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 Cheyenne 15/5/42; slated RAF but transferred 30BS/19BG Hickam 7/10/42 then Mareeba, Aus.; re-fuelled Pt Moresby t/o but Missing in Action Vunakanau, shot down over New Britain 5/10/42 with Earl L. Hageman, Co-pilot: Dale Hanson, Navigator: Angelo Bianco, Bombardier: Wade Lowry, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Mike Adamow, Radio Operator: Tom Jack, Waist gunner: Frank Mehock, Waist gunner: Tom Wilzbacher,Tail gunner: Frank Plunkett. (9 Killed in Action). Missing Air Crew Report 15207.
Delivered with John Haig to Fort Douglas 6/12/41; Sacramento SAD 8/12/41 for armament installation Assigned 14RS/19BG; with Capt Fred Eaton to Hickam 17/12/41, then to Wheeler and att. USN for search missions, bomb. Sgt J.J. Trelia went sick and replaced by Rich Oliver; 11/2/42 and trans. 22BS/7BG, Garbutt, Aus 20/2/42; transferred 14RS/19BG Hickham); on mission from Townsville to attack Japanese shipping at Rabual, with Capt Fred Eaton, Co-pilot: Capt Henry Harlow, Navigator: George Munro, Bombardier: Rich Oliver, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarry Lemieux, Radio Operator: Harry Soresen, Waist gunner: Russ Crawford, Waist gunner: Bill Schwartz,Tail gunner: John Hall; suffered battle damage, ran out of gas and bellied in Agaiambo Swamp, Papua New Guinea 23/3/42 on its first mission; days later the crew battled its way through jungle and back to base by 1/4/42. After a long litigation process with PNG government, including collector David Tallichet, it eventually returned to USA June 2010, to “Planes of Fame“ at Chino 8/12/10, by Jan 2013 the fuselage was readied for Hawaii and back to US. Curator of Pacific Aviation Museum, Ken DeHoff, is confident the $5 million dollars will be obtained for restoration. SWAMP GHOST.
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/42; Wayne 19/6/42; RCAF Dorval 23/6/42; Gander-Prestwick 4/7/42 with Paul Zimmerman to RAF [FK202]; Royal Aircraft Est. Boscomb Down, Wilts. LRASV trials 11/7/42; 59 Sq (PJ-B) Thorney Is, 13/12/42; 220 Sq (NR-L) Benbecula, Scot. 4/8/43; to Thorney Island, St Mawgan then Lagens, Azores 20/10/43; Missing in Action on meteorological sweep, with Harry Webster, Co-pilot: Alf Dungate, Bill Offler, Jim Walton, Bill Potter, Alex Christie, John McKay, Max Varney (8 Killed in Action); crashed in sea 500 miles SW Terceira, Azores 25/10/43.
Delivered Boeing as experimental aircraft for flight testing 4-May42; also at Oseola and Selfridge, MI. Fields. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Stillwater, Oklahoma 19-Sep-45. Never served in the UK.
Delivered Sacramento 20/12/43; Assigned 93BS/19BG Java 18/1/42 with Bob Northcutt; transferred 9BS/7BG; crash landed Madera Is, DEI. 25/1/42 with Bob Northcutt; Written off 3/8/43. (?c/l given as near Bangkalan, Java and abandoned. May have been taken by Japanese and used for parts?).
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) with Maurice Horgan 20-Nov-41; Assigned 22BS/7BG Java 13-Jan-42 with Jack Hughes; crashed on take off Palembang, Sumatra 22-Feb-42 with Jack Hughes, crew ?; Japanese actually stripped down removing engines, etc. for repairs to other B-17s; officially Written off 9-Jan-45. Never served in the UK
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