Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

"Bit o’ Lace" was a 447th BG Vega-built B-17G-40-VE, serial 42-97976. She survived 83 combat missions and was scrapped at Kingman, Arizona, after the war. Her nose art and colorful markings have made her a popular modeling subject. Here are four color photographs showing Bit o’ Lace in flight, two from each side. It is rare to have shots of both sides OR color photography, and these photos provide an unusual opportunity to study paint wear and weathering of a well-used veteran Fortress.

All changes made to the Flying Fortress were incorporated into the final production version, the B-17G. These included the Bendix remotely-operated chin turret, bringing the bomber's defensive armament to thirteen .50 in (12.70 mm) machine guns. The waist gun windows were staggered to improve the gunner's freedom of movement, another carryover from the YB-40 "gunship" variant. The earliest B-17Gs lacked the "cheek" machine gun mounts, as it was believed that the chin turret provided sufficient forward firepower; they were quickly reintroduced. In a reversal of the B-17F's design, the starboard "cheek" machine gun mount was moved rearward and the port side mount was moved forward, just behind the edge of the bombardier's nose glazing to avoid interference with the storage of the chin turret's control yoke when it was not in use. For late production blocks of the G-series, the tail gun turret was revised. Referred to as the "Cheyenne" configuration (after the modification center where it was introduced, the United Airlines Modification Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming), its guns were mounted in a new turret with a reflector sight and a much greater field of fire. Some 8,680 were built, and dozens were converted for several different uses:

CB-17G: Troop transport version, capable of carrying 64 troops.

DB-17G: Drone variant

DB-17P: Drone director

JB-17G: Engine test-bed

MB-17G: Missile launcher

QB-17L: Target drone

QB-17N: Target drone

RB-17G: Reconnaissance variant

SB-17G: Rescue version, later redesignated B-17H: Featured A-1 lifeboat under fuselage. After World War II, armament on the B-17Hs was removed; it was reinstated when the Korean War began.

TB-17G: Special duty training version

TB-17H: Training version of B-17H

VB-17G: VIP transport

PB-1: This designation was given to one B-17F and one B-17G. They were used by the U.S. Navy for various test projects.

PB-1G: This designation was given to 17 B-17Gs used by U.S. Coast Guard as air-sea rescue aircraft.

PB-1W: This designation was given to 31 B-17Gs used by the U.S. Navy as the first airborne early warning aircraft (AWACS).

 

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. 

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. 

Boeing B-17G FLying Fortress.

30 November 1944: In another iconic photograph from World War II, this B-17G-75-BO 43-37877 of the 836th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 487th Bombardment Group (Heavy), was hit by anti-aircraft artillery just after bomb release near Merseburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, at 1314 GMT, 30 November 1944. 43-37877 was crewed by 1st Lieutenant Lloyd W. Kersten, Pilot; 1st Lieutenant Henry E. Gerland, Co-Pilot; 1st Lieutenant James Hyland, Navigator; 1st Lieutenant Warren R. Ritchhart, Bombardier; Technical Sergeant Arnold R. Shegal, Flight Engineer/Gunner; Staff Sergeant Everett S. Morrison, Ball Turret Gunner; Staff Sergeant Joseph M. Miller, Gunner; Staff Sergeant Maurice J. Sullivan, Tail Gunner. The B-17 crashed near Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt. Seven of the crew were killed. Two, Lieutenants Hyland and Richart, were captured and held as prisoners of war. 43-37877 was built by the Boeing Airplane Company at its Plant II, south of downtown Seattle, Washington. It was delivered to the United Air Lines Modification Center at Cheyenne, Wyoming, on 31 May 1944. After completion of modifications, on 12 June the B-17 was flown to Hunter Army Air Field at Savannah, Georgia, and then on 3 July, to Dow Army Air Field at Bangor, Maine, where it was positioned to be ferried across the north Atlantic Ocean to England. On 19 June the new bomber was assigned to the 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was based at RAF Kimbolton (U.S. Army Air Force Station 117), west of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Then on 4 July 1944, B-17G 43-32877 was reassigned to the 836th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 487th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at RAF Lavenham (AAF-137), north of Sudbury in Suffolk, England. 43-37877 was not camouflaged. It was marked with a white letter P in a black square on the vertical fin, indicating the 487th Bomb Group, along with a partial serial number, 333787. The side of the fuselage was marked 2G-E, indicating that it was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron. The wing tips, vertical fin and rudder, and horizontal stabilizer and elevators were painted yellow.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, with Colonel Claude Putnam, commanding officer, 306th Bombardment Group, Heavy, at the christening of Rose of York, R.A.F. Thurleigh, 6 July 1944.

In honor of Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, a United States Army Air Forces heavy bomber, Boeing B-17G-55-BO Flying Fortress 42-102547, was christened "Rose of York". The ceremony took place at RAF Thurleigh (USAAF Station 111), 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.

Named for Princess Elizabeth Windsor, 42-102547 was originally named Princess Elizabeth but that did not meet with any official approval. (There were concerns about the propaganda value to the enemy, and the effect on civilian morale, should the bomber named for a member of the Royal Family be lost in combat.) The aircraft was renamed "Rose of York" instead and was christened by the Princess on her royal visit to the airfield.

Following the ceremony, the bomber was flown to RAF Molesworth, where a number of photographs were taken.

42-102547 was built by the Boeing Airplane Company at its Plant 2, south of Seattle, Washington, in early 1944. The new bomber was not camouflaged, but left in its natural metal finish. It was flown to the Cheyenne Modification Center, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on 12 March 1944, for installation of the latest combat modifications. It was then taken to the B-17 training base at Grand Island Army Air Field in central Nebraska. From there, it flew to Dow Army Air Field, Bangor Maine, arriving 3 April 1944, and then ferried across the North Atlantic Ocean to England.

