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

41-2463 / Yankee Doodle

Delivered Geiger 28/12/41; Assigned 26BS/11BG Hickam 13/2/42; transferred 394BS/5BG; crashed on take off Guadalcanal with Gene Roddenberry (later of Star Trek fame) 2/8/43; Bombardier: John Kruger, Navigator: Talbert Wollam [body taken home for burial 15/3/48] (2 Killed in Action), rest of unknown crew OK; Written off 13/8/43. [however another record gives aircraft was destroyed on ground at Morotai A/fd. D.E.I. by Japanese bombing in 11/44] YANKEE DOODLE.

41-9035

Delivered Sebring 20/3/42; force landed Hendricks 15/12/42 wMike Notartomaso; 4136 BU Tinker; Recl Comp 7/6/46.

41-2557

Delivered Pendleton 5/2/42; Geiger 30/4/42; Tucson 26/5/42; Ephrata 4/6/42; Muroc 5/7/42; Geiger 1/9/42; Boise 8/10/42; Pueblo 11/1/43. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/9/45.

41-9170

Delivered MacDill 29BG 7/5/42; Bangor 26/6/42; Muroc 29/7/42; Geiger 1/9/42; Alamogordo 2/10/42; Boise 7/11/42; Hendricks 25/2/43; with Albet Schneider crash landed four miles NE base 29/4/43; Written off 1/5/43.

41-2619

Delivered Ogden 3/3/42; Cheyenne 29/3/42; Wayne 10/6/42; RCAF Dorval 15/6/42; Gander-Prestwick 21/6/42 to RAF [FK200]; 220 Sq (ZZ-B) Ballykelly 11/7/42; Azores 25/10/44; Struck Off Charge 25/4/45.

41-2649

Delivered Lowry 4/3/42; Assigned 28BS/19BG Hawaii 13/4/42; transferred 64BS/43BG 22/5/42; Brookley 17/5/43; transferred 5AF? 20/1/45; (? landing accident at Goose Bay, Labrador with Fred Nelson/Bob Sperber 23/8/45?): Salvaged North Africa 23/8/45.

41-2402

Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 20-Nov-41; Assigned 50RS/11BG Hickam Field, HI 1-Jun-42; ditched on search/attack mission with Earl J. Cooper, down 40 miles South of Kauai Island, HI 27-Dec-41, crew KIA. Never served in UK.

41-9138

Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/42; Wayne 19/6/42; RCAF Dorval 23/6/42; Gander-Prestwick 4/7/42 with Paul Zimmerman to RAF [FK202]; Royal Aircraft Est. Boscomb Down, Wilts. LRASV trials 11/7/42; 59 Sq (PJ-B) Thorney Is, 13/12/42; 220 Sq (NR-L) Benbecula, Scot. 4/8/43; to Thorney Island, St Mawgan then Lagens, Azores 20/10/43; Missing in Action on meteorological sweep, with Harry Webster, Co-pilot: Alf Dungate, Bill Offler, Jim Walton, Bill Potter, Alex Christie, John McKay, Max Varney (8 Killed in Action); crashed in sea 500 miles SW Terceira, Azores 25/10/43.

41-2536

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).

41-2476

Delivered McChord 24/12/41; Assigned 19BG Malang, Java 26/1/42 with Capt Walt Sparks; transferred 9BS/7BG; while on mission to Balikpapan and return to Malang AF, shot down & crashed in sea off SE Borneo 29/1/42 with Capt Walt Sparks, Co-pilot: Major Stan Robinson, Navigator: Rich Cease, Bombardier: Bill Biggs, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gordon Drake, Obs-Lt Jack Loughlin, Ball turret gunner: Lloyd Terrell,Tail gunner: Chas Pritchard, (8 Killed in Action) Radio Operator: and crew all KIA.

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies B-17E

“Big Tail”