of our American Fighting men everywhere.
21. November 2022 access_time 2:33
The B17 shown in the movie is a B 17 C not an F model
31. August 2023 access_time 21:51
My father in law, who passed away at 101 years old recently was the actual co pilot of the Mary Ann (the actual bomber). He flew it into pearl harbor on 12/7/41 and survived the day. He was awarded multiple silver stars for his year in the pacific flying over New Guinea, battle of the coral sea, guadalcanal, multiple encounters with Saburo Sakai, and flying McArthur out of the phillipines when he left corregidor island. He told me many stories and about two of his silver stars. My wife is his only daughter, and she was named after his bomber. He remained in Army Air Corp, transitioned to the air force and served 30 years. He was on the list for Brigadier General when he unexpectedly retired. I would love to share some of his stories involving the Mary Ann while I am still able to tell them. If you are interested, I live in San Antonio, TX and my phone number is 210-797-1900. Leave a message if I don’t answer. Thanks for considering my request. Todd Mathis.
01. September 2023 access_time 7:57
Hello Todd,
My condolences.
possible that your father had flown this B-17 https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/38-584/. The B-17 #38-584 was in service at the Time of Pearl Harbor.
Or he had flown many other aircraft.
Greeting from Germany.
Cheers
Jing
16. January 2026 access_time 14:54
Jack Compton completed his flight training for multi engine airplanes at Randolph field in San Antonio, Texas in 1941, prior to America entering the war. He flew from there to Salt Lake City on December 5th. His entire squadron had been ordered to fly to the Phillipine islands to reinforce Douglas MacArthur since America had broken the Japanese diplomatic codes and we knew war was imminent. On December 6th, he landed at Hamilton field in San Francisco. The next day he took off, his entire squadron flying in 15 minute intervals rather than in formation flying. He arrived at Pearl Harbor during the attack and said that everyone was shooting at his plane; both sides! He didn’t have enough fuel to divert to another location, so he landed during the battle, but the Japanese zero who was on his tail decided to shoot at the crew and leave the plane alone. The crew survived unharmed, and so did the plane. Of the 12 B-17s that flew in that day, only 3 survived. His was one of them. The phillipine islands were no longer an option because the bombing started there either that day or the next, so they were diverted to Australia and flew out of there and New Guinea for the next year. His bomber was the only one out of the original 12 who survived the first year of the war. During the movie “air force” he was extensively interviewed by the hollywood propagandists, and the crew in the movie were based nearly exactly on his actual crew. He was the co-pilot who flew to the phillipines and brought MacArthur out to Australia during his evacuation. Frank Bostrum was the pilot. My wife, Mary Ann was named after that bomber. He actually won 3 silver stars that year, but would only tell me about two of them. The third was kept a secret which he never shared. He trained new pilots after returning home, and was preparing to return to the Pacific war when the war ended. He remained in the Air Corp, transitioned to the U.S. Air force and stayed in for 30 years. He was the most generous man and the luckiest man I ever met. I have a photo of him with Dwight Eisenhower in 1946. I will try to send that to you by email if I can. Best regards!! I wish your website was in English, I have been fascinated by the air war in Europe for many years.
15. January 2026 access_time 2:48
my father flew this plane. I have an image of him in the left seat after the movie was filmed. He was a Captain and trained cadets to fly IFR. His name was Walter J. Maher
23. December 2025 access_time 1:40
• the AIR FORCE movie Mary Ann with the FY 38 was an updated B series, not C series which has FY 40 AAF s/n.
• the attached image is not 001 which was via Cheyenne.
• block F-80-BO did not have angled cheeks
• the attached Mary Ann is marked as Lockheed Dallas Modification Center P22 324
• the a/c is F-95-BO 42-30324 delivered via Dallas
• 324 was assigned to Pyote and marked PY 324.
• see 42-30324 image
• Mary Ann attached shows nickname but no scoreboard.