The Flying Fortress arrived in England, and on 2 May 1944, was  assigned to the 401st Bombardment Group, Heavy, at RAF Deenethorpe (AAF Station 128). Three days later, though, 42-102547 was transferred to the 306th Bombardment Group, Heavy, at RAF Thurleigh. It was assigned to Captain Perry E. Raster of the 367th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy. The group’s identification code, “Triangle H”—a white capital “H” centered on a black triangle—was painted on the vertical fin above the serial number. A black capital “F” was painted below, identifying the individual airplane within its squadron.

42-102547 had completed 13 combat missions by 6 July 1944.

On Saturday, 3 February 1945, the Eighth Air Force, under the command of Lieutenant General James Harold (“Jimmy”) Doolittle, executed Mission No. 817. 1,003 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 434 B-24 Liberators and 948 P-47 and P-51 fighters were sent to attack Berlin, the capital of the Third Reich. The B-17s’ primary target was the city’s railroad marshaling yards, while the B-24s attacked the Braunkohle Benzine A.G. synthetic oil refinery at Rothensee.

Twenty-three B-17s, two B-24s, seven P-51s and one P-47 were lost. Six B-17s and two P-51s were damaged beyond repair, and another 339 B-17s and 58 B-24s were damaged.

Eighteen airmen were killed in action, with 11 wounded and 216 missing.

"Rose of York" was one of the B-17s on that 1,000-bomber mission to Berlin. On its 63rd combat mission, and with a different crew, 42-102547 was hit by heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. The last contact indicated that one engine was out of operation and another was streaming gasoline. The Flying Fortress went down in the English Channel with all nine crew members and a civilian news reporter.

Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 12283: Aircraft Commander, Lieutenant Vernon Daley; Co-pilot: 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Carbine; Navigator, 1st Lieutenant Paul Becker; Bombardier/Nose Gunner, Staff Sergeant Robert Crede; Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Technical Sergeant Reisel Horn; Radio Operator/Top Gunner, Technical Sergeant Porfirio Marquez; Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant George Petrillo; Waist gunner, Staff Sergeant Silvio DeZolt; Tail Gunner: Sergeant Okey Coplin; and British Broadcasting Company (BBC) war correspondent Guy Byam (civilian). Ten Killed in Action.

--Bryan R. Swopes

 

Ground crewmen make a final check-up as ordnance men add fins to 2000 pound bombs prior to loading into a USAAF B-17G at a base in England. In the lower center, a Chevrolet M6 1½-ton 4x4 Bomb Service Truck is towing the bomb trailers.

An anti-aircraft shell went straight through the chin turret of a 601st Bomb Squadron, 398th Bomb Group B-17G, 43-38172, over Cologne, 15 October 1944. The shell exploded in the nose section killing the bombardier instantly. Despite the failure of vital instruments and oxygen equipment, 1Lt. Lawrence M. Delancey flew the wildly bucking bomber back to Nuthampstead.

The chin turret of B-17G-20-BO 42-31435/SU-S/West End of the 384th BG/544th BS, June 17, 1944. This B-17G was fitted at Grafton Underwood with an experimental chin “turret” armed with six fixed .50 cal. machine guns, strange but in wartime, you try everything. The design was made by Armaments Officer Mike Mazer and guns were fired by the pilot. It was more of a fixed forward-firing gun pod than a turret and the ammunition was stored in the nose compartment. You can see the feed chutes going up through the lower part of the fuselage.

B-17G 42-31435/West End successfully completed many operational sorties with the new nose gun installation but, while conclusively proving the mechanical practicability of the design, a temporary cessation of head-on attacks by enemy prevented the proof of its effectiveness.

B-17G 42-31435/West End crash-landed on an RAF airfield due to flak damage and unfortunately the landing destroyed the front turret.

The chin turret of B-17G “West End” with the cowling removed, revealing its six .50 caliber machine guns, June 17, 1944.

The chin turret of B-17G “West End” with the cowling removed, revealing its six .50 caliber machine guns, June 17, 1944.

B-17G 42-31435/SU-S/West End of the 384th BG.

B-17G 42-31435/SU-S/West End of the 384th BG. This aircraft was  assigned to 37 missions manned by 384th BG personnel, credited with 27 combat missions with the 384th.

B-17G 42-31435/SU-S/West End/384BG tail gun position combat trial prototype.

B-17G 42-31435/SU-S/West End of the 384th BG. Crash at Manston on July 6, 1944.

The crew of West End after the crash at Manston on July 6, 1944.

B-17G “Fifty Packin Mama”.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Fifty Packin Mama" 42-31452 with Russian soldiers loading the B-17 with bombs before a mission. Delivered Cheyenne 2 November 1943; Denver 7 November 1943; Cheyenne 20 November 1943; Gr Island 25 November 1943; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 25 December 1943; Missing in Action Ploesti 22 July 1944 with Norman Austin, Co-pilot: John Holt, Navigator: George Mullen, Bombardier: Fred Decker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Doyle Carson, Ball turret gunner: Ken Baldwin, Waist gunner: Alf Pinter, Waist gunner: Ray Wylie,Tail gunner: Hubert Cagle (9 Prisoners of War); Radio Operator: Carl Jones (Killed in Action); flak, #3 engine out, crashed Zimicea, Rumania; Missing Air Crew Report 6949. 

Boeing B-17G-45-DL Flying Fortress 44-6200. Delivered Tulsa 29 May 1944; Hunter 23 June 1944; Dow Fd 3 July 1944; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 12 July 1944; 56 missions then returned to the USA Bradley 25 June 1945; Sth Plains 27 June 1945; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 27 November 1945.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress of the 306th Bombardment Group, England, 1944–1945.

Boeing B-17G-70-DL 44-6954 "Liquid-8-or" CC-F of the 390th BG/570th BS. Survived the war and returned to the US.

