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

41-9014

Delivered Minneapolis 11/5/42; Assigned 19BG Singosari, Java 5/5/42; ground accident near Noonamah, Batchelor, Darwin, NT, Aus. 12/8/42 with Capt Weldon Smith. 3 Killed in Service . Salvaged.

41-2542

Delivered Geiger 29/1/42; Tucson 10/2/42; Cheyenne 4/5/42; Wendover 10/6/42; Alamogordo 16/9/42; McChord 20/11/42; Oklahoma City 2/12/42; Hill 3/1/43; Napier 3/3/43; Hendricks 13/3/43. Written off 5/7/44.

41-2500

Delivered 5/1/42 Langley; Assigned 9BS/7BG Java 19/2/42 with Bill Lewis; transferred 19BG and strafed Bandoeng, Java 24/2/42. Salvaged.

41-9146

Delivered Geiger 301BG 28/4/42; Assigned 11Air Force; 36th BS/ 28th BG; Bronze 6/6/42; Ft Glen, MIA 28/8/42 with Albert J. Wilsey, Jr., Raymond L. Adair, Charles H. Cooper, John W. Sheppard, Paul N. Lyden, Charles M. Kantner, Rudolph S. Olesnevich, Harold N. Knutson, Donald W. Brown; 9 KIA; MACR 15932

41-2431

Delivered Salt Lake SAD 30/11/41; Assigned 7BG Java then to 26BS & 42BS/43BG Hickam 19/11/42; Returned to the USA 11/1/44 (known as a gas hog!); Scott 17/1/45; Chanute 21/1/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 12/10/45.

41-2602

Delivered Tucson 25/2/42; West Palm Beach 17/4/42; Assigned 12AF 29/4/43; Ret US Memphis 10/4/44; Morrison 8/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Bush Fd 2/6/45.

41-2652

Delivered Lowry 5/3/42; Assigned 19BG Hawaii 13/4/42; crashed Mt Fox, Ewan, near Palumba, NQ, Aus. 7/5/42 with Edward C. Habberstad; Written off 31/10/44.

41-9039

Delivered Palm Beach 20/3/42; Assigned 444BS/40BG Panama 7/4/42; Guatemala 3/7/42; Panama 23/9/42; Guatemala 30/9/42; with Jim Lyons force landed Albrook, CZ 3/12/42; Written off 20/4/43.

41-9194

Delivered Lowry 18/5/42; Assigned 65BS/43BG Sydney, Aus, Torrens Creek, Aus. 7/6/42; returning from mission to Buna, crashed into hillside at Port Moresby, New Guinea 3/12/42 with Robert K. Freeman, Harry Moy, Rich Cullinson, Jim Iverson, Wilbert Grogan, Saul Bernstein, Morris McFarland. (?RTD?); Co-pilot: Clinton Smith, Rob Wright (2 Killed in Action).