---

On August 8 1934, the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) tendered a proposal for a multi-engined bomber to replace the Martin B-10. Requirements were that it would carry a “useful bombload” at an altitude of 10000-F (3000-M) for ten hours with a top speed of at least 200-MPH (320-KMH). They also desired, but did not require, a range of 2000-M (3200-KM) and a speed of 250-MPH (400-KMH). The Air Corps were looking for a bomber capable of reinforcing the air forces in Hawaii, Panama, and Alaska. The competition would be decided by a “fly-off” at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio.

Boeing competed with the Douglas DB-1 and Martin Model 146 for the Air Corps contract. The prototype B-17, designated Model 299, was designed by a team of engineers led by E. Gifford Emery and Edward Curtis Wells and built at Boeing’s own expense. It combined features of the experimental Boeing XB-15 bomber with the Boeing 247 transport airplane. This new bomber, was armed with bombs, up to 4800-LBS (2200-KG) in two racks inside a bomb bay behind the cockpit and five BMG Caliber .30 (7.62-MM) machine guns. The plane was powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1690 radial engines each producing 750-HP at 7000-F (2100-M).

The first flight of the Model 299 was on 28 July 1935, with Boeing chief test-pilot Leslie Tower at the controls. Richard Williams, a reporter for the Seattle Times coined the name “Flying Fortress” when the Model 299 was rolled out, bristling with multiple machine gun installations. Boeing was quick to see the value of the name and had it trademarked for use. On Aug 20, the prototype flew from Seattle to Wright Field in nine hours and three minutes at an average speed of 235-MPH (378-KMH), much faster than the competition.

At the fly-off, the four-engine Boeing design displayed superior performance over the twin-engine DB-1 and Model 146, and Maj Gen Frank Maxwell Andrews of the GHQ-AAF believed that the long-range capabilities of four-engine large aircraft were more efficient than shorter-ranged twin-engined airplanes. His opinions were shared by the Air Corps procurement officers and, even before the competition was finished, they suggested buying 65 Boieng 299.

Development continued on the Boeing Model 299, and on October 30 1935, the Army Air Corps test-pilot, Maj Ployer Peter Hill and Boeing employee Les Tower, took the Model 299 on a second evaluation flight. The crew forgot to disengage the airplane’s “gust lock,” a device that held the bomber’s movable control surfaces in place while the plane was parked on the ground, and having taken off, the aircraft entered a steep climb, stalled, nosed over and crashed, killing Hill and Tower (other observers survived with injuries). The crashed Model 299 could not finish the evaluation, and while the Air Corps was still enthusiastic about the aircraft’s potential, Army officials were daunted by the much greater expense per aircraft. The loss was not total, however, since the fuselage aft of the wing was intact, and the Wright Field Armament section was able to use it in subsequent gun mount development work, but Boeing’s hopes for a substantial bomber contract were dashed.

Army Chief of Staff Gen Malin Craig cancelled the order for 65 YB-17s, and ordered 133 of the twin-engine Douglas B-18 Bolo instead. Regardless, the USAAC had been impressed by the prototype’s performance and, on January 17 1936, the Air Corps ordered, through a legal loophole, 13 YB-17s (after November 1936 designated Y1B-17 to denote its special F-1 funding) for service testing. The YB-17 incorporated a number of significant changes from the Model 299, including more powerful Wright R-1820-39 Cyclone engines replacing the original Pratt & Whitneys. Although the prototype was company owned and never received a military serial “the B-17 designation itself did not appear officially until January 1936, nearly three months after the prototype crashed”, the term “XB-17″ was retroactively applied to the airframe and has entered the lexicon to describe the first Flying Fortress.

Between March 1 and August 4 1937, 12 of the 13 Y1B-17s were delivered to the 2-BG at Langley Field, Virginia, and used for operational development and flight test. One suggestion adopted was the use of a checklist, to avoid accidents such as the Model 299’s. In one of their first missions, three B-17s, directed by lead navigator Lt Curtis LeMay, were sent by Gen Andrews to “intercept” the Italian ocean liner Rex 610-M (980-KM) off the Atlantic coast and take photographs. The successful mission was widely publicized. The 13th Y1B-17 was delivered to the Material Division at Wright Field, Ohio, to be used for flight testing.

A 14th Y1B-17 (37-369), originally constructed for ground testing of the airframe’s strength, was upgraded and fitted with exhaust-driven turbochargers. Scheduled to fly in 1937, it encountered problems with the turbochargers and its first flight was delayed until 29 April 1938. Modifications cost Boeing USD : 100.000 and took until spring 1939 to complete, but resulted in an increased service ceiling and maximum speed. The aircraft was delivered to the Army on 31 January 1939 and was redesignated B-17A to signify the first operational variant. B-17Bs at March Field, California, prior to attack on Pearl Harbor.

In late 1937, the Air Corps ordered ten more aircraft, designated B-17B and, soon after, another 29, none of which could be funded until mid-1939. Improved with larger flaps, rudder and Plexiglas nose, the B-17Bs were delivered in five small batches between July 1939 and March 1940. They equipped two bombardment groups, one on each US coast. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, fewer than 200 B-17s were in service with the Army, but production quickly accelerated, and the B-17 became the first truly mass-produced large aircraft. The aircraft went on to serve in every World War II combat zone, and by the time production ended in May 1945, 12.731 aircraft had been built by Boeing, Douglas and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed).

The B-17 began operations in World War II with the Royal Air Force in 1941, AAF Eighth Air Force and Fifteenth Air Force units in 1942, and was primarily involved in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign against German industrial targets. Operation Pointblank guided attacks in preparation for a ground assault. During World War II, the B-17 equipped 32 overseas combat groups, inventory peaking in August 1944 at 4574 AAF aircraft worldwide, and dropped 640.036 tons of bombs on European targets compared to 452.508 tons dropped by the Liberator and 463,544 tons 420.520 tonnes dropped by all other US aircraft. Approximately 4.750, or one third, of B-17s built were lost in combat.

B-17-C/F/E – B-17 MK-1 Fortress I & MK-II, MK-II-A

The Royal Air Force (RAF) entered World War II with no heavy bomber of its own and while by 1941, the Short Stirling and Handley Page Halifax had become its primary bombers, in early 1940, the RAF entered into an agreement with the AAC to be provided with 20 B-17Cs, which were given the service name Fortress I. Their first operation was against Wilhelmshaven on 8 July 1941. At the time, the Air Corps considered high-altitude flight to be 20.000-FTS – 6000-MTS but, to avoid being intercepted by fighter aircraft, the RAF bombed the naval barracks from 30.000-FTS – 9000-MTS. They were unable to hit their targets and temperatures were so low that the machine guns froze up. On 24 July, they tried another target, Brest in France, but again missed completely.

By September, after the RAF had lost eight B-17Cs in combat or to accidents, Bomber Command had abandoned daylight bombing raids due to the Fortress I’s poor performance. The remaining aircraft were transferred to different commands for deployment to various duties including coastal defense. The experience had showed both the RAF and AAF that the B-17C was not ready for combat, and that improved defenses, larger bomb loads and more accurate bombing methods were required, which would be incorporated in later versions. Moreover, even with these improvements, it was the AAF and not the RAF that was willing to remain faithful to using the B-17 as a “day” bomber.
Bomber Command transferred its remaining Fortress I aircraft to Coastal Command for use as very long range patrol aircraft. These were later augmented in August 1942 by 19 Fortress Mk II and 45 Fortress Mk IIA (B-17F and B-17E, respectively, the AAF offered the B-17F before offering the B-17E, thus the apparently reversed designations). A Fortress from No. 206 Squadron RAF sank U-627 on 27 October 1942 : the first of 11 U-boat kills credited to RAF Fortress bombers during the war.
No. 223 Squadron, as part of 100 Group operated a small number of Fortresses in support of the bombing offensive for jamming German radar.