Boeing B-17G-65-BO Flying Fortress 43-37516 "Tondelayo" of the 492nd BG with ground crew preparing C-2 Leaflet Bombs, fitted with AN-1650 Barometric Fuses, known to the aircrews as "Nickels". A similar case and fuse was used for incendiaries. In the summer of 1944 two planes from most groups carried "Nickels" and the crews weren’t happy to be risking their lives to drop paper. The German civilians loved them as they used the leaflets for toilet paper that was in very short supply! The first proposal to construct a special bomb with which to disperse airborne leaflets was put forward by British air force officers during World War II. The most successful "leaflet bomb" model of the war was the Monroe bomb, invented in 1943 by USAAF Captain James Monroe of the 305th Bombardment Group. It was developed from laminated paper containers that had been used to transport M-17 incendiary bombs.

Boeing B-17G-65-BO Flying Fortress 43-37516 "Tondelayo" of the 492nd BG. Photographed with members of the 472nd Sub Depot, 466th BG after making an emergency landing at Attlebridge. This aircraft was painted all black for night "carpetbagger" operations with the 492nd/801st BG.

Boeing B-17G-65-BO Flying Fortress 43-37516 "Tondelayo" of the 492nd BG.

B-17G 42-102547  "Rose of York".

Boeing B-17G-85-BO Flying Fortress 43-38412, 306th Bombardment Group, Heavy. This bomber survived the war and was placed in storage at Kingman, Arizona, 5 December 1945.

B-17G Flying Fortress carrying two external bombs.

B-17G 42-102547 with the name "Princess Elizabeth" but that did not meet with any official approval. (There were concerns about the propaganda value to the enemy, and the effect on civilian morale, should the bomber named for a member of the Royal Family be lost in combat.) The aircraft was renamed "Rose of York" instead and was christened by the Princess on her royal visit to the airfield.

B-17G 42-102547 "Rose of York" at RAF Molesworth, 6 July 1944.

Boeing B-17G-65-BO Flying Fortress 43-37516 "Tondelayo" of the 492nd BG with the Aber crew.

Boeing (Douglas) B-17G Flying Fortress, CC-F, 44-6954, 569 BS/390 BG, USAAF, Leiden - Valkenburg, Netherlands, circa April-May 1945. The last winter of the war left the western half of the Netherlands in German hands, with a starving population cut off from food supplies. On 28 April 1945 the Germans agreed to food droppings by Allied bombers. Taken towards the sea, this picture shows Valkenburg airfield. Reportedly named Liquid-8-Or, 44-6954 was scrapped at Kingman, Arizona in November 1945. Delivered Hunter 28 December 1944; Grenier 6 January 1945; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-F] Framlingham 12 January 1945; Returned to the USA Bradley 2 June 1945; Sth Plains 13 June 1945; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 30 November 1945.

Boeing B-17G-65-BO Flying Fortress 43-37516 "Tondelayo" of the 492nd BG. Painted all black for night "carpetbagger" operations with the 492nd/801st BG.

490th Bomb Group B-17G warming up engines.

490th BG B-17G “Goin’ My Way”, 43-38865

A nice in-flight picture of 490th BG B-17G “£5 With Breakfast”.

490th BG B-17G “Alice Blue Gown”, serial number 43-38400

447th BG Flying Fortress 42-38052 was a B-17G-25-DL build by Douglas at Long Beach. Here she carries the name “Lucky Stehley Boy”, she was later renamed “Hotshot Green”. On 02NOV44 she was hit by flak while attacking the oil refinery at Leuna, Germany. The aircraft dropped out of formation. Her Navigator, Second Lieutenant Robert E. Femoyer was seriously wounded but refused morphine so he could chart the bomber’s return. He died of his wounds shortly after returning to his home field, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. 42-38052 was repaired and returned to duty.

447th BG B-17G 42-97976 "Bit o’ Lace".

447th BG B-17G 42-97976 "Bit o’ Lace".

490th BG B-17G “Joyce”, 75 Ops. Dispersal beside fuel dump.  Serial number unknown.

490th BG B-17G “Looky Looky”, 44-6893.

490th BG B-17G “Love ‘Em! All”, 44-8698.

447th BG B-17G 42-97976 "Bit o’ Lace".

The tail gun position from the exterior.  Formation lights are installed below the guns, which are fitted with aluminum flash hiders.  Movement of the tail guns was obviously limited, firing arcs were not improved until the design of the Cheyenne tail turret for the B-17G.

A similar photograph but a later variant, this is B-17G-60-BO serial number 42-102955.  This aircraft was later assigned to the 510th Bomb Squadron / 351st Bomb Group and given the name “Chatterbox II” by her crew.  The bombardier’s chair is now an “office” style and is unarmored.  It rests upon the circular housing for the Bendix chin turret which he controls.  To the right and left are the Navigator’s .50 cal cheek guns with their plywood ammo boxes mounted on the floor to the right.  The Navigator’s table, also made of plywood, is in the lower left corner.  There is no acoustical insulation installed forward of the bulkhead.

The interior of a B-17G nose section looking aft.  Plywood ammunition boxes for the cheek guns are to the left, the Bombardier’s control panel is to the right.  The sides of the compartment are unpainted aluminum, but the rear bulkhead is covered with Olive Drab or Dark Green canvas, part of the acoustical batting to help reduce noise in the cockpit.

B-17G 42-102955 again, the photographer has pivoted to the left to show the Navigator’s plywood table and the front side of the bulkhead, which displays the dark Olive Drab canvas covering.  The inside of the aircraft’s Aluminum skin is covered in the Alcoa Aluminum Company’s stenciling, identifying the sheet metal used on the airframe as ALCLAD 24S-1.

A color shot of Lt. Bob Welty posing inside a B-17G after returning Stateside.  This photograph is interesting as it shows the interior of a “Mickey” aircraft which carries an AN/APS-15 radar in place of the Sperry ball turret.  These were used as pathfinders when the target was obscured by overcast.  The receiver equipment was mounted in the Radio Compartment forward of the bulkhead.

