RCAF Boeing Flying Fortresses

The RCAF acquired six used B-17E and F aircraft from the United States in 1943. Stripped of all armament and armor, the aircraft were employed by the RCAF's No. 168 Squadron on a trans-Atlantic mail service vital to the morale of overseas forces. The aircraft were progressively modified and improved for service in this transport role, and some aircraft were subsequently stripped of paint and appeared in a polished, bare metal finish. No. 168 Squadron delivered more than two million pounds of mail between December 1943 and March 1946.

According to an article by Dave O’Malley, the RCAF purchased six used Boeing B-17E and B-17F Flying Fortresses from the USAAC and ferried them to Rockcliffe, with five flying in over three weeks in December and the sixth in February of 1944.  The Rockcliffe Flying Fortresses were the only B-17s ever in the direct employ of the RCAF, and they were given the standard RCAF four-digit serial numbers common in the Second World War, using a block of numbers from Serial No. 9202 to Serial No. 9207.  Although the RCAF had never operated Flying Fortresses before, Canadians were no strangers to four-engine bomber operation.  Canadians serving in RAF Bomber Command served as aircrews on Handley Page Halifax, Avro Lancaster and Short Stirling heavy bombers, as well as Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and Short Sunderland flying boats with Coastal Command, and many were flying in all B-17 crew positions, attached to Fortress units of the Royal Air Force’s Bomber and Coastal Commands.

When the first of these former training Fortresses arrived at Rockcliffe in the first week of December 1943, they were somewhat clapped out and still carried their defensive weapons, American markings and serial numbers.  They underwent immediate changes that saw the removal of the features that earned them the name Flying Fortress, specifically, their machine guns.  Flying across the Atlantic Ocean to places like Morocco, England, Cairo and Italy meant that the chance of being attacked over open water by a German marauder was negligible, and now, with North Africa secured by the Allies, the only enemy aircraft with the range to find them were also four-engined patrol bombers like the FW200 Condor.  Subtracting the weight of the machine guns, their turrets and the gunners meant more mail or additional fuel could be carried, thus increasing the effectiveness of each mission. 

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II (3) (Serial Nos. 9205-9207), and Mk. IIA (9202-9204) (3) for a total of six aircraft.

In late 1943, Canada purchased 6 used B-17’s (3 B-17E & 4 TB-17F’s) from the USAAF for use with 168 (Heavy Transport) squadron based at Rockcliffe, Ontario. These aircraft were to replace the squadron’s eleven Lockheed Lodestars in the long-range transport of mail to Canadian troops based in Europe and Africa. By the time the squadron closed down in 3 March 1946, these B-17s had accomplished two hundred and forty Atlantic crossings and transported close to four million pounds of mail.

RCAF B-17 Serial No	Code	Original Designation	Squadron
9202	TB-17-30DLF	43-3160	168 (HT) Squadron
9203	TB-17F-45VE	42-6101	168 (HT) Squadron
9204	TB-17F-50DL	43-3369	168 (HT) Squadron
9205	QAB-17E-BO	41-9142	168 (HT) and 9 (T) Squadrons
9206	QBB-17E-BO	41-2438	168 (HT) Squadron
9207	B-17E-BO	41-2581	168 (HT) Squadron

9207 was ex-USAAF B-17E-BO (Serial No. 41-2581). It was ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. 9207 was taken on strength on 2 February 1944, and flown by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, for mail flights to Europe. It was seen to climb steeply and stall and spin under full power, shortly after take off from Prestwick for Canada, on 2 April 1944. 9207 was destroyed by a post impact fire. There were five fatalities. No official cause of crash was found, but a report theorizes that cargo shifted in flight shortly after takeoff. The aircraft did not have final version of RCAF developed mail restraints installed.

The RCAF lost a considerable number of personnel flying on RAF Flying Fortresses during the Second World War.

 

