B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies
B-17E
“Big Tail”
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.
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Random B-17E from database
Delivered MacDill 29/1/42; Assigned 28BS/19BG Hawaii 3/42; transferred 43BG Melbourne, Aus.; damaged Rabual 7/8/42 with J. Doherty, (gunner Killed in Action); Missing in Action in Japanese shipping raid off Lae, New Guinea 22/11/42, with John Frost (65BS/43BG), Co-pilot: Bob Guenther, Navigator: P/O Alan Fairfax (RAAF), Bombardier: Frank Colburn, Gerald Shaughnessy, Roger Feind, Carl Griffin, Arnold Osborn, Paul Paulson, David Thomas (10 Killed in Action) and crashed in sea. No trace or MACR. (6 chutes seen off Lae).
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.
Delivered Lowry 5/3/42; Assigned 30BS/19BG Hawaii 1/4/42; ditched off Horn Is, Aus. 13/7/42 with Curtis J. Holdridge, Ball turret gunner: Ralph Deitz (2 Killed in Action); ? crew but OK
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 Geiger 301st Bomb Group 5/4/42; Muroc 30/5/42; Alamogordo 19/6/42; Biggs 19/8/42; Boise 15/9/42; Assigned 43BS/29BG Gowen, with Erskine Dollarhide force landed base 29/12/42; Hendricks 23/3/43; with Bob Skerry force landed 19 miles south of base 3/4/43; rep. force landed again with Tom Lee at base 11/7/43; 3017 BU Hobbs 21/1/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 25/6/45.
Delivered MacDill 6/2/42; West Palm Beach 20/2/42; Assigned 6AF Howard, Panama 4/4/42; Guatemala 15/4/42; canal patrol & anti-sub duties; Returned to the USA Mitchell Fd 11/11/43; Mat Com Wright Fd; 4136 BU Tinker 2/1/45; Recl Comp 9/2/42.
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/42; Wayne 13/6/42; RCAF Dorval 17/6/42; Gander-Prestwick 25/6/42 to RAF [FK204]; Royal Aircraft Est., Boscomb Down, Wilts. Back-up LRASV trials 1/7/42; 220 Sq (ZZ-N) Ballykelly 25/7/42.; with W/Co. Richard Gates abandoned out of fuel and crashed Doddington Quarry, Doddington, Wooler, Northumberland, UK 11/8/42; crew all OK. Struck Off Charge 10/10/42.
Delivered SAAD 24/4/42; Langley 20/5/44; Olmstead 1/2/43; Lowry 28/2/43; Presque Is 20/3/43; Mitchell 8/6/43; Westover 28/9/43; Roswell 8/1/44; Written off 14/9/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 9/10/45.
Delivered Salt Lake SAD 3/12/41; Assigned 7BG Java then with ? Kualoa, HI 1/7/42; 42BS/11BG Hickam 22/7/42; crashed Shortland Bay, Bougainville 1/2/43 with Capt Harold B. Hensley, Co-pilot: Chas Bingham, Bombardier: S/Sgt Oreste Natiello, Navigator: John Jackson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lester Gudenschwager, Radio Operator: John Powers, Waist gunner: Bill Tomko, Waist gunner: Pete Fabino,Tail gunner: Willett Allen (9 Killed in Action). YOKOHAMA EXPRESS. Missing Air Crew Report 16269.
Assigned 359BS/303BG Molesworth 21/4/42; transferred 342BS/97BG Polebrook /8/43; with Alex Blair on first 8AF mission 17/8/42; courier flights to N Africa; 325BS/92BG Bovingdon 2/5/43 as tow target a/c.; on 4/5/43 involved in taxi accident with Jake Fullilove at Alconbury; PROWLER.
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