490th BG B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed “Buggs Bunny”, serial number unknown.

490th BG B-17G “The Wish Bone”, 42-38058.

490th BG B-17G “Big Poison”, 43-37894.

Serial 42-102668 was a 447th BG Boeing-built B-17G-55-BO named “Cock O’ The Sky” by her crew. She completed 119 missions and also survived the War.

Boeing B-17G "Fearless F".

This is the cockpit area of a B-17G before the pilot and co-pilot’s seats are installed, giving an excellent view of the instruments and control layout. 

490th BG B-17G Flying Fortress 44-8698 “Love ‘Em All” on take off.

An impressive scoreboard on 490 BG B-17G Flying Fortress 43-37907 nicknamed “Carolina Moon”.

490th BG B-17G Flying Fortress 44-8158 “Bobby Sox”.

490th BG B-17G “£5 With Breakfast”, 43-38728.

B-17G-105-VE serial number 44-85790 was purchased by a Mr. Art Lacey and displayed above his gas station / restaurant in Milwaukie Oregon.  In 2014 the aircraft was purchased by the B-17 Alliance Foundation and is currently being restored to airworthy condition as “Lacey Lady”.  It is a late-production Vega Fortress and is of interest because it remained unrestored, a virtual time capsule.  This is the interior of the port wheelwell looking aft.  While the skin of the nacelle is unpainted aluminum, the rear bulkhead and internal structural components have been primed.  (Photograph by Steve Heeb)

Kodachrome reveals a trait of wartime olive drab paint — it faded quickly in the sun to a shade of tan, as seen on this Eighth Air Force B-17G in England. The cheek window machine gun mount was a later addition, hence its paint is much different from the old original olive drab-turned-tan.

A B-17G bombardier identified as Captain Bonnett poses at his station.  The device leaning to the right is the control for the Bendix chin turret.  Note the details of the seat and lap belt.  There is no acoustical insulation installed on the sides of the nose compartment, the Alcoa sheet aluminum product stenciling is clearly visible.

Princess Elizabeth at the dedication ceremony for this Boeing B-17G of the 306th Bomb Group, which was named "Rose of York" in her honor. The aircraft was later lost after a mission to Berlin when it crashed into the North Sea. (USAF)

Boeing B-17G-50-VE (44-8167) of the 15th Air Force, 2nd Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Squadron, during an in-flight bomb drop. (USAF)

B-17G-50-DL 44-6405 "Big Yank" flew 50 missions with the 840th Bomb Squadron, 483rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force out of Sterparone, Italy. Was later used to fly personnel to England for the trip home and then was converted to an Air-Sea Rescue plane. She was returned to the states and scrapped at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas in Dec. 1945.

B-17G-45-BO 42-97267/ Tomahawk Warrior/535 BS/381 BG. 20mm cannon shells from German fighters knocked out 2 engines,the overstrain on the other 2 finished them off after making it back to England. This aircraft was later destroyed when it exploded on the ground at the 381st BG's base at Ridgewell on April 26,1945. (USAF)

B-17G-105-BO 43-39119. Modified to carry and air launch two Republic JB-2 Loons, a copy of the German V-1.

B-17G Fortresses of the US 15th Air Force trailing condensation trails amid anti-aircraft flak bursts during the bombing run over Graz, Austria, 4 March 1945.

Boeing B-17G of the 95th Bomb Group in 1944.

B-17G Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are escorted by a P-51B of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Summer-Fall 1944.

Boeing B-17G-50-BO 42-102452/AW-R of the 96th Bomb Group, 337th Bomb Squadron. (USAF)

B-17G-85-BO 43-38459 from the 418th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Lost on December 31,1944 during a mission to Hamburg, Germany when attacked by fighters. They made a forced landing 4 km North of Emden, Germany.

Boeing B-17G-1-VE 42-39801 "Northern Queen" of the 94th Bomb Group, 332rd Bomb Squadron. This aircraft was lost on March 4, 1944 mission to Berlin. (USAF)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress nose.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress nose.

Boeing B-17G-30 Flying Fortress (42-38091) built by Douglas at Long Beach, California.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress tail gun installation.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-97245).

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-97245).

B-17G Flying Fortresses at Boeing factory undergoing final inspection and test flights before delivery.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 43-38118.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Nose of B-17G with bombardier sighting the chin turret.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress cheek gun installation in nose.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress top turret.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress top turret.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress cheek gun installation on nose.

The prototype Sperry ball turret. It covered the blind spot below and, although cramped, was by far the best ventral gun position of the war.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress ball turret.

Ball turret entry and exit was through this tiny armored door, although normally it would be cranked up inside the aircraft. The gunner did not occupy the ball turret during takeoffs and landings.

Showing method of entry into the ball turret of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress while on the ground.

Tail gun installation as carried by early models of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

The Cheyenne tail gun installation carried on later models of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. This installation improved the gunner’s visibility and field of fire.

Crew chief inspecting minor shrapnel damage near observation window on early model B-17G, “Swamp Fire,” 379th Bomb Group, with at least 90 mission markings.

Typical application of aircraft model data, serial number, crew weight and fuel specification on the nose of a B-17. The number 92263 below the word “serial” is the factory project number for this aircraft. Color of stenciled lettering was matte black. Female decoration was unapproved officially but much approved unofficially!

B-17G, 43-37552, “The Peacemaker,” 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, with 34 mission markings on nose.

While nose art was frequently of the ‘girlie’ type, it depended more on the predilections of the aircraft captain. The pilot of ‘Hard Seventeen’ appears to have been a gamblin’ man.

B-17Gs of Pathfinder squadrons were sometimes detached to fly with another group and used that organization’s marking. This example is a 94th Bomb Group aircraft with 385th Bomb Group tail insignia.