B-17 into the Army Air Force

The Air Corps (renamed United States Army Air Forces or USAAF in 1941), utilizing the B-17 and other bombers, bombed from high altitudes using the then-secret Norden Bombsight, which was an optical electro-mechanical gyro-stabilized computer. During daylight bombing missions and sorties, the device was able to determine, from variables input by the bombardier, the point in space at which the bomber’s ordnance type should be released to hit the target. The bombardier essentially took over flight control of the aircraft during the bomb run, maintaining a level attitude during the final moments.
The AAF began building up its air forces in Europe using B-17Es soon after entering the war. The first Eighth Air Force units arrived in High Wycombe, England on 12 May 1942, to form the 97-BG. On 17 August 1942, 18 B-17Es of the 97-BG, including Yankee Doodle, flown by Maj Paul Tibbets and Brig Gen Ira Eaker, were escorted by RAF Spitfires on the first AAF raid over Europe, against railroad marshalling yards at Rouen-Sotteville in France. The operation was a success, with only minor damage to two aircraft.

Note :for more in formations of the Norden Bombsight, make sure to visit this Norden Bombsight Webiste

The two different strategies of the American and British Bomber commands were organized at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. The resulting Operation Pointblank described a “Combined Bomber Offensive” that would weaken the Wehrmacht and establish air superiority in preparation of a ground offensive.

Operation Pointblank

Operation Pointblank opened with attacks on targets in Western Europe. Gen Ira C. Eaker and the Eighth Air Force placed highest priority on attacks on the German aircraft industry, especially fighter assembly plants, engine factories and ball-bearing manufacturers. On 17 April 1943, an attack on the Focke-Wulf plant at Bremen by 115 Fortresses met with little success. 16 aircraft were shot down, and 48 others were damaged. The attacks did succeed, however, in diverting about half the Luftwaffe’s fighter force to anti-bomber operations. B-17F formation over Schweinfurt, Germany, 17 August 1943.
Since the airfield bombings were not appreciably reducing German fighter strength, additional B-17 groups were formed, Eaker ordered major missions deeper into Germany against important industrial targets. The 8th Air Force then targeted the ball-bearing factories in Schweinfurt, hoping to cripple the war effort there. The first raid on 17 August 1943 did not result in critical damage to the factories, with the 230 attacking B-17s being intercepted by an estimated 300 Luftwaffe fighters. 36 aircraft were shot down with the loss of 200 men, and coupled with a raid earlier in the day against Regensburg, a total of 60 B-17s were lost that day.

A second attempt on 14 October 1943 would later come to be known as “Black Thursday”. Of the 291 attacking Fortresses, 59 were shot down over Germany, one ditched in the English Channel, five crashed in England, and 12 more were scrapped due to battle damage or crash-landings, a total loss of 77 B-17s. 122 bombers were damaged to some degree and needed repairs before their next flight. Out of 2.900 men in the crews, about 650 men did not return, although some survived as POWs. Five were killed and 43 wounded in the damaged aircraft that made it home, and 594 were listed as Missing in Action. Only 33 bombers landed without damage. The resulting losses were a result of concentrated attacks by over 300 German fighters.

These losses of air crews could not be sustained, and the AAF, recognizing the vulnerability of heavy bombers against interceptors, suspended daylight bomber raids deep into Germany until the development of an escort fighter that could protect the bombers all the way from the United Kingdom to Germany and back. The Eighth Air Force alone lost 176 bombers in October 1943. The Eighth Air Force was to suffer similar casualties on 11 January 1944 on missions to Oschersleben, Halberstadt and Brunswick.
Doolittle had ordered the mission to be canceled as the weather deteriorated, but the lead units had already entered hostile air space and continued with the mission. Most of the escorts turned back or missed the rendezvous, as a result 60 B-17s were destroyed.
A third raid on Schweinfurt on 24 February 1944 highlighted what came to be known as “Big Week”.
With P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters equipped with improved drop tanks to extend their range escorting the American heavies all the way to and from the targets, only 11 of 231 B-17s were lost. The escort fighters reduced the loss rate to below seven percent, with only 247 B-17s lost in 3500 sorties while taking part in the Big Week raids.

Note : if you want to see very nice airplanes photos then you should visit this marvelous website

By September 1944, 27 of the 40 bomb groups of the Eighth Air Force and six of the 21 groups of the Fifteenth Air Force utilized B-17s. Losses to flak continued to take a high toll of heavy bombers through 1944, but by 27 April 1945, (two days after the last heavy bombing mission in Europe) the rate of aircraft loss was so low that replacement aircraft were no longer arriving and the number of bombers per bomb group was reduced. The Combined Bomber Offensive was effectively complete.

B-17 Fortresses in the Pacific Theater

Only five B-17 groups operated in the Southwest Pacific theater, and all converted to other types in 1943.
On 7 December 1941, a group of 12 B-17s of the 38th (four B-17C) and 88th (eight B-17E) Reconnaissance Squadrons, en route to reinforce the Philippines, were flown into Pearl Harbor from Hamilton Field, California, arriving during the Japanese attack. Leonard “Smitty” Smith Humiston, co-pilot on 1st Lt Robert H. Richards’ B-17C, AAF S/N 40-2049, reported that he thought the US Navy was giving the flight a 21 gun salute to celebrate the arrival of the bombers, after which he realized that Pearl Harbor was under attack. The Fortress came under fire from Japanese fighter aircraft, though the crew was unharmed with the exception of one who suffered an abrasion on his hand.
Enemy activity forced an abort from Hickam Field to Bellows Field, where the aircraft overran the runway and into a ditch where it was then strafed. Although initially deemed repairable, 40-2049 (11-BG/38-RS) suffered more than 200 bullet holes and never flew again. Ten of the 12 Fortresses survived the attack.

By 1941, the Far East Air Force (FEAF) based at Clark Field in the Philippines had 35 B-17s, with the War Department eventually planning to raise that to 165. When the FEAF received word of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gen Lewis H. Brereton sent his bombers and fighters on various patrol missions to prevent them from being caught on the ground. Brereton planned B-17 raids on Japanese air fields in Formosa, in accordance with Rainbow 5 war plan directives, but this was overruled by Gen Douglas MacArthur. A series of disputed discussions and decisions, followed by several confusing and false reports of air attacks, delayed the authorization of the sortie. By the time that the B-17s and escorting Curtiss P-40 fighters were about to get airborne, they were destroyed by Japanese bombers of the 11th Air Fleet. The FEAF lost fully half its aircraft during the first strike, and was all but destroyed over the next few days.

Lewis Hyde Brereton (June 21, 1890 – July 20, 1967) was a military aviation pioneer and United States Army Air Forces general in World War II. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1911 and in 1913 was one of the first graduates of the Signal Corps Aviation School.

World War I
In World War I, Brereton commanded the 12th Aero Squadron, (US Army Air Section Signal Corps) one of the first American flying units on the Western Front. He rose to be chief of aviation of the US First Army Corps. In October 1918, less then 3 weeks before the end of the war, he proposed a plan to drop members of the 1st Division on the German occupied city of Metz, in what would have been the first airborne assault. While his superior, Brig Gen Billy Mitchell, supported the plan, Gen John Pershing shelved it. After the armistice, he was appointed chief of staff, Headquarters Air Service of the US Third Army.

World War II – Far East
At the beginning of American participation in World War II, Brereton was commander of the Far East Air Force (FEAF) in the Philippines. Following the outbreak of war he urged immediate air attacks against Japanese bases on Formosa. However Brereton was over-ruled by Gen Douglas MacArthur and, having failed to disperse his parked aircraft in anticipation of a likely attack, FEAF was consequently largely destroyed on the ground. He received no discipline for this failure to protect American lives. In early 1942 Brereton was named Deputy Commander Air Forces, in the short-lived American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, ABDACOM, which unified Allied forces in South East Asia and the South West Pacific. After the defeat in Java, Brereton was reassigned to the China-Burma-India area of operations to organize the new Tenth Air Force. In June, in response to an emergency in North Africa, he was transferred to Palestine.

World War Two – Middle East
In June 1942 Brereton was appointed commander of US Middle East Air Forces. This unit eventually became the US Ninth Air Force. Among the missions undertaken by the heavy bomber units of the Ninth Air Force during Brereton’s command was the low-level bombing of Ploieşti, Romania, termed Operation Tidal Wave. It was Brereton who insisted that the raid be undertaken despite receiving intelligence estimates that predicted fully 50% of the attacking force would be shot down. The Ploesti air raid duly took place, resulting in severe losses to the US Army’s B-24 squadrons.

