![B-17E in flight // Wikipedia Commons [Public Domain]](https://b17flyingfortress.de/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Color_Photographed_B-17E_in_Flight-1024x672.jpg)
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 Ogden 22/2/42; Lowry 4/5/42; slated RAF as KH999 but transferred 31BS/5BG Hawaii 16/8/42; transferred 26BS/11BG before retUS Tyndall 17/1/44; Kingman 20/11/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 16/6/45. (Shown on Midway TV documentary).
Delivered Sacramento 8/12/41; Assigned 74BS/6BG Guatemala 27/12/41; Guatemala 12/4/42; with G.H. Blasé force landed base 27/11/42; Returned to the USA Tinker 8/7/44; Written off 9/2/45. (?Destroyed by strafing at Broome, Aus, just after Java evacuation 3/3/42?).
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN- ] Molesworth 21/4/42; 97BG Polebrook /8/42; 92BG Bovingdon /9/42; /1/43 CCRC; to 351BG Polebrook 15/4/43 as t/t, Salvaged 29/5/45. THE BIG BITCH.
Delivered Boise 303BG 6/4/42; Lowry 29/5/42; Assigned 26BS/11BG Hawaii 9/6/42, but with Harvey Williams crash landed Ephrata, WA 6/6/42; Written off 15/6/44.
Delivered Minneapolis 7/3/42; Assigned 435BS/19BG Hawaii 14/5/42; transferred 65BS/43BG then 54TCW in PNG before transferred 6SR Clark Fd, Phllipines. LULU.
Delivered Lowry 4/3/42; Assigned 28BS/19BG Hawaii 13/4/42; transferred 64BS/43BG 22/5/42; Brookley 17/5/43; transferred 5AF? 20/1/45; (? landing accident at Goose Bay, Labrador with Fred Nelson/Bob Sperber 23/8/45?): Salvaged North Africa 23/8/45.
Delivered Geiger 301st Bomb Group 3/4/42; Alamogordo 18/6/42; Westover 2/7/42; Lowry 19/8/42; Boise 19/9/42; Oklahoma 18/12/42; Gowen 5/12/43; 2137 BU Hendricks 31/3/43; Written off 7/7/44; Recl Comp 3/1/46.
Delivered Lowry 3/3/42; Assigned 435BS/19BG Hawaii 18/5/42; transferred 65BS/43BG; Missing in Action Bogadjim PNG 3/8/43 with Walter K. Brenneman; Written off 5/8/43. RED MOOSE EXPRESS.
Delivered Lowry 5/3/42; Boise 7/4/42; Assigned 93BS/19BG, transferred 394BS/5BG Hawaii 28/5/42; Returned to the USA Hendricks 21/12/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 9/8/45. CROCK-O-CRAP. (Shown in Midway, a TV documentary).
Delivered MacDill 28/2/42; Cheyenne 21/5/42; Edgewood 18/10/42; Wendover 1/2/43; Hendricks 31/3/43; Written off 5/7/44.