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204), cn 8305, No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, ex USAAF B-17F-50-DL (Serial No. 42-3369).  This aircraft flew the first scheduled trans-Atlantic mail flight on 15 Dec 1943. (DND Archives Photo PL-23235)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204), cn 8305, No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe.  Mail for Canadian airmen and soldiers pours out of the Flying Fortress as the new RCAF Air Mail Transport Squadron goes into action with a regular service between Canada, the UK and the East.  Weeks will be cut off the former time schedule as the fleet of Flying Fortresses do their bit in making sure that the mail gets through. 23 Dec 1943. (RCAF Photo)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9206) cockpit view, 9 Oct 1944. 9206 was ex-USAAF B-17E-BO (Serial No. 41-2438). It was ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. It was taken on strength on 21 December 1943. Flown by by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, for mail flights to Europe. Fitted with flip down metal nose cone. By end of the war it flew in its natural metal finish, coded "QB". Sold, to Argentine civil registry as LC-RTO, used to carry beef. Reported scrapped in 1964. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3583531)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9202). No. 168 (HT) Squadron.  Leading Aircraftman Freemantle painting a mailbag symbol to indicate another overseas mail flight completed, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 9 May 1944. 9202 was an ex-USAAF B-17F-30-DL, (Serial N0. 42-3160.) Ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. The Mk. IIIA designation was unofficial. Taken on strength on 6 December 1943. Used by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, for mail flights to Europe and North Africa. Scheduled for first trans-Atlantic mission on 14 December 1943, went u/s and replaced by 9204. Flew first mission on 22 December 1943. Fitted with flip down metal nose cone. Flew load of penicillin to Prestwick in the UK on 19 October 1945, for delivery on to Warsaw by RCAF Dakota. This is most likely the first example of Canadian foreign aid being delivered by military aircraft. 9202 left Ottawa for Prestwick with another load on 31 October 1945. It crashed with the lost of five aircrew on Haller Egge, Eggerberg (near Muenster, Germany) at 13:30 local time on 4 November 1945. The aircraft had struck trees on high ground flying below bad weather en route to Poland with another load of medical supplies. The crew is commemorated on plaques in Warsaw and Ottawa. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3583263)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9202). No. 168 (HT) Squadron. (DND Archives Photo RE64-957)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9203), 168 (HT) Squadron, ground crew, Rockcliffe, 9 May 1944. 9203 was ex-USAAF B-17F-45-VE (Serial No. 42-6101). It was ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. 9203 was taken on strength on 6 December 1943. It was flown by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, for mail flights to Europe and Africa. The first squadron trip to Egypt was completed on 3 January 1944. 9203 was lost at sea between Morocco and the Azores with 5 crew and 3 passengers, only a few mail bags ever found. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3583262)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9203), No. 168 (HT) Squadron, 18 Jul 1944. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3232310)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9203), No. 168 (HT) Squadron, preparing to take off. 9203 departed Rabat Sale, Morocco for Maison Blanche, Algeria at 10:45 hours on 26 December 1943. The aircraft arrived back at Prestwick, Scotland from the Middle East on 11 January 1944. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3205814)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204),  No. 168 (Heavy Transport) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ottawa, Ontario, circa 1944. 9204 was ex-USAAF B-17F-50-DL (Serial No. 42-3369). It was ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. 9204 was flown by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, for mail flights to Europe. 9204 flew the first scheduled trans-Atlantic mission by this unit, leaving Rockcliffe on 15 December 1943. It was weathered in at Dorval, Quebec, until 17 December, and at Gander, Newfoundland, until 20 December, but reached UK the same day. It carried 2 passengers and 5,502 pounds of mail. 9204 suffered a Category C accident in 1944, date unknown.  (Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RAF, taking off from Lagens, Azores, 22 Dec 1943. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 4517026)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9205), No. 168 (HT) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 26 April 1945. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3583754)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9202), No. 168 (HT) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, in 1945.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9205), 168 (HT) Sqn, 8 Aug 1944. 9205 was ex-USAAF B-17E-BO (Serial No. 41-9142). It was ordered on Purchase Order CA 000115. It was also reported as Mk. IIA, both designations probably unofficial. Quote from RCAF receiving report: "very dilapidated, all the parts being badly worn". It was flown by No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, for mail flights to Europe. 9205 suffered extensive damage on 23 January 1944, in mid air collision with a Vickers Wellington (probably Serial No. JA268), between Prestwick and Gibraltar, losing 2 engines, and taking damage to the aircraft's nose, wings, and tail. The mail was jettisoned and the aircraft returned to the UK. The crew received four AFCs and one Air Medal. 9205's nose was replaced with fabric fairing. It was later fitted with a flip down metal nose cone. To Gibraltar, via Azores, June 1944. Gear up landing on 19 November 1944 at Rockcliffe. Category C damage at the Azores, 6 April 1945. Carried A/C Plant from Rockcliffe to Sea Island in October 1945. Carried penicillin to Warsaw, leaving Ottawa on 16 November 1945. Flew Vancouver to Rockcliffe non-stop in 7 hours, 26 minutes on 16 January 1946. Transferred to No. 9 (T) Group in April 1946, used briefly for search and rescue by No. 412 (T) Squadron. On standby for Exercise Musk Ox in April and May 1946, while with this unit. Flew to the UK in May 1946, delivering experienced 168 Squadron crews to brief returning Dakota crews on flying the North Atlantic. Sold, to Argentine civil registry as LC-RTP, used to carry beef. Reported scrapped in 1964. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3643725)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9205), No. 168 (HT) Squadron, 8 Aug 1944. The metal nose was hinged to lift upwards. Made it easier to load aircraft. Truck just drove up and they hand bombed the bags and parcels into the nose section. Loaded the rear and mid section through one of the waist gun windows. No. 168 Squadron was known affectionately as 'Bomber Mail'! It proved a godsend for the morale of Canadian armed forces personnel serving in Second World War theatres around the world. (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3643726)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9026), coded QB, No. 168 (HT) Squadron, 25 July 1945. Note maple leaf decal on the nose. The roundel on the nose appears to be one of the officially produced 8" decals that displayed the RCAF “distinguishing emblem”. These were initially intended for use on operational aircraft overseas, but then their use was expanded to the operational aircraft on the Home War Establishment.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 3583791)