World War Two – European Theater
With the end of operations in the Middle East and the transfer of units to the Twelfth Air Force and Fifteenth Air Force for operations in Italy, Brereton remained in command of the Ninth Air Force when it was dissolved and re-activated in England in October 1943 to become the tactical air force for ground operations in the European Theatre. He was promoted to temporary Lt Gen in April 1944. On August 2, 1944, Brereton was appointed to command the First Allied Airborne Army and retained this post until the end of the war in Europe. From the war until his retirement on September 1, 1948, Brereton was Chairman of the Military Liaison Committee to the US Atomic Energy Commission.

Another early World War II Pacific engagement on 10 December 1941 involved Colin Kelly who reportedly crashed his B-17 into the Japanese battleship Haruna, which was later acknowledged as a near bomb miss on the light cruiser Ashigara. Nonetheless, this deed made him a celebrated war hero. Kelly’s B-17C AAF S/N 40-2045 (19-BG/30-BS) crashed about 6 Miles (10-KM) from Clark Field after he held the burning Fortress steady long enough for the surviving crew to bail out. Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

B-17s were used in early battles of the Pacific with little success, notably the Battle of Coral Sea and Battle of Midway. While there, the Fifth Air Force B-17s were tasked with disrupting the Japanese sea lanes. Air Corps doctrine dictated bombing runs from high altitude, but it was soon discovered that only one percent of their bombs hit targets. However, B-17s were operating at heights too great for most A6M Zero fighters to reach, and the B-17’s heavy gun armament was easily more than a match for lightly protected Japanese planes.

On March 2, 1943, six B-17s of the 64-BS attacked a major Japanese troop convoy from 10.000-F – 3000-M during the early stages of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, off New Guinea, using skip bombing to sink three merchant ships including the Kyokusei Maru. A B-17 was shot down by a New Britain-based A6M Zero, whose pilot then machine-gunned some of the B-17 crew members as they descended in parachutes and attacked others in the water after they landed. Later, 13 B-17s bombed the convoy from medium altitude, causing the ships to disperse and prolonging the journey. The convoy was subsequently all but destroyed by a combination of low level strafing runs by Royal Australian Air Force Beaufighters, and skip bombing by AAF B-25 Mitchells at 100-F – 30-M, while B-17s claimed five hits from higher altitudes.
A peak of 168 B-17 bombers were in theater in September 1942, with all groups converting to other types by mid-1943.

B-17 Fortresses – Bomber defense

Part of a AAF stream of over 1.000 B-17s. Formation flying through dense flak over Merseburg, Germany. Before the advent of long-range fighter escorts, B-17s had only their BHMG Caliber .50 (12.7-MM) to rely on for defense during the bombing runs over Europe. As the war intensified, Boeing used feedback from air crews to improve each new variant with increased armament and armor. The number of defensive guns increased from 4 HMG Cal. .50 and one LMG Cal. .30, the nose machine gun in the B-17C, to 13 HMG Cal. .50 in the B-17G. But because the bombers could not maneuver when attacked by fighters, and during their final bomb run they needed to be flown straight and level, individual aircraft struggled to fend off a direct attack.

A 1943 survey by the Air Corps found that over half the bombers shot down by the Germans had left the protection of the main formation. To address this problem, the United States developed the bomb-group formation, which evolved into the staggered combat box formation where all the B-17s could safely cover any others in their formation with their machine guns, making a formation of the bombers a dangerous target to engage by enemy fighters. Luftwaffe “Jagdflieger” likened attacking a B-17 combat box formation to encountering a fliegendes Stachelschwein, or “flying porcupine”. However, the use of this rigid formation meant that individual aircraft could not engage in evasive maneuvers : they had to always fly in a straight line, which made them vulnerable to the German flak. Additionally, German fighter aircraft later used the tactic of high-speed strafing passes rather than engaging with individual aircraft to inflict maximum damage with minimum risk.
As a result, the B-17s’ loss rate was up to 25% on some early missions (60 of 291 B-17s were lost in combat on the second Raid on Schweinfurt), and it was not until the advent of effective long-range fighter escorts (particularly the P-51 Mustang) resulting in the degradation of the Luftwaffe as an effective interceptor force between February and June 1944, that the B-17 became strategically potent.

Note : the following listing is coming from one of the best website ever on Army Air Force and US Air Force Airplanes Serial Number. You can find Joseph F. Baugher’s Website here

Boeing B-17-B Fortress

• 37-369 Y1B-17 – Test Airplane then releived to the AAF 31 January 1939 and redesignated B-17A
• 38-211 crashed 8 mi ENE of Hendricks, written off Sep 24, 1943
• 38-214 crashed in Santa Catalina Mts near Davis Monthan AAF after in flight engine fire Apr 6, 1942. 2 bailed out, 6 killed
• 38-215 attached to Cold Weather Testing Detachment at Ladd Field, Alaska 1941-42. Participated in bomb strikes against Japanese fleet during the Dutch Harbor operation and was involved in air battle above Umnak Pass June 4, 1942. Crashed Jul 18, 1942 while returning from weather recon to Kiska. All 6 crew KIA
• 38-216 crashed near Lovelock, NV while enroute to Wright Field Feb 6, 1941. All 8 killed
• 38-258 crashed Jan 25, 1943, Hendricks
• 38-267 written off Jun 1942
• 38-269 written off Dec 1, 1942
• 38-584 to Class 26 on Oct 29 1943 at Hobbs Field, NM
• 39-1 to CL-26 Sep 13, 1943
• 39-2 to CL-26 Aug 4, 1943
• 39-3 to CL-26 Sep 14, 1943
• 39-4 returned to USA Sep 11, 1943. Surveyed Jan 26, 1945
• 39-5 crashed outside of USA and dropped from records Aug 6, 1942
• 39-6 to reclamation Jan 3, 1946
• 39-7 to reclamation Jan 3, 1946
• 39-8 scrapped at North Reading, MA Oct 2, 1942
• 39-9 crashed in Newfoundland Jan 16, 1942
• 39-10 to CL-26 Aug 6, 1943

Boeing B-17-C Fortress

• 40-2042 bailed to Boeing for 2 years before returning to AAF
• 40-2043 to RAF as AN518. Returned to AAF Dec 1, 1942, apparently with s/n 40-2066
• 40-2044 to RAF as AN519. SOC Dec 12, 1943
• 40-2045 (30-BS/19-BG) shot down by fighters Dec 10, 1941
  Luzon, Philippines
• 40-2046 to Wright field Nov 1940. To Eglin Air Proving Ground May 1942 for testing 2 20-mm cannon in nose. RFC Oct 4, 1945
• 40-2047 crashed Nov 2, 1941 Georgetown, CA
• 40- 2048 (19-BG) strafed on ground at Clark Field, Dec 8, 1941
• 40-2049 (38-RS/11-BG) damaged during approach to Bellows Field, Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941. (Canibalised)
• 40-2050 overshot landing at McClellan Field Jun 11, 1941. Salvaged
  May 6, 1942
• 40-2051 to RAF as AN520. SOC Aug 14, 1944
• 40-2052 to RAF as AN521. Abandoned after engine fire near Shallufa Jan 10, 1942
• 40-2053 to RAF as AN522. Broke up in midair near Catterick Bridge, UK Jun 22, 1941
• 40-2054 was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941
• 40-2055 to RAF as AN523 (or AN537). Damaged by enemy aircraft over Brest, France Aug 16, 1941.
• 40-2056 to RAF as AN524. Relegated to instructional airfram Sept 1942
• 40-2057 to RAF as AN525. Shot down by Bf 109s near Kristiansand, Norway Sep 8, 1941
• 40-2058 (?)
• 40-2059 (?)
• 40-2060 to RAF as AN526. Relegated to instructional airframe Oct 1942
• 40-2061 to RAF as AN527. SOC Sep 15, 1943
• 40-2062 (93-BS/19-BG) shot down 10 mi S of Malang, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 40-2063 (38/RS-11-BG) It was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941
• 40-2064 to RAF as AN528. Caught fire on ground at Polebrook, UK Jul 3, 1941
• 40-2065 to RAF as AN529. Written off after forced landing near Fort Maddalena, Libya Nov 8, 1941
• 40-2066 to RAF as AN530. SOC Sep 11, 1943
• 40-2067 (19-BG) destroyed Clark Field, Philippines Dec 8, 1941
• 40-2068 to RAF as AN531. SOC Jan 17. 1945
• 40-2069 to RAF as AN532. Returned to AAF Dec 1, 1942, apparently with serial 40-2079
• 40-2070 destroyed Hickam Field, Oahu, HI Dec 7, 1941
• 40-2071 to RAF as AN533. Shot down by Bf 109s over Norway Sep 6, 1941
• 40-2072 (19-BG) heavily damaged on Davao mission Dec 25, 1941 and converted into transport. With 46th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Transport Group, crashed Bakers Creek, Queensland, Australia, June 14, 1943 while ferrying troops to New Guinea. Six crew and 34 GIs killed. One survived
• 40-2073 to RAF as AN534. Broke up in midair over Wilbarston, UK Jul 18, 1941
• 40-2074 was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Hit by Japanese gunfire while attempting to land at Wheeler Field, setting its magnesium flare box on fire. Fuselage buckled on landing, splitting the plane in two. A flight surgeon on board was killed by strafing fire as he tried to scramble away from the burning plane. The plane was not repaired
• 40-2075 to RAF as AN535. Damaged by Bf 109s over Norway Sep 8, 1941 and written off in crash landing at Kinloss, Scotland
• 40-2076 to RAF as AN536. Broke up in midair over Shepreth, UK, Jan 9, 1942
• 40-2077 (s/n 2078) upgraded to B-17D standard Jan 1941. Strafed on ground at Hickam Field Dec 7, 1941. Salvaged Dec 8, 1941
• 40-2078 crashed Duncan Ford, Texas Oct 11, 1941
• 40-2079 to RAF as AN537. SOC Sep 1, 1944