Line-up of 401st Bomb Group Fortresses shows variation in position of triangle marking. SC-N was formerly IY-N of sister squadron (erased codes can be made out ahead of national marking).

B-17G “Ruby’s Raiders,” named after Cpl. Ruby Newell, winner of the Stars & Stripes most beautiful WAC in England contest.

This 339th Bomb Squadron B 17G (42 32045, QJ-R) illustrates the great variation in aircraft lettering. Code QJ was often staggered as shown. Individual letter R is much smaller than letters of squadron code.

A typical load against Germany was ten 500 pound bombs, seen here being fitted with their fins prior to loading.

Flying gear was heavy and cumbersome, and while often much of it was not donned until after takeoff, a frosty English pre-dawn sees this crew well wrapped up before climbing aboard.

390th Bomb Group B-17G (44-6134WW, ??-D), veteran of 101 missions with War Weary suffix to tail number. Red nose band identifies 568th Bomb Squadron.

Eighth Air Force commander General Jimmy Doolittle (far right) talks to a weather reconnaissance crew on their return. Second from left is Flying Officer Eldridge, an RAF weather observer.

According to the tail number (485818) the plane corresponds to series number 44-85818, and should be a Lockheed/Vega B-17G-110-VE Flying Fortress, manufactured in 1945 by Lockheed’s Vega division in Burbank, California. It belongs to the last batch of B-17s ever manufactured. However, it lacks the “chin” turret and the “cheek” machine guns of the last F-series and the full G-series. The ventral turret is not the standard Sperry. Instead of it, the equipment in the ventral position looks like a dome for communications or radar equipment. On the other hand, consistently with its block number (110-VE) it has no camouflage paint. USAAF did not normally alter serial numbers, so this may be a modified B-17G.

H2X ground mapping radar, fitted in a retractable dome in the nose compartment, allowed blind bombing through cloud. This was an experimental installation.

Natural metal finish aircraft usually had unit marking in black as on this 99th Bomb Group B-17G-50-DL (44-6430) with damaged bomb bay door.

B-17G, 44-6915, 379th Bomb Group.

First bright color markings on 8th Air Force B-17s were those of the 1st Combat Wing in July 1944. This 398th Bomb Group pathfinder, with radome in place of ball turret, has yellow serial and tail letter. Olive Drab anti-glare apron extends from rear gunner’s windows to tail gun opening.

A 385th Bomb Group Fortress with yellow chevron of 4th Combat Wing and yellow propeller bosses of 550th Bomb Squadron. Aircraft previously served with another group whose tail markings were over sprayed with Olive Drab. New markings are in yellow with the exception of the white rectangle and blue letter G.

The B-17G (seen here is 43-38045) was the definitive Flying Fortress, differing from the B-17F in having the Bendix chin turret as pioneered by the YB-40, cheek gun positions in the nose cabin, and enclosed waist gun positions.

Tail gunners seem rarely to have carried cameras, which makes this view of B-17Gs of the Fifteenth Air Force setting out from their Italian base the more interesting.

Lockheed P-38 Lightnings escorting Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group late in 1943.

Rockets burst near a B-17G bomber as Messerschmitt Me 410s (lower left and lower right) make frontal attacks.

A large hole through her fin making control difficult. “Boche Buster” of the 401st Bomb Group breaks formation to seek safety in neutral Sweden, 7 October 1944.

Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group leave contrails emblazoned across the sky, while two fighters hurtle across them high above.

Flames streaming from the starboard wing and separated from its formation, a Fortress is remorselessly hunted down by a Fw 190 after raiding the aircraft plant at Oschersleben.

The sliding dorsal hatch of the radio compartment shows up well in this vertical shot of a 457th Bomb Group aircraft.

The 91st Bomb Group unloads over Berlin on smoke markers dropped by lead aircraft in February 1945. The nearest aircraft is a late model B-17G, with the taller dorsal turret.

Sequence of gun camera photos showing a rear attack by a German interceptor on an American B-17G.

The Luftwaffe pilot closed to point-blank range, hitting the B-17’s left wing, setting the engines on fire, and knocking pieces from the tail.

The gun barrels of the chin and ball turrets can be seen tracking other enemy fighters as each image is viewed in succession.

The German fighter continues to close in, as flames and smoke engulf the port inboard engine.

“Pie Slice” marking of 463rd Bomb Group on B-17G (42-31684). Such large personal decorations as JOKER were not usually tolerated by Command.

B-17s bomb Berlin through heavy clouds. An engine of the B-17 at top has been hit and set afire by flak.

This photo of a Flying Fortress streaming contrails at high altitude with bomb bay doors open ready to drop its load on a target has been claimed to be of various aircraft. One claim is that of Michael G. Fulmer, who believes it is “Mon Tete Rouge” (My Red Head, named after the pilot’s wife), the pilot being Mike’s father, Capt. Harold G. Fulmer. “Mon Tete Rouge” was a B-17G, 42-31331, 381st Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, 3rd Division, Eighth Air Force. Mike’s father flew her on eight missions, and on the next mission another crew was assigned to this aircraft while theirs was undergoing repairs. The aircraft went down over Berlin with that crew on 8 March 1944, the pilot survived the war.

Mike Fulmer’s father, Capt. Harold Fulmer, in front of “Mon Tete Rouge.” Partially visible in the upper left corner is the arm and red hair of the pilot’s wife, vividly portrayed just below the navigator’s windows.

B-17G “Mon Tete Rouge” over target. Note two groups of explosions.

Tempelhof airfield in Berlin can be seen near the right wingtip of “Mon Tete Rouge” as it lines up on its primary target.

Capt. Fulmer in front of B-17G “Mon Tete Rouge II” in natural metal finish. No female figure was painted on this aircraft. Captain Fulmer finished his combat tour in this aircraft and it was ferried back to the Air Force “boneyard” in Arizona after the war.

