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B-17E in flight // Wikipedia Commons [Public Domain]
The first of the “Big Ass” B-17’s arrived England to equip the US 8th Air Force in July 1942. All the planes had been modified with enlarged gun windows and 0.50-calibre guns on either side of the nose. Further modifications were made to them after they were operational including work on the radio, bomb rack, lighting, oxygen, extinguisher and survival systems. By the time the B-17E had been shipped across the Atlantic, newer models were already coming off the Boeing production line. In fact, the B-17E was only on full combat status for just over two weeks before the appearance of the B-17F’s
The B-17E was not used in great numbers for combat because the F model was so different in performance that it made joint operations, using both planes unlikely. The B-17E took a back seat and was eventually esed as a trainer, a transport and a target-tower. With its armaments removed it could give better handling and speed.
Delivered MacDill 28/2/42; Assigned 340BS/97BG Sarasota 29/3/42; from Houlton to Presque Is crash landed hitting an embankment and stopped, with Chas Lee, Co-pilot: G. Leland, Navigator: H. Ray, Bombardier: J. Cognatto, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: S. Kendall, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: F. Rebello, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Z. Gomsell, g-J. Cummings, g-R. Williams (9 Returned to Duty) 28/6/42. Salvaged. Parts used on 41-9022.
Delivered Sebring 29/1/42; Geiger 29/3/42; Cheyenne 14/5/42; Wendover 27/5/42; Written off 25/5/44. BUZZ KING.
Delivered Salt Lake with Harry Spieth SAD 30/11/41; Assigned 30BS/19BG Hickam; (?7BG?) Java; force landed near RAAF Sandgate 18/4/42; shot down off Buna Point, New Guinea 12/8/42 with Bill Watson, Co-pilot: John Putman, Navigator: Jim Etter, Bombardier: S/Sgt Bob Abadie, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gene Clements, Bob Copley, Phil Deal, Bill Parker (8 Killed in Action), Sgt Leo Ranta also bailed out, the only man to reach the shore and survived; he joined with a B-26 crew and walked to Garaina afd and returned to Port Moresby; Written off 31/10/44.
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 12-Jan-41; with Jim Dubose force landed Ft Fouglas, UT 21-Nov-41; Assigned March 28-Dec-41; Langley 11-Jan-42; Jacksonville, FL 9-May-42; Presque Isle, ME 19-Mar-43; Occident 11-May-43; Mitchell 6-Jun-43; Smoky Hill, 3-Jun-44; San Bernardino, 31-DEc-45; Recl Comp 30-Apr-46. Never served in the UK.
Delivered Pendleton 5/2/42; with Lawler Neighbors crashed 20 miles south west of base 16/3/42; Salvaged.
Assigned: 414BS/97BG 3/42 THE BIG BITCH; Transferred: 390BG Framlingham 27/6/42 HANGAR QUEEN; 327BS/92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; AFSC 9/10/42; on first 8AF mission 17/8/42 Pilot: Capt Frank Ward, Navigator: John Segrest (wia), Bob Smith (wia), Waist Gunner: Hubert Crowell, Tail Gunner: John Bungard (2KIA); 390BG Framlingham 8/43 as t/t & hack; WO 31/5/45.
Delivered Cheyenne 27/5/42; Wayne 7/6/42; Dorval 1/7/42; Gander-Prestwick 15/7/42 with Ralph Shulze, to RAF [FL460]; 220 Sq (VX-H) Benbecula, Scot. 12/8/42; 220 Sq (ZZ-R) Nutts Corner, N.I. then as (NR-D) Lagens, Azores 19/3/43; Struck Off Charge 13/6/45.
Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 11/4/42; with Lt. Clarence L. Thacker on first 8AF mission 17/8/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; 91BG Bassingbourn 3/3/43; 385BG Gt Ashfield 8/43 as target tow & hack; Returned to the USA 23/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 19/12/45. DIXIE DEMO.
Assigned 414BS/97BG MacDill, FL, force landed base with Joe Bernhardt 27/3/42; Grenier, NH with Bill Saunders force landed Buhl, ID 15/6/42; Polebrook 3/42; with Lt. William P. Saunders took part in 8AF 1st raid 17/8/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 4/12/42; 310FySqd then 305BG Chelveston /11/43; 27 ATG; 3 SAD Watton, Written off 25/5/45. BIG PUNK.
Delivered Langley 31/12/41; Assigned 30BS/19BG Java 9/2/42 with Evans; transferred 9BS/7BG; then 64BS/43BG; strafed Singosari 20/2/42; Salvaged. (?While with 7BG crash landed Malang, Java 8/2/42 and abandoned?)
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