Boeing B-17D Fortress

• 40-3059 (19-BG)
• 40-3060 (11-BG)
• 40-3061 (11-BG/21-BS) destroyed at Malang, Feb 28, 1942
• 40-3062 (19-BG) destroyed in Philippines
• 40-3063 (?)
• 40-3064 (19-BG) crashed overshooting strip at Malang, Java Jan 17, 1942
• 40-3065 (?)
• 40-3066 (19-BG)
• 40-3067 crashed on takeoff from Batchelor Field, NT Australia Jan 28, 1942
• 40-3068 (19-BG)
• 40-3069 (19-BG)
• 40-3070 (19-BG)
• 40-3071 (5-BG) destroyed at Hickam Field, Dec 7, 1941
• 40-3072 (19-BG)
• 40-3073 (19-BG) at Del Monte Field, Philippines. Attacked by enemy fighters and force landed in center of rice paddy on Masbate Island Mar 1942
• 40-3074 (19-BG) strafed and burned at Singoaasri, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 40-3075 (19-BG)
• 40-3076 (19-BG)
• 40-3077 (11-BG) destroyed at Hickam Field, Dec 7, 1941
• 40-3078 (19-BG) strafed and burned as Singoaasri, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 40-3079 (19-BG) crashlanded and wrecked Daly Waters Northern Territory, Australia Mar 14, 1942
• 40-3080 (5-BG) destroyed at Hickam Field, Dec 7, 1941
• 40-3081 (11-BG)
• 40-3082 (5-BG)
• 40-3083 (11-BG) destroyed at Hickam Field, Dec 7, 1941
• 40-3084 (11-BG)
• 40-3085 (5-BG)
• 40-3086 (19-BG)
• 40-3087 (19-BG)
• 40-3088 (19-BG)
• 40-3089 (5-BG/11-BG) lost at sea Oct 21, 1942, central Pacific (World War One ace Edward V. Rickenbacker was aboard. Rickenbacker and crew were rescued by Navy planes 24 days later. MACRs 900 and 802 refer to this but place the loss date at Oct 2, 1942
• 40-3090 written off in accident Sep 11, 1942 at Kuaon Field, HI
• 40-3091 (19-BG) damaged in Philippines Dec 10, 1941. Flow to Australia but considered uneconomical to repair and converted to components
• 40-3092 (5-BG)
• 40-3093 (19-BG)
• 40-3094 (19-BG)
• 40-3095 (11-BG/61-BS) wrecked at Clark Field and restored to flyable status by Japanese
• 40-3096 (19-BG)
• 40-3097 (19-BG, *Swoose*) only known US military aircraft to have flown a combat mission on the first day of US entry into WW II and to remain in continuous military flying service throughout the conflict. Original user was 19-BG. Throughout the war, it was continually rebuilt with wreckage of other B-17s and kept on flying in SW Pacific. Later assigned as personal transport of Gen George Brett. At end of war, consigned to Kingman, AZ for scrapping, but was saved by Frank Kurtz, its wartime pilot, who arranged for the city of Los Angeles to accept it as a war memorial. On April 6, 1946, Kurtz flew the airplane to Mines Field, the Los Angeles municipal airport. Among his passengers were the mayor of Los Angeles and Mrs. Kurtz. Following acceptance ceremonies, airport personnel stored the B-17 inside a hangar. Plan for war memorial fell through and Frank Kurtz arranged for the National Air Museum to acquire the aircraft. Kurtz flew the plane in May 1948 to the old C-54 assembly plant at Park Ridge, IL for storage. In June 1950 the USAF claimed the Park Ridge facility for military use, and the Smithsonian officials abandoned the hangar. On Jan 18, 1952, an Air Force crew flew the plane to Pyote, TX for storage. Flown to Andrews AFB, MD Dec 3, 1953 and stored outdoors there for six years. In April 1961, the plane was trucked to the Paul Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility at Silver Hill, MD. Is to be restored and put on display at Smithsonian museum at Dulles Airport, Washington. Fuselage moved by truck to USAF Museum Jul 11, 2008 for restoration. Wings will follow later
• 40-3098 (19-BG)
• 40-3099 (19-BG)
• 40-3100 (19-BG)
• 41-2393 wrecked at Newfoundland APT Jan 9, 1942 in collision with snowbank
• 41-2394 to RFC at Albuquerque Jun 25, 1945
• 41-2395 condemned Jan 19, 1942 and surveyed Oct 12, 1942
• 41-2396 condemned Jul 15, 1944
• 41-2397 condemned Oct 31, 1944
• 41-2398 to RFC at Altus Oct 9, 1945
• 41-2399 to RFC at Stillwater Sep 19, 1945
• 41-2400 to reclamation at Burbank, CA Mar 20, 1946
• 41-2401 converted to XB-38-VE with Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engines. Wrecked Jun 16, 1942 near Tipton, CA after engine fire. The pilots bailed out after pointing the aircraft to an uninhabited area. The pilot was killed when his parachute did not deploy, and the other crew member was seriously injured when his parachute did not deploy property
• 41-2402 lost during search and attack mission 40 mi S of Kauai Island, Hawaii Dec 27, 1941
• 41-2403 condemned Jul 15, 1944
• 41-2404 condemned Jun 15, 1944
• 41-2405 to RFC at Kingman Oct 9, 1945
• 41-2406 condemned Oct 31, 1944
• 41-2407 to storage at Davis Monthan Aug 1, 1946
• 41-2408 was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941
• 41-Used to evacuate MacArthur from Philippines Mar 25, 1942
• 41-2411 *Old Miss II* Evacuated Java Feb 28, 1942 to Ceylon and did end up in India Mar 1942 with 7-BG. May have been Fort lost on Adaman Islands Apr 1942
• 41-2412 (7-BG) damaged on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942 and may have been abandoned
• 41-2413 was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941
• 41-2414 destroyed on ground by fire at Salt Lake City Field Nov 12, 1941
• 41-2416 (7-BG/88-RS) was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941. *San Antonio Rose* staged through Batchelor Field to Del Monte Philippines on bombing sortie against Japanese landings at Legaspi Mar 1942. WFU Jan 31, 1944
• 41-2417 scrapped 1944
• 41-2418 (19-BG) destroyed on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942
• 41-2419 crash landed in field on Sumatra Jan 23, 1942
• 41-2420 shot down Sep 24, 1942 after raid to Shortlands. Ditched in 30 m of water. Complete minus tail section. Crew executed by Japanese. Aircraft remains were still existant in 1997
• 41-2421 converted to components Oct 31, 1944
• 41-2422 (6-BG/3-BS) crashed at David Field, Panama Jul 14, 1943
• 41-2423 crash landed and burned at McDill AFB, FL Jan 5, 1942 with 7-BG
• 41-2427 arrived via Africa from USA Jan 28, 1942 with 7-BG. Transferred to 19-BG on Java. Destroyed on ground at Malang, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 41-2429 (7-BG/88-RS) arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Used to evacuate MacArthur’s staff from Del Monte, Philippines Mar 25, 1942. Shot down Rabaul, New Britain Aug 7, 1942. Harlpease received Medal of Honor for action
• 41-2430 (7-BG/88-RS) was one of six planes that flew into Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941. Ferried to Australia and nicknamed “Naughty But Nice”. Shot down by J1N1-S Jun 25, 1943, Vunakanau, SW Pacific with 65-BS, 43-BG while on night mission to Rabaul. MACR 14590. One crew POW, rest KIA. The crew member who was POW survived the war. The wreck was discovered in 1982