Bombs fall toward the target on Lille steel and locomotive works during a daylight attack.

B-17G, 42-97562, D, 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, PFF aircraft, after crash landing, date/location unknown.

The ‘Cheyenne’ tail position, seen here on this 457th Bomb Group Fortress (43-37785), gave an improved arc of fire and field of view for the gunner.

The 379th Bomb Group returns to base at Kimbolton after a raid on Germany.

The 91st Bomb Group returns to base at Bassingbourn after a sortie.

B-17G, 43-38158, “Smashing Time,” 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, after belly landing in a field on the Continent.

Another view of the B-17G, 43-38158, “Smashing Time,” 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, after belly landing in a field on the Continent.

The Norden bombsight is carefully shrouded in the nose of “Marishka,” a B-17G of the 97th Bomb Group, seen here at Amendola, Italy, in 1944, with a wounded crew member being removed.

Bombs go down on the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory near Bremen. Attacks on German aircraft production were given priority at an early stage of the American daylight bombing campaign.

View of replacement B-17Gs, alongside fields of hay being harvested.

As ground crew work on engine maintenance and cleaning .50 caliber machine guns on the chin turret of a B-17G, a neighboring English farm wife herd her ducks away from the plane.

A formation of B-17s leave contrails in the skies over occupied Europe.

Maintenance on a B-17G.

An AAF cameraman taking routine bomb-drop pictures over Germany recorded instead this freak accident. Just as the B-17 released its bombs, another Fortress wandered into the path of another bomber’s bombs.

The 1,000-pound bombs were from Lt. John Winslett’s B-17G-30-VE, “Trudy” (42-97791), 332nd Bomb Squadron. “Trudy” was damaged by a bird strike on 11 December 1944 while returning to her base at RAF Bury St. Edmund.

This accident occurred on Mission 358 to Berlin, 19 May 1944. The lower B-17G was “Miss Donna Mae II” (42-31540), 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group (the square ‘A’ is visible on the tail in the second photo); Lt. Marion Ulysses Reid, pilot; his body was recovered and re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 April 1949.

Reid’s plane dropped to 13,000 feet and the stress on the aircraft tore a wing off. As the Fortress disappeared into the clouds, no chutes were seen. All eleven crew members were killed. When this photo was released to the press, it incorrectly claimed the plane returned to base, ahead of the other aircraft.

Another B-17 on a different mission suffers a bomb strike on its starboard elevator/stabilizer.

The right tailplane of this 91st Bomb Group B-17 was knocked off by a ‘friendly’ bomb over Bremen in June 1943, but managed to make it back home.

Wreck of Boeing B-17 (43-38522) at an air base somewhere in Iceland. 2nd Service Group, 14 September 1944.

Wreck of Boeing B-17G (43-38522) at an air base somewhere in Iceland. 2nd Service Group, 14 September 1944.

Just how small the tail cabin really was can be gauged from the size of the figures alongside this crashed B-17G.

Unusual view of the interior of a Fortress fuselage, courtesy of the German anti-aircraft artillery, showing the circular cross-section which made the B-17 such a strong aircraft. Just visible to the left is the starboard waist gun position with its enclosing transparency, while the man standing on the ground occupies the space once taken by the ball turret, which has either been blown away or jettisoned. Above him can be seen the ball turret suspension gear. Hit on 27 September 1944, this B-17G returned safely to base.

A radio operator ruefully surveys the wreckage of his station after a near miss by flak.

This B-17 brought a dead ball turret gunner back from a mission over Germany. The flak shell that killed him burst with such force that it bent one of the turret’s guns. Although flak knocked down far fewer bombers than did enemy fighters, the American crewmen hated flak more, because they had no way to fight back at the anti-aircraft gunners on the ground.

Sketch of wounded bomber crewman receiving first aid inside a B-17, by war artist Lawrence Smith.

Sketch of a casualty being placed on a stretcher while other members of the crew look on, by war artist Lawrence Smith.

Crew of a B-17G.

A sergeant puts the finishing touches on his solid wood model of a B-17G, “Dina.” England.

The 379th Bomb Group lost 141 aircraft missing in action, but despite extensive flak damage to the nose this Fortress was not one of them.

B-17G-70-BO (43-37716), BX-H, “5 Grand,” 96th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, England.

B-17G-70-BO (43-37716), BX-H, “5 Grand,” 96th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, England. She got the name “5 Grand” at the factory due to her being the 5,000th B-17 to roll off Boeing’s Seattle factory floor. She went to England and had to make a belly landing due to hydraulic failure before even flying a mission. She was repaired and assigned to the 96th Bomb Group, flying 78 combat missions with all of the Boeing employees signatures still on her. After the war she returned to the U.S. and was scrapped at Kingman, Arizona.

A crew chief with a fire extinguisher watches closely for signs of fire as a B-17 is started at a base in England.

Aerial view of same B-17Gs awaiting to be sent as replacements to Eighth Air Force units.

Another aerial view of replacement B-17Gs waiting at a depot in England.

Brand-new replacement B-17G bombers waiting to be sent to their units in England.

B-17G, OR-W, 32nd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force.

Another view of B-17G, OR-W, 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force.

When the B-17G-35-VE (42-97880), DF-F, “Little Miss Mischief” belly landed at her home base in April 1945 after a mission over Germany, she jammed her chin turrets, ripped her aluminum skin and bent her props—the latter was caused by coming in with “power on.” Jacked up by inflating large rubber bladders inserted under the wing panels, the aircraft has been set down on a pair of caterpillar treads—pieces of reverse land lease. All usable equipment was salvaged, including the bullet-proof windshields in the pilot’s cockpit. 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force.

B-17G, Fifteenth Air Force, dropping fragmentation bombs on German positions along the Eighth Army front in Italy.

