41-2537
Delivered Wright Fd 29/1/42; Midland 5/1/43; Wright 21/1/43; Biggs 10/3/43; Wright 13/3/43; Oklahoma City 23/4/43; Wright 29/4/43. Recl Comp 20/3/46.
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 Wright Fd 29/1/42; Midland 5/1/43; Wright 21/1/43; Biggs 10/3/43; Wright 13/3/43; Oklahoma City 23/4/43; Wright 29/4/43. Recl Comp 20/3/46.
Delivered McChord 4/12/41; Assigned 7BG Java, 42BS/11BG Hickam 15/12/41; with Chas Allen (Ward Cox), crashed Keaheakahoe, Hawaii, 5/4/42.
Delivered Sacramento 26/12/41; Assigned 30BS/19BG Java 14/2/42 with Cobb; transferred 7BG, 63BS/43BG; then to 481Serv. Sq.; crashed on take off with Clarry O’Connell from Jackson Fd, Port Moresby, NG 27/8/43; Written off 30/10/43. TOPPER or OLD TOPPER.
Delivered Ogden 22/2/42; Cheyenne 29/5/42; slated RAF but transferred 72BS/5BG Hawaii 3/6/42; Missing in Action ditched off San Isabel 13/4/43 with Mario Sesso. Written off 31/10/44. LUCKY 13.
Delivered Sacramento 18/1/42; MacDill 25/1/42; Assigned 7BG but on delivery crash landed Java 20/2/42. Salvaged.
Delivered Sebring 26/3/45; Hendricks 17/3/43; Chicago Munc Apt 9/5/43; Hendricks 7/7/43; Written off 7/7/44.
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 340BS/97BG Polebrook 15/4/42; transferred 390BG Framlingham 29/6/42; 407BS/92BG [PY-N] Bovingdon /9/42; 401BS/91BG [LL-X] Bassingbourn 22/7/43; 613BS/401BG [IN-P], then 612BS [SC-X] Deenethorpe, Nth. 6/11/43; /390BG Framlingham, 6/11/43; 600BS/398BG Nuthampstead 29/8/44; not used operationally with group and transferred 435 ASGp 3/6/45; Salvaged 2/8/45. AGONY WAGON aka GRAVY TRAIN.
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 25-Nov-41; Assigned 19BG with Ray Cox landed Malang, Java, 28-Jan-42; and 9BS/7BG Java (Project X) 28-Jan-42 with E. Habberstad; strafed Singosari 3-Feb-42. Sal, Written off 31-Oct-44. Never served in the UK.
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 24-Nov-41; Assigned 3BS/6BG 27-Feb-42; Guatemala 15-May-42; South American Air Depot (SAAD) 25-Jul-42; Guatemala 19-Aug-42; Howard Fd, Canal Zone Jan-43; crash landed David Field, Panama with Neal Peterson, Co-pilot: George Wajagich, Navigator: John Reep, Bombardier: Art Adler, plus Francis Dawson, Chas Greene, Elbert Ball, Warren Harding, John Saul, John Vukus, Bob Merchant, Harry Bullard (12 Returned to Duty) 14-Jul-43; Written off 5-Aug-43. Never served in the UK.
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