• 41-2432 (7-BG/88-RS, “The Last Straw”) was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941
• 41-2433 (7-BG/88-RS) was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941
• 41-2434 (7-BG/88-RS) was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Crashed into sea near Cairns, North Queensland Aug 16, 1942
• 41-2435 (30-BS/19-BG) shot down Aug 2, 1942 near SW of Musa Point PNG
• 41-2438 to RCAF as Fortress II 9206. Sold to Argentina as LV-RTO. Scrapped in 1964
• 41-2440 (42-BS) ditched off Duma Point Sept 24, 1942 due to fuel exhaustion. Crew captured and executed. Wreck is still located there 60 feet underwater in failrly good condition
• 41-2441 (?)
• 41-2442 (11-BG/42-BS) crashed into Mount Keahiakahoe, Oahu, Hawaii during combat patrol Apr 5, 1942 in night and in rain
• 41-2443 (?)
• 41-2444 (?)
• 41-2445 (?)
• 41-2446 (7-BG/22-BS) abandoned in Papua New Guinea when crash-landed Feb 23, 1942 in swamp while returning from a raid on Rabaul. Crew walked away from the crash site and were eventually returned to Port Moresby and were returned to combat. Plane remains half-submerged in a swamp. David Tallichet, the founder of MARC, has reportedly secured permission to recover this plane. He was denied permission by the PNG government to exercise salvage rights and sold the salvage rights to Alfred Hagan. Hagan and Robert Geinert in 2006 had wings and engines removed and airlifted the fuselage to Lae, PNG. Aircraft was impounded by the PNG government and is currently sitting on the wharf at Lae
• 41-2447 picked up Gen MacArthur and family in Philippines Mar 25, 1942. Destroyed on ground Del Monte, PI late March 1942
• 41-2448 destroyed by strafing Broome, W. Aust after Java evacuation Mar 3, 1942
• 41-2449 scrapped 1944
• 41-2450 (7-BG) wrecked and demolished in Guatemala Jan 8, 1942 while reinforcing FEAF
• 41-2451 (7-BG) crash landed at Rio Mato, Guatemala when landing gear did not extend Dec 27, 1941. Was on resupply mission to FEAF. Center fuselage and wing sections reportedly used in rebuild of B-17 44-83814
• 41-2452 survived Java Campaign, was in RAAF Pearce Mar 2, 1942, ex Broom Mar 2, 1942. Lost Aug 9, 1942 near Malapla Island SW Pac
• 41-2453 wrecked while taxying Pyota, TX Mar 19, 1942. Must have been repaired as this plane was seen being repaired after a bombing raid on Rabaul Dec 24, 1942
• 41-2454 (19-BG) destroyed on ground Mar 3, 1942, Broome, W. Australia following Java evacuation
• 41-2455 arrived from USA via Africa Jan 26, 1942 at Sourabaya. Transferred to 19-BG on Java. Destroyed on ground Java Feb 1942
• 41-2456 shot down near Surabaya Feb 3, 1942
• 41-2457 *Per Diem* Survivied Java, went on to serve 435 BS May 42 out of Townsville
• 41-2458 (*Yankee Diddler*) damaged by air action and crash landed Pasiran Feb 8, 1942
• 41-2459 destroyed on ground at Kendari, Java Jan 16, 1942
• 41-2460 arrive ex-Africa Route Jan 15, 1942. On Jan 25, 1942 transferred to 19-BG on Java. Landed at Bandjermasin, Java. Badly damaged and shot up. Other sources have it arriving in Australia on 15 January 1942 via Africa. 19-BG records state per first. Repaired evacuated to Australia for repairs. Had collision on ground at Horn Island Jul 27, 1942 with B-17E 41-2640. 41-2460 was repaired and flown to Mareeba, but survey had it reduced to spares
• 41-2461 (7-BG/11-BS, *El Toro*) destroyed by strafing at Port Moresby Apr 25, 1942
• 41-2462 (*Tojo’s Jinx*) scrapped in New Guinea in 1945
• 41-2463 (19-BG, “Yankee Doodle” then to 5-BG/394-BS) crashed on
  takeoff due to mechanical failure at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Aug 2, 1943. 2 killed. Pilot was Gene Roddenberry, creator of *Star Trek*
• 41-2464 lost Jul 8, 1944 between Nazab PNG and Biak, Dutch New Guinea. 5 crew and 13 passengers lost. Report that it returned to USA after 11-BG use in 1943 and was scrapped in 1946 seems to be in error
• 41-2466 destroyed on ground at Malang, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 41-2467 (?)
• 41-2468 arrived African Route Jan 19, 1942. Transferred to 19-BG on Java. Following raid, Jan 25, 1942, made wheels up landing on mudflats 15 miles NE of Bangkalan, Java. Abandoned. May have been captured by Japanese forces and stripped for parts
• 41-2469 damaged and crash landed Arendis In (Borneo) Feb 3, 1942. Crew picked up by PBY
• 41-2470 arrived via Africa route Jan 31, 1942 to Malang. Strafed and burned Singoasri, Java Feb 3, 1942
• 41-2471 (7-BG) crash landed Feb 8, 1942, Djokjakarta, Java and abandoned. May have been rebuilt by the Japanese
• 41-2472 scrapped Oct 1944. Flew 212 missions between Jan 22, 1942 and Oct 5, 1943, serving with 7-BG, 19-BG and 43-BG in Pacific
• 41-2473 (?)
• 41-2474 damaged in landing accident at Bari-Palese, Italy Jan 7, 1944
• 41-2475 (7-BG) crashed at McDill Field, FL Apr 20, 1942
• 41-2476 shot down off Java Jan 29, 1942. All crew KIA
• 41-2478 crashed somewhere in Africa while on supply mission to FEAF
• 41-2479 (7-BG) crashed into Atlantic Ocean between S. America and Africa Feb 20, 1942 while on supply mission to FEAF
• 41-2480 (19-BG) destroyed on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942
• 41-2481 (43-BG/63-BS, *Old Topper*) crashed on takeoff at Jackson Field, Port Moresby Aug 28, 1943. Written off Oct 30, 1943
• 41-2483 (19-BG/7-BS) fell into spin and crashed Jan 16, 1942, Java
• 41-2484 (7-BG) crash landed Feb 8, 1942, Malang and abandoned
• 41-2485 (?)
• 41-2486 was at RAAF Pearce WA Mar 1, 1942 ex Broome WA Mar 1, 1942 ex-Java. Java survivor
• 41-2487 (?)
• 41-2488 (19-BG) destroyed on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942
• 41-2489 (*Suzy Q*) to 93-BS, 19-BG Java Feb 7, 1942. Returned to USA Oct 23, 1942. Reduced to spares Jul 15, 1946
• 41-2490 (7-BG) crashed in field north of Pendleton Field Jan 17, 1942
• 41-2491 (?)
• 41-2492 blew up in formation Feb 8, 1942, Java
• 41-2493 destroyed by bombing, Bandoeng, Java Feb 19, 1942
• 41-2497 (43rd BG, *Tojo’s Nightmare*) crashed on approach to Horn Island Jan 24, 1943
• 41-2498 (19-BG) damaged on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942
• 41-2499 (?)
• 41-2500 (19-BG) damaged on ground at Bandoeng, Java Feb 20, 1942
• 41-2501 (7-BG) crash landed in Java on delivery Feb 19, 1942
• 41-2502 (7-BG) wrecked at McDill field while taxying Feb 3, 1942
• 41-2503 shot down by fighters in Buitenzong area, Java, Feb 19, 1942