Bombardier in the nose of his B-17G, Eighth Air Force, England.

Another view of the bombardier in the nose of his B-17G, Eighth Air Force, England.

B-17G, VE-N (43-37675) and VE-O (42-107112), 532nd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, over England.

Pilot in the cockpit of the B-17G (42-97061), LL-B, “General Ike,” 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, England.

Cpl. Tony Starcer, 91st BG resident artist painting B-17 “General Ike” at Bassingbourn, England, 1944.

Formation of B-17G Flying Fortresses, 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, over England.

Pilots of a B-17G study a map of their course deep inside Germany.

Formation of B-17G Flying Fortresses, Eighth Air Force, over England.

B-17G, VP-V (43-37791), 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, over England.

A USAAF captain points out features of a B-17G to RAF air training cadets at a base in England.

Refueling a B-17G.

Crew of B-17G (43-37704), “Button Nose,” 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 1st Air Division, Eighth Air Force, examine map of their route to the target somewhere in Europe. This aircraft was lost on 8 August 1944 during a ground support mission to Cauvicourt, France. She was damaged by anti-aircraft and set on fire, crash landing near the British lines close to Caen. The entire crew returned to base safely the next day.

Crew of B-17G-55-BO (42-102700), QW-Z, “I’ll Get By,” 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, arrive at their plane by jeep, July 1944. Shot down on 2 August 1944 tactical bombing mission to the Caen, France area, all but three crew members were killed. Plane was hit in the wing by flak, knocking off the wing tip. The plane veered to left and caught fire, then exploded. They were flying as deputy lead crew for this mission.

Drum-head service led by a Catholic padre, at a B-17 Flying Fortress base in England, prior to the crew’s setting out on a daylight attack on a German target in Europe.

B-17G-70-BO Fortress ( 43-37683), of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group, at RAF Snetterton Heath, England.

Officers and men are instructed by the correct procedure when ditching a B-17.

B-17G (44-83575) restored to military configuration and flying as 42-31909, a B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress named “Nine-O-Nine” of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, one of two longest-serving B-17s of the 91st Bomb Group; the original “Nine-O-Nine” was scrapped after World War II in Kingman, Arizona. B-17G 44-83575 was built too late for the war and was for a time used as a civilian fire bomber.

Ground crew installing new engine on a B-17.

B-17s of 570th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group, over target.

B-17G (42-38084) began its career with 348th Bomb Squadron …

… and after major repair was sent to the 429th Bomb Squadron in the 2nd Bomb Group. It flew over 100 missions before the end of hostilities.

Not all losses were fatal. Damaged by fighters, this B-17G of the 96th Bomb Group force-landed in Denmark. Aided by the resistance, the entire crew escaped to Sweden.

View from top turret of a B-17.

B-17G of 390th Bomb Group.

340th Bomb Squadron B-17G in the 15th Air Force following the introduction of the Triangle Y marking. Squadron O is now black on a white disc background.

B-17G, “Scheherazade.”

Nose art of B-17G, “Scheherazade.”

A common practice on all U.S. combat aircraft was the painting of air crew names at a position adjacent to their station. Lieutenant Snell was co-pilot of this 837th Bomb Squadron B-17G at the time this photo was taken.

B-17G, PH-Z, with H2X radar dome in place of ball turret.

A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-97915) of the 2nd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, forced down over Rumania, July 1943.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, ??-I.

B-17G (42-97272), “Duchess’ Daughter,” BN-T, 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 5 July 1944.

B-17G, “Paper Dollie,” VK-K (red codes), 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Molesworth, May 1944.

B-17G “Ikky Poo” of the 95th Bomb Group.

B-17, 43-39486, Morotai.

There were many individual squadron marking practices. In 838th Bomb Squadron, chin turrets of some B-17Gs were painted red and the aircraft letter painted in white thereon.

The Norden bombsight (just visible here) became as famous for its secrecy as it did for its accuracy. In the early days of Fortress operations, it was found that course corrections by each individual aircraft on the bomb run when flying close formation posed a collision hazard, and from then on, only the bombardier in the lead aircraft sighted; the rest of the aircraft dropped in unison with him. Most bombardiers became known as toggelers, as all they had to do was press the button when the leader’s bombs went down.

P-51 Mustangs escort B-17G, 42-38201, “2nd Patches,” 346th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, on a Fifteenth Air Force shuttle mission to Russia. The long reach of the American fighter transformed American deep penetration missions. Italy, 1944.

B-17Gs of 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

B-17G flying thorough heavy flak as seen from the waist position of another B-17.

B-17Gs, 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, with a P-51 “Little Friend.”

B-17s in formation over England headed for the Continent.

B-17G, 42-31669, VK-J, “Shoo Shoo Baby,” 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group.

B-17G-95-BO, 43-38719, “Blue Hen Chick,” 709th Bomb Squadron, 447th Bomb Group. Flew 67 combat missions and returned to the U.S.

B-17G-95-BO, 43-38719, “Blue Hen Chick.” Note H2X radar dome in place of ball turret.

Crewmen of the B-17 “Peacemaker” view flak damage to the port wing after returning to England. 91st Bomb Group.

B-17Gs with Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Nearest B-17 has H2X bombing radar in place of belly turret.

B-17G, PU-A, 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, attacking Cologne with GB-1 glide bombs, a standoff bombing technique that was not very successful. 28 May 1944.

B-17G, 43-3755, 615th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group. Crew examines damage from flak.

B-17G, 42-37875, “Flying Bison,” aka “Empress of ‘D’ Street,” 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, over Oschersleben, 11 January 1944. The cloud of smoke is from a disintegrating B-17.

“Nine-O-Nine” was a Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress heavy bomber, of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, that completed 140 combat missions during World War II, believed to be the Eighth Air Force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew it. A ground crewman paints another bombing mission marking on the nose.

