![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 Barksdale 9/2/42; Cheyenne 23/5/42; Boise 21/6/42; McChord 20/7/42; Boise 12/8/42; Oklahoma City 5/12/42; Pyote 11/1/43; Tinker 31/1/43; Lockbourn 30/3/43; with George Burns force landed base 18/9/43; with Ken Zinnecker force landed base 11/4/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 14/7/45.
Delivered Minneapolis 7/3/42; Salt Lake City 13/5/42; Assigned 28BS/19BG Hawaii 26/5/42; shot down near Rabaul, New Britain 9/8/42; Salvaged 22/4/45. MUFFINS.
Delivered Geiger 301st Bomb Group 3/4/42; Alamogordo 18/6/42; Westover 2/7/42; Wendover 16/7/42; Westover 11/8/42; Sebring 2/9/42; Tarrant Fd 22/6/43; with Ted Morgan force landed Hendricks 24/7/43; Written off 23/10/43.
Delivered Boise 303BG 28/3/42; Lowry 29/5/42; Hamilton 7/6/42; Assigned 72BS/5BG Hawaii 9/6/42; Written off 15/6/44.
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 12-Jan-41; Assigned 431BS/11BG Hickam Field, HI 30-Jan-42; wore shadow shading camouflage, crash landed Guadalcanal with Bill Keys 25-Nov-42. Written off 20-Sep-43. OLD MAID. Never served in the UK.
Delivered Ogden 1/3/42; Cheyenne 27/3/42; Lowry 13/5/42; slated for RAF but crashed 10 miles NW of Wendover, UT 15/5/42, lost control in a snowstorm; crew bailed and all found except pilot Lt Jim Payne.
Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; crash landed Agricultural College, Athenry, Ireland, near Galway Bay, 15/1/43 ex N/Africa after taking part in 1st Prov Grp of Gen Brereton in Eritrea (as No 8.). En route Portreath, Cornwall with Tom Hulings, Co-pilot: Jim McLaughlin, Navigator: Clyde Collins, Radio Operator: Larry Dennis, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Parish,Tail gunner: Sgt Tucker plus passengers:-Generals Barnes, Palmer, Brooke, Col Sexton, Major Hormelnwere, Capt Rawlings, Sgts Pippin, Herrie, Planchard, Bery, Tocer and Bollard (18 Returned to Duty). Aircraft was dismantled and returned to USAAF base at Langford Lodge. Salvaged. STINKY, aka TENNESSEE BELLE.
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 MacDill 14/2/42; crash landed base with F.E. Winget 20/4/42 and salvaged.
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.
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