• 41-2504 used in Panama and returned to USA in 1943
• 41-2505 crashed into Mt Obree in New Guinea. Wreck discovered in 1986
• 41-2506 used in Panama and returned to USA in 1943
• 41-2507 force landed in sea off Del Monte Mar 23, 1942
• 41-2508 destroyed by strafing Broome, W. Aust after Java evacuation Mar 3, 1942. Also listed on USAAF records as crashing at Maxwell AAF Mar 13, 1942
• 41-2509 wrecked at Hendricks Field, FL May 16, 1942 in landing accident
• 41-2510 wrecked at Hendricks Field, FL Apr 18, 1942 in landing accident
• 41-2511 wrecked at Hendricks Field, FL May 15, 1942 after structural failure
• 41-2513 to RAF as FK184. SOC Jul 26, 1945
• 41-2514 to RAF as FK185. SOC Jul 10, 1945
• 41-2515 to RAF as FK186. SOC Jun 13, 1945
• 41-2516 to RAF as FK187. SOC Jul 4, 1945
• 41-2517 to RAF as FK188. SOC after in flight engine failure Apr 18, 1945
• 41-2518 to RAF as FK189. Damaged beyond repair when engine caught fire after takeoff from Lagens Jul 26, 1944
• 41-2519 to RAF as FK190. SOC Jun 13, 1945
• 41-2520 returned to USA, salvaged Jul 18, 1945
• 41-2521 salvaged in Hawaii Aug 10, 1944
• 41-2522 to RAF as FK191. Overshot landing at Gosport, England Dec 28, 1944, SOC
• 41-2523 salvaged in Hawaii Aug 10, 1944
• 41-2524 was at Midway before the battle. Returned to USA and salvaged May 22, 1945
• 41-2525 (5-BG) lost Jun 10, 1943. MACR 799
• 41-2526 to RAF as FK193. SOC Jun 12, 1945
• 41-2527 salvaged in Hawaii Aug 10, 1944
• 41-2528 wrecked at Columbus, OH May 23, 1943, drag link failure
• 41-2529 lost on ferry flight to Australia May 5, 1942
• 41-2530 wrecked at Hendricks Field, FL Jul 30, 1943 due to landing gear failure
• 41-2536 lost Nov 22, 1942, 60 miles off coast of Lae, PNG whilst attacking Japanese destroyers. Burst into flames and crashed into sea
• 41-2540 caught fire and belly-landed in pasture near Clearview Airport, TX Apr 29, 1943. None of the 22 people on board were seriously injured. Plane was on a war bond tour, although it was not a combat veteran. Airframe was transported to Love Field, broken down for spares and SOC May 8, 1943
• 41-2546 (339-BS/96-BG) crew bailed out near Randolph, UT Nov 29, 1942 due to engine problems
• 41-2556 (330-BG) crashed on takeoff at Alamogordo, NM Aug 10, 1942
• 41-2569 (40-BG/395-BS) damaged in landing accident at Rio Hato, Panama Apr 10, 1943
• 41-2574 in midair collision and crashed near Arcadia, FL Jun 21, 1945
• 41-2578 (326-BS/92-BG, *Butcher Shop*, renamed *Big Tin Bird* when flying as service aircraft for 20-FG CO. Reformed Aug 6, 1945. Led the first B-17 raid in the European Theatre Aug 17, 1942
• 41-2581 to RCAF as 9207. Crashed at Prestwick Apr 2, 1944
• 41-2586 collided with 41-9094 and crashed into a mountain in the Aleutians Jan 21, 1943
• 41-2593 converted to XC-108, special transport for Gen MacArthur. Carried the name *Bataan*
• 41-2595 converted to XC-108A, experimental cargo transport. Sold for scrap Dec 26, 1945 but remained substantially intact. Purchased by Mike Kellner 1985. This airframe is in storage in pieces at Galt, Illinois awaiting restoration
• 41-2603 written off at Lockbourne AAB, OH Jan 23, 1945
• 41-2604 (306-BG) crashed 10 mi SSE of Wendover Field, UT Jul 8, 1942. All aboard killed
• 41-2608 to RAF as FK195. Soc Apr 27, 1944
• 41-2611 was at Midway Island before the battle
• 41-2614 to RAF as FK199. SOc Jun 14, 1945
• 41-2615 to RAF as FK192. SOC Sep 18, 1945
• 41-2618 to RAF as FK201. Undercarriage collapsed on landing at Aldergrove, Northern Ireland Jun 22, 1945. SOC
• 41-2619 to RAF as FK200. SOC Apr 25, 1945
• 41-2620 to RAF as FK194. SOC Jul 28, 1945
• 41-2621 *Daylight Limited* 28-BS crash landed at Mareeba, North Queensland Aug 26, 1942
• 41-2622 to RAF as FK198. Struck on ground by another Fortress Apr 9, 1944. SOC
• 41-2623 to RAF as FK196. SOC Oct 30, 1945
• 41-2625 to RAF as FL197. SOC Oct 30, 1945
• 41-2626 (92-BG) crashed during attempted forced landing at Gatwick, England Oct 9, 1942
• 41-2627 scrapped Oct 1944
• 41-2631 crash landing Charters Towers, North Queensland, Australia May 7, 1942
• 41-2632 was at Midway Island before the battle
• 41-2633 damaged in storm Apr 1945. Flown to Brisbane for scrapping May 1945
• 41-2635 (19-BG) lost on ops to Buil-Baisi, PNG Nov 1, 1942
• 41-2636 crashed into sea near Horn Island, North Queensland, Australia Jul 13, 1942
• 41-2638 returned to USA 1943. Salvaged in 1946
• 41-2643 crashed Aug 9, 1942 Rohndales Plantation, Mokurapau New Britain
• 41-2645 assigned to 19-BG. Condemned Jun 12, 1942
• 41-2648 to Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, England Feb 15, 1943 for unspecified trials. Returned to AAF Mar 9, 1943
• 41-2650 (19-BG) crew bailed out Sep 18, 1942 near Mappoon Mission, Cape York. 1 MIA
• 41-2652 crashed Mt. Fox W of Palumba, North Queensland May 7, 1942
• 41-2653 (43-BG/64-BS) damaged in takeoff accident at Jackson Field, Port Moresby Jun 1, 1943
• 41-2655 ditched Horn Island North Queensland Jul 13, 1942
• 41-2656 *Chief of Seattle* MIA Buna, PNG Aug 14, 1942
• 41-2659 (19-BS/195-BG, *Frank Buck*) scrapped at Mareeba Queensland Jul 27, 1943
• 41-2660 shot down near Rabaul, New Britain Aug 9, 1942
• 41-2661 (5-BG/31-BS) crashlanded on island of Lanai TH Jun 5, 1942 while returning from Midway. Repaired and later assigned to 11-BG
• 41-2662 damaged during mission to Ragbaul and landed at Batumata Point, later salvaged and transferred to 54th Troop Carrier Wing as armed transport
• 41-2664 (43-BG/64-BS) written off in takeoff accident at Jackson Field, Port Moresby Jun 14, 1943
• 41-2666 (43-BG/65-BS *Lucy*) flown on mission which earned Jay Zeamer and Joseph Sarnoski the Medal of Honor Jun 16, 1943, Bougainville
• 41-2667 crashed at Whenuapi, New Zealand during takeoff May 1942
• 41-9011 (64-BS/3-BG) shot down by J1N1-S night fighter over St Georges Channel, New Britain May 21, 1943. Crew KIA
• 41-9014 (19-BG) destroyed on ground at Batchelor Field, NT Australia Aug 12, 1942
• 41-9016 (68-RG/16-RS) crashed in early hours of Dec 6, 1943 in Peni mountain near Mediterranean Sea at NE of Spain between Roses Bay and Breus Cape due to weather and probable navigation error. All 12 onboard killed. MACR 1414 lists the serial number as 41-9106
• 41-9017 (385-BG/549-BS) damaged in ground accident at Great Ashfield, England Sep 3, 1943
• 41-9018 (92-BG/327-BS) shot down by Lt Walter Meyer in Fw 190A-4 of JG 26/7 and crashed into English Channel Oct 9, 1942. MACR 15218. 5 KIA, 3 POW, 1 evaded
• 41-9019 (414-BS/97-BG, transferred to 327-BS/92-BG, *Little Skunkface*) scrapped Aug 21, 1945