B-17s, 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. VK-F nearest camera, VK-E and VK-L in background, left to right. 8 January 1945.

Crew of a B-17G. Note the waist gun hatch window.

Crew of a B-17G. Note variation of waist gun hatch window.

B-17Gs, 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. VK-F nearest camera, bombs away. 8 January 1945.

B-17Gs, 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. BN-V nearest camera, after dropping their bombs, bomb bay doors still open. 27 August 1944.

B-17Gs, 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. PU-Q nearest camera in full view. 29 January 1945.

Ground crew checks out B-17 with new chin turret to prevent frontal attacks, 18 December 1943.

B-17G of 5th Bomb Wing’s 99th Bomb Group. Aircraft was originally camouflaged, but has several sections replaced by natural metal portions, probably taken from other aircraft no longer flyable.

B-17G, 42-102557, ??-Y.

B-17s, 457th Bomb Group, lead by two radar-equipped planes, bomb their target.

B-17G, VE-?, “Happy Bottom.”

B-17s with some “Little Friends” watching over them.

B-17G, 42-97991.

B-17s on bombing run.

B-17G, “Bloated Body.” Note “Dotty’s Darling” on rear of chin turret.

B-17G, “Bloody Bucket.”

B-17G, “Chute the Works.”

B-17G, “Ground Pounder.”

B-17G, “L’il Eight Ball.”

B-17G, “Miss Spent-Youth.”

B-17G, “Stormy Weather.”

B-17G, “The Black Brassiere.”

B-17G, “Rose of York,” with King, Queen, Princess, General Doolittle, and aircraft crew.

B-17G, “Rose of York,” with Princess and aircraft crew.

B-17G, “Rose of York,” with Princess, officers, and aircraft crew.

B-17G, “Rose of York,” with Princess and officers.

B-17G, “Thumper!”

B-17Gs above the overcast on D-Day morning, 6 June 1944.

Boeing B-17G formation bomb drop. Closest aircraft (SO-H) is B-17G-70-DL (S/N 44-6898) of the 384th Bomb Group, 547th Bomb Squadron.

Captured Boeing B-17, Zirkus Rosarius.

B-17G-15-BO Wee Willie, 322nd BS, 91st BG, after direct flak hit on her 128th mission.

Crashed Boeing B-17G Flying  Fortress as another comes in for a landing after a mission.

Crew with Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

B-17s of the 401st Bomb Group, Deenethorpe Airfield England, 12 January 1945. Boeing B-17G-80-BO Flying Fortress Serial 43-338077 is in foreground; the 401st Bomb Group Association web site identifies this aircraft as assigned to 615th Squadron and as having had two nicknames at different times: "Tagalong " and "Duke's Mixture."

B-17s, possibly at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma City, 1944.

Bombing of airdrome at Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, by Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 15th Air Force on 24 August 1944. One of the "Fortresses" is shown leaving the scene of destruction.

Slugging Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force attacked the Pardubice Airdrome in Czechoslovakia, on 24 August 1944, rendering the field unserviceable. A formation drops its load of fragmentation bombs on the target.

Hard-hitting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force drop their load of fragmentation bombs on the Pardubice Airdrome in Czechoslovakia, on 24 August 1944.

Boeing (Douglas) B-17G Flying Fortress, 42-37751, XK-P, 365 BS/305 BG, USAAF. Tollebeek/Zuidermiddenweg Area, Netherlands, 8 October 1943. This bomber had a typical short career. Built by Douglas at Long Beach, it was delivered to Denver on 7 August 1943, and assigned to 365th BS at RAF Chelveston on 16 September. Shot up by Luftwaffe fighters while returning from raid against Bremen on 8 October and crash-landed in the Noordoostpolder, an area then just reclaimed from the sea. The crew survived.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, "Hi-Blower", 44-6827, +G, USAAF, Kingman, Arizona, USA, 8 February 1947.

An airman of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group with B-17G-50-VE (Vega) 44-8146. 41 missions. Delivered Dallas 20/6/44; Langley 6/7/44; Dow Fd 7/9/44; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 9/9/44; Salvaged 9AF Germany 28/2/46; RetUS, 613 BU Phillips 29/4/46. 

B-17G-1-DL 42-3483 MI-A “Chopstick A-Able” 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group. Delivered Denver 20/6/43; Rome 7/8/43; Assigned with H2S 812BS/482BG [MI-A] Alconbury 10/43; 384BG Grafton Underwood 14/4/44; transferred 401BG Deenethorpe 17/4/44; became radio-relay with 8th Fighter Command 22/7/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 12/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 30/12/45.

B-17G-1-DL 42-3483 MI-A “Chopstick A-Able” 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group,  spring 1944 before taking off from Alconbury airfield.

B-17G-1-DL 42-3483 MI-A “Chopstick A-Able” 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group,  spring 1944 before taking off from Alconbury airfield.

B-17G 42-37931 “Bertie Lee” on the ground having force landed at RAF Waltham, near Grimsby, Lincs.  Delivered Denver 13/10/43; Gr Island 5/11/43; Bangor 7/11/43; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-D] Chelveston 5/1/44; damaged on Stettin mission 12/4/44 with Ed Michael (Wounded in Action), Co-pilot: Franklin Westburg, Bombardier: John Leiber (3 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Meredith Calvert, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jewel Phillips, Radio Operator: Rynold Evans, Ball turret gunner: Fred Wilkins, Waist gunner: Tony Russo, Waist gunner: Arthur Kosino, Tail gunner: Clarry Luce (7 Prisoner of War); flak hits set plane ablaze and most crew bailed out, however survivors salvoed bombs, limped home at treetop height and crash landed at RAF Waltham, near Grimsby, Lincs; Salvaged. 2 SAD. Pilot received MOH.

A 457th Bomb Group B-17G 42-32098 during the Berlin mission of Feb. 3, 1945.