B-17E | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

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.

Random B-17E from database

41-2477

Delivered Sacramento 29/12/43; Langley 3/1/42; Assigned 7BG Hawaii (Project X) 14/1/42; Returned to the USA Tyndall 12/11/43, converted to RB-17Q; Atlanta 6/10/44; Rome 12/12/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 8/1/46.

41-9179

Delivered Pendleton 34BG 11/5/42; Assigned 410BS/94BG Pueblo 1/1/43; with Merle Brown damaged in landing accident on 16/1/43; Lockbourn 12/5/43; with Stanton Rickey force landed base 26/9/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 9/10/45.

41-9151

Delivered Geiger 301BG 25/4/42; Lowry 31/5/42; Assigned 42BS/11BG Hickam, Hawaii 7/6/42; transferred 13AF Poppy Henderson Fd 22/7/42; shot down over Choiseul Bay, Bougainville 1/2/43 with Maj Earl O. Hall (Sqd CO), Co-pilot: Joaquin Castro, Navigator: Frank Stern, Bombardier: Jim Bales, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul Adler, Radio Operator: Jim Stephens, Francis Banasiak, Jesse Olmstead, Martin Grady. Missing Air Crew Report 15093.

41-9189

Delivered MacDill 92BG 11/5/42; Wendover 15/7/42; with Larche Washer force landed Gowen 26/9/42; with Duane Pangle force landed Gowen 18/6/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Bush Fd 22/5/45.

41-2454

Delivered MacDill 25/12/41; Assigned 19BG Java 18/1/42; transferred 7BG; strafed and destroyed Broome Fd, Australia 3/3/42 (usual pilot D. Skiles); Salvaged. CRAPS FOR THE JAPS.

41-2475

Delivered Sacramento 27/12/41; Assigned 7BG Langley 4/1/42; MacDill 7/1/42 and crash landed 20/4/42. Salvaged 7/8/43.

41-2400

Delivered Douglas Aircraft Corp. as model; Written off 30-Sep-44; Recl Comp at Burbank, Cal. 20-Mar-46. Never served in the UK.

41-9148 / Boomerang

Delivered Boise 359BS/303BG [BN- ] 25/4/42; 97BG Polebrook /42; 92BG Bovingdon /42; 369BS/306BG [WW-T] Thurleigh as t/t & hack 1/5/43; Salvaged 22/6/45. BOOMERANG.

41-9211 / Typhoon McGoon II

Delivered Cheyenne 22/5/42; Assigned 98BS/11BG Hawaii (flew to New Caledonia, at Guadalcanal Jan 43); fitted with ASV radar on nose and under wing and at least eight missions and six Japanese aircraft to its credit; retUS 901 BU Orlando 14/12/45. TYPHOON McGOON II.

41-2496

Delivered Patterson 15/1/42; Wright 1/3/42; Minneapolis 14/3/42; Wright 10/6/42; Patterson 17/6/42; Biggs 15/5/43; 2511 BU Bryan 5/12/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 5/10/45.

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies B-17E

“Big Tail”