• 41-9020 on Apr 18, 1943 became target tug ship for 303-BG as *Phyllis* aka *Tugboat Annie*. Crash landed at Molesworth, England Jul 23, 1944
• 41-9022 (97-BG, *Alabama Exterminator II*) crashed on a rocky beach in Greenland Jun 27, 1942
• 41-9023 (414-BS/97-BG, *Yankee Doodle*) scrapped Jul 26, 1945. This plane carried Gen Ira Eaker on 8-AAF’s first operational mission, a raid on Rouen Aug 17, 1942
• 41-9024 (97-BG) crashed on landing at Grafton Underwood, England Aug 1, 1942. Brakes failed while landing and overshot airfield onto road and struck truck, killing the driver. SOC for spares recovery
• 41-9025 (457-BG) salvaged Jun 2, 1945
• 41-9026 (92-BG/327-BS, *Baby Doll*) shot down by Obfw Willy Roth in Fw 190A-3 of JG 26/4 over English Channel 20 km NW of Le Treport, France Sep 6, 1942. MACR 16489. 9 KIA
• 41-9032 *My Gal Sal* crash-landed in Greenland June 27, 1942 on way to England. Crew rescued, but aircraft abandoned. Recovered from icecap in August 1995 and sent to Tillamook Air Museum, Oregon for restoration. Purchased by Bob Ready of Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial, Cincinnatti, OH for ultimate display
• 41-9034 (97-BG, *Peggy D*) shot down Oct 21, 1942, Lorient, France
• 41-9036 (40-BG/44-BS) written off near Fraijanes, Guatemala Sep 28, 1942
• 41-9043 (381-BG, “Peggy D 43, Litle Rockette”) returned to USA Oct 29, 1945
• 41-9044 (92-BG) crashed at Chivenor, England Feb 11, 1943
• 41-9045 (*Stinky*) forced to crash-land at the Nursery Field at Mellows Agricultural College, Athenry, Ireland Jan 15, 1943. Plane was dismantled and returned to AAF at Langford Lodge AB in Northern Ireland. The forced landing in neutral Ireland (due to navigational errors) could have been very embarrassing as the aircraft was carrying Lt Gen Jacob Devers and his staff who were on a fact-finding tour of the ETO. The Irish authorities should, by international law, have interned them; instead, they were treated to an impromptu banquet and transported to the border with Northern Ireland
• 41-9051 (482-BG/813-BS) crashed into SW side of Skiddaw Mountain in England Sep 14, 1943 on navigational training mission. All 10 aboard killed
• 41-9064 force landed at Goose Bay, Labrador May 5, 1943
• 41-9071 (422-BS) shot down over Rendova Island 9/6/1942 after running fight with Japanese flying boat. All on board killed
• 41-9084 (36-BS) missing after attacking Japanese warship Jun 4, 1942
• 41-9085 was first AAF B-17 to arrive in UK (July 1, 1942)
• 41-9087 found intact in British Columbia, Canada. Based at Del Boise 303-BG Apr 10, 1942; Alamogordo Jun 18, 1942; Westover Jul 2, 1942; Wendover Jul 27, 1942; Walla Walla Aug 18, 1942; Boise Sep 5, 1942 written off Jan 4, 1943
• 41-9090 ditched in fjord off Narssarssuaq, Greenland Jun 27, 1942. Now in 1500 feet of water, possibly will be recovered. It was assigned the civil registry of N3142U in the hopes that it would be recovered. There was an attempted recovery Jul 1999 but not located. As of Jan 2006 registration was being cancelled
• 41-9094 collided in midair with 41-2586 and crashed into a mountain in the Aleutians Jan 21, 1943
• 41-9095 (92-BG) shot down by Fw 190s near Flasselles Sep 6, 1942 during mission to Rouen
• 41-9098 (97-BG) crashed on Craig Berwyn, Cadair Berwyn, Wales Aug 11, 1942 while on flight from Polebrook to Burtonwood. All 11 on board killed
• 41-9100 to RFC in UK in 1945
• 41-9101 abandoned in Greenland
• 41-9105 abandoned in Greenland
• 41-9106 crash landed at Genger, Newfoundland Apr 4, 1944
• 41-9107 (97-BG/390-BG, 92-BG, 91-BG, 401-BG (613-BS), 390-BG, 398-BG). Salvaged Aug 2, 1945
• 41-9112 (*The Dreamboat*)
• 41-9115 (97-BG) crashed in attempted forced landing at Berners Heath, England Aug 15, 1942
• 41-9118 (5-BG) lost 10/4/1942, Solomons. MACR 801
• 41-9126 (36-BS) lost Aug 28, 1942
• 41-9128 (5-BG) shot down by enemy night fighter during raid on Kahili airfield, Bougainville Jul 27, 1943. MACR 182 All crew lost
• 41-9135 to RAF as FK205. SOC Mar 11, 1947
• 41-9136 to RAF as FK204. Abandoned by crew after fuel exhaustion near Acklington, UK Aug 11, 1942
• 41-9138 to RAF as FK202. Crashed into sea SW of Terceira Oct 25, 1943
• 41-9142 to RCAF as 9205. SOC with RCAF Dec 27, 1946. To Argentinia as LV-RTP. Scrapped in 1964
• 41-9151 shot down by Japanese fighters during mission to Shortland Harbor Feb 1, 1943
• 41-9153 (5-BG) lost Jul 19, 1943, Solomons. MACR 87
• 41-9161 (330-BG/459-BS) crashed on training mission 6 mi SE of
  Magdalena, NM Oct 15, 1942. All aboard killed
• 41-9192 in midair collision and crashed near Columbus, OH Feb 2, 1945
• 41-9194 crashed into hill at Port Moresby Dec 2, 1942
• 41-9195 to RAF as FK203. SOC Dec 22, 1945
• 41-9196 (19th BG) shot down over Rabaul Oct 5, 1942
• 41-9197 to RAF as FL458. SOC Jun 14, 1945
• 41-9198 to RAF as FK208. Crashed in sea while landing at Gibraltar Nov 29, 1943
• 41-9199 to RAF as FK211. SOC Jul 31, 1947
• 41-9200 to RAF as FK210. SOC Mar 11, 1943
• 41-9201 to RAF as FL460. Soc Jun 13, 1945
• 41-9202 to RAF as FK206. Crashed into sea after takeoff from Lagens Dec 4, 1943
• 41-9203 to RAF as FK209. Missing on patrol Mar 23, 1943
• 41-9204 to RAF as FK207. Dove into ground near Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland Aug 10, 1942
• 41-9205 at Del Cheyenne May 24, 1942; assigned 11-AF Kodiak Jun 2, 1942; ditched Lake Bennett, Carcross, Yukon Territory, pilot was Irwin K. McWilliams, Oct 16, 1943
• 41-9207 crashed on top of Hong Kong Mountain Apr 12, 1943. Four crew survived, but were executed by Japanese
• 41-9209 (64-BS, *Blues In The Night*) crashed on takeoff at 7-Mile Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea Apr 12, 1943
• 41-9210 sold on civilian market as N5842N. Sold to Canadian firm as CF-ICB. Back to US as N9720F. Sold to Bolivian airline Lloyd Aero Boliviano as CP-753. Crashed at La Paz, Bolivia 1976. Sat derelict at La Paz airfield Until 1990 when recovered by Don Whittington Of World Jet of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Returned to USA as N8WJ. Flown in September 1998 to Moses Lake, WA and transferred to the Flying Heritage Museum of Bellevue, WA. Re-registered as N12355 in August 1999. Currently under restoration
• 41-9214 (11-BG) ditched Mar 20, 1943 near Russell Island SWPAC
• 41-9216 (11-BG, 43-BS) ditched Mar 20, 1943, Russell Is SWPA
• 41-9217 crashlanded at Noumea-Tontouta, French New Caledonia
  Oct 27, 1943
• 41-9218 (26-BS) lost Aug 4, 1942 in raid on Guadalcanal. All crew killed
