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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 23/1/42; Cheyenne 15/2/42; RCAF Dorval 19/3/42; Gander-Prestwick 6/4/42 with Don Ross RAF [FK188]; 59 Sq (TR- ) Thorney Is 15/12/42, damaged by taxiing Hampden 30/12/42; was at Marshalls of Cambridge under repair for six months before assigned Lagens, Azores [ -Z, then W, 9/44] (220 Sq (ZZ-L) Benbecula 20/8/43; 519 Sq Wick, Scotland;) landed after engine failure 18/4/45; not repaired and Struck Off Charge 10/9/45.
Delivered MacDill 1/3/42; Assigned 341BS/97BG Polebrook 4/42; transferred 407BS/92BG Bovingdon 8/42; sustained battle damaged Lille 9/10/42; with Capt Jim Griffiths, Lt Col Stuart Porter, crash landed Gatwick, UK, (10RTD remainder unknown); Salvaged. ROKELL’S RAIDER.
Delivered Sebring 8/3/42; Brookley 11/2/43; Hendricks 25/2/42; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 9/10/45.
Delivered Sebring 19/3/42; Pyote 18/4/42; Hendricks 19/4/42; Written off 5/7/44.
Delivered Lowry 5/3/42; Assigned 93BS/19BG Hawaii 22/4/42; transferred 9BS/7BG taxi collision with 41-2460 at Horn Is, N Aus. with Capt Carey O’Bryan hit by aircraft on ground sheering nose off (30/7/42?) 27/7/43, Salvaged. TOJO’S PHYSIC.
Delivered Geiger 301BG 8/4/42; Alamogordo 18/6/42; Westover 2/7/42; Wendover 10/7/42; Westover 11/8/42; Sebring 11/9/42; Lockbourn 15/1/43; with Tom Gerzel force landed base 22/9/43; Las Vegas 17/10/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 26/5/45.
Assigned: 414BS/97BG 3/42 THE BIG BITCH; Transferred: 390BG Framlingham 27/6/42 HANGAR QUEEN; 327BS/92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; AFSC 9/10/42; on first 8AF mission 17/8/42 Pilot: Capt Frank Ward, Navigator: John Segrest (wia), Bob Smith (wia), Waist Gunner: Hubert Crowell, Tail Gunner: John Bungard (2KIA); 390BG Framlingham 8/43 as t/t & hack; WO 31/5/45.
Delivered Tucson 4/2/42; Las Vegas 6/2/42; MacDill 15/2/42; Cheyenne 21/5/42; Memphis 11/6/42; Walla Walla 19/7/42; Topeka 30/8/42; Assigned 339BS/96BG Albuquerque 16/10/42; Lowry 19/10/42; Topeka 2/11/42; from Pocatello Fd, Id with Alf Lambert crashed 20 miles north of Randolph, Ut. 29/11/42 ran out of gas. Crew bailed OK; Salvaged.
Delivered Geiger 301st Bomb Group 6/4/42; Assigned 11AF Bronze 5/6/42; Kodiak 11/7/42; Gore 14/3/43; New Castle 6/4/42; Olmstead 17/5/43; Wilmington 30/8/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Bush Fd 19/6/45.
Delivered Sacramento 18/1/42; MacDill 25/1/42; Assigned 7BG but on delivery crash landed Java 20/2/42. Salvaged.
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