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

41-2461 / El Toro

When the Allies left Java, this B-17 was flown to Australia and was still flying combat till the middle of 1942. EL TORO.

41-9066

Delivered Geiger 301st Bomb Group 2/4/42; Alamogordo 18/6/42; Westover 2/7/42; Wendover 20/7/42; Walla Walla 15/8/42; Topeka 3/9/42; Chanute 18/12/42; Recl Comp 19/3/45.

41-2609 / Loose Goose

Delivered Lowry 8/5/42; Hamilton 28/5/42; Assigned 19BG Hawaii 13/7/42; transferred 64BS/43BG, then 65BS; severe battle damaged on recon mission to Bismark Arch. 17/5/43 with Capt William Crawford Jr.; salvaged and repaired before retUS Hamilton 22/7/44; Tinker 14/9/44; Recl Comp 9/2/45. LOOSE GOOSE.

41-2522

Delivered Ogden 25/1/42; Cheyenne 21/3/42; Wayne Co. 11/4/42; RCAF Dorval 20/4/42; Gander-Prestwick 28/4/44 RAF [FK191]; 206 Sq (VX-N) Benbecula, Scot. 13/9/42; 220 Sq (ZZ-P) Aldergrove, N.I., Azores 1/44; Struck Off Charge 8/3/45. (sunk submarine U-871 12/9/44 with Arthur Wallace (pilot was E.Fields); later overshot runway at Gosport, Hants., 28/12/44).

41-2579

Delivered Barksdale 8/2/42; MacDill 2/3/42; with Harry Beasley force landed Drew Fd, FL 17/3/42; Boise 18/8/42; March 15/11/43; Tinker 4/2/43; Gowen 24/2/43; Lockbourn force landed Corrinne, UT due to engine fire with Paul Dorney 17/3/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 9/10/45.

41-2556

Delivered Pendleton 5/2/42; with Don Appert force landed SE of base 24/4/42; repaired and transferred Alamogordo 3/8/42; crashed on take off base with Joe Downing 10/8/42. Salvaged.

41-2484

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?)

41-2641

Destroyed on ground on 25/04/1942.

41-2481 / Topper aks Old Topper

Delivered Sacramento 26/12/41; Assigned 30BS/19BG Java 14/2/42 with Cobb; transferred 7BG, 63BS/43BG; then to 481Serv. Sq.; crashed on take off with Clarry O’Connell from Jackson Fd, Port Moresby, NG 27/8/43; Written off 30/10/43. TOPPER or OLD TOPPER.

41-9133

Delivered SAAD 26/4/42; Westover 27/5/42; Olmstead 18/2/43; Mitchell 8/6/43; Tinker 9/7/43; Robins 20/12/43; Patterson 21/2/44; Cincinnati 11/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 29/8/45.

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

“Big Tail”