• 41-9224 (11-BG/98-BS) MIA Aug 7, 1942 off New Caledonia. Crew of 9 MIA. MACR 16436 (issued 1948)
• 41-9225 to RAF as FL455. Flew into ground in cloud near Wick, Scotland Feb 1, 1945
• 41-9228 to RAF as FL453. Missing on patrol Dec 14, 1942
• 41-9229 to RAF as FL457. SOC Mar 11, 1947
• 41-9230 to RAF as FL456. SOC Jan 25, 1946
• 41-9231 to RAF as FL451. Overshot landing at Aldergrove, Northern Ireland Aug 29, 1941
• 41-9232 to RAF as FK213. SOC Mar 11, 1947
• 41-9234 (43-BG/65-BS) crashed near Wau, Papua New Guinea Jan 8, 1943 after being hit by AAA while bombing a convoy escort off Lae. Wreck still intact. This plane was intended to be a Lend-Lease Fortress IIA for RAF Coastal Command and the plane has RAF serial number of FL461 and RAF roundels painted over with USAF insignia for service in the Pacific. The USAAF insignia have worn off by exposure to the elements over the years, exposing the RAF insignia underneath
• 41-9235 (19-BG) ditched off Cooktown Sep 29, 1942
• 41-9236 to RAF as FL463. SOC Jul 31, 1947
• 41-9237 to RAF as FK212. Missing on patrol Jun 14, 1943
• 41-9238 to RAF as FL464. SOC Dec 22, 1945
• 41-9239 to RAF as FL462. Hit trees during overshoot at Gosport, UK Jan 22, 1945. SOC
• 41-9240 to RAF as FL450. SOC Sep 23, 1946
• 41-9241 to RAF as FL459. SOC Dec 22, 1945
• 41-9242 to RAF as FL452. SOC Mar 11, 1947
• 41-9243 to RAF as FL449. SOC Jul 31, 1947
• 41-9244 (43-BG/63-BS, *Honikuu Okole*) shot down by Japanese J1N1 night fighter over Gazelle Peninsula May 21, 1943. MACR 2459
• 41-9245 to RAF as FL454. Stalled and crashed into sea off Benbecula, Scotland Oct 6, 1942
• 41-24340 bailed back to Boeing. Lost in test flight Mar 13, 1943 near Purdy, WA. Crew of seven bailed out
• 41-24341 converted to XB-40
• 41-24342 (97-BG/414-BS, *Stinky Jnr*) shot down Sep 7, 1943, Foggia, Italy. MACR 642. All crew KIA
• 41-24343 (97-BG/342-BS, *Peggy D II*) salvaged Mar 15, 1943, Oran
• 41-24344 (97-BG/342-BS) shot down Oct 21, 1942, France. MACR 15352
• 41-24345 (2-BG/20-BS) shot down by AAA Dec 20, 1943, Eleusis, Greece. MACR 1514. 1 POW, 9 evaded
• 41-24346 (301-BG/419-BS, later 99-BG/348-BS, *Avenger*) returned to USA and salvaged Nov 1944 in Texas
• 41-24347 (301-BG/352-BS, *Doc Stork*) crashlanded Chelveston, UK Aug 9, 1942 and salvaged
• 41-24348 (301-BG/352-BS) salvaged Sep 1944 in UK
• 41-24349 condemned at Middletown Air Depot in USA, never went overseas
• 41-24350 (301-BG/32-BS, *Dumbo*) crashed on takeoff Jan 7, 1943, Bone, Tunisia. Also listed as being lost Nov 30, 1942 with 301-BG, 352-BS. MACR 16242
• 41-24351 (*My Lovin’ Dove*) ditched after enemy action near Nauri Island, SW Pacific Feb 9, 1942. Crew picked up after 66 days at sea
• 41-24352 (2-BG, 96-BS, *Holey Joe*) salvaged Oct 1945 at Walnut Ridge
• 41-24353 (43-BG/63-BS, later 54-TCW, later 433-TCW) Latter named *Miss Em* and used as Gen R. L. Eichelberger’s personal transport. Salvaged Tacloban, Letye, PI
• 41-24354 (19-BS/93-BS) shot down by IJN AAA off Milne Bay, PNG Aug 26, 1942. All crew killed
• 41-24355 (43-BG/63-BS, later 19-BG/435-BS, later 43-BG/64-BS) taxied into ditch Port Moresby Sep 16, 1943 and damaged beyond repair
• 41-24356 (43-BG/63-BS, *Ka-Puhio-Wela*) shot down by A6M3 during Battle of Bismarck Sea Mar 3, 1943. 7 bailed out, one fell out of harness, rest machine gunned in their chutes
• 41-24357 to 63-BS/43-BG, transferred to 41-TCS/317-TCG. Salvaged Sep 1945 in Australia
• 41-24362 (301-BG/419-BS) lost Oct 9, 1942
• 41-24363 (301-BG) lost Nov 28, 1942. MACR 16197
• 41-24364 (2-BG) lost Jan 15, 1944. MACR 1814
• 41-24370 *Berlin Sleeper* was first B-17 to complete 100 missions. Participated in first night bombing mission on Rouen, France. Plane was due to be returned to Boeing but was shot down as a drone before paperwork could be finished
• 41-24371 (301-BG/353-BS) lost Jan 15, 1944. MACR 16508
• 41-24374 lost Nov 28, 1942. MACR 16038
• 41-24376 (97-BG/341-BS) destroyed by night German bombing during takeoff at Maison Blanche, Algeria Nov 20, 1942. All crew KIA
• 41-24378 (97-BG, then to 99-BG, “War Eagle”). Returned to USA Apr 26, 1944. To Bush Field May 19, 1945
• 41-24381 to 63-BS/43-BG, transferred to 54-TCW. Scrapped at Clark AFB 1948
• 41-24383 (63-BS) ditched in Gulf of Papua after fuel exhaustion Jan 1, 1943. 6 crew KIA
• 41-24384 (19-BG, 63-BS, 43-BG). Disappeared in a storm Mar 26, 1943 in a flight from Papua New Guinea to Brisbane with Gen Howard Ramey and 9 others on board. Never found. In 2005, the wreck of a B-17 was found in a remote area 55 km S of Albany Pasage and 74km S of Cape York, which might be the plane
• 41-24391 (63-BS, 43rd BG, *Hoomalimali*) crashed on takeoff from Mareeba, N. Queensland Sep 14, 1942. All aboard killed. Parts noted May 2005 in Aviation and Military Museum, Mareeba, Australia
• 41-24392 (97-BG) damaged in Oct 21, 1942 daylight raid on U-boat base at Lorient, France, later repaired
• 41-24395 lost Jan 30, 1944. MACR 2060
• 41-24397 (301-BG, 352-BS, *Phyllis*) written off Oct 2, 1942 after crashlanded at RAF Gatwick. 3 injured
• 41-24398 (301-BG) damaged in forced landing at Newmarket, England, Oct 3, 1942
• 41-24399 (91-BG, 323-BS, *Man O’War*) shot down on mission to Kassel, crashing at Opijnen, Holland Jul 30, 1943. MACR 148. 8 KIA, 2 POW
• 41-24400 (97th BG) damaged in raid on U-boat base at Lorient, France Oct 21, 1942 and landed at Exeter, later repaired
• 41-24401 to 43-BG, 63-BS. Taxied into tree, but repaired. Transferred to 65-BS. Returned to USA Nov 1943. Salvaged at Kingman, AZ Nov 1945
• 41-24402 to 64-BS, 43r-BG. Salvaged after landing accident Nov 16, 1942 in Australia
• 41-24403 to 30-BS/19-BG, transferred to 403-BS/43-BG. Salvaged at Clark AB in 1948
• 41-24405 (2-BG) lost Mar 19, 1944. MACR 3287
• 41-24406 (97-BG/414-BS) damaged over Tunis Feb 1, 1943 in collision with Fw 190 during mission to Bizerte, landed safely. Repaired and continued to fly missions. Salvaged Mar 6, 1945
• 41-24411 (92-BG/325-BS, *Dottie*)
• 41-24415 lost May 9, 1943. MACR 16254
• 41-24416 served with 95-BG, then 303-BG, 359-BS *Black Diamond Express*. Did a war bond tour. Scrapped Oct 26, 1945 at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
• 41-24417 (97-BG) wing damaged by cannon fire Oct 21, 1942 in daylight raid on U-boat base at Lorient, France. Later repaired. Transferred to 306-BG and named *Dixie Demo II*. Crashed into North Sea Jul 26, 1943. Crew rescued
• 41-24419 (92-BG, 327-BS, later to 97-BG, 341-BS) destroyed on ground at Briskra, North Africa by attack of five Ju-88s Jan 10, 1943
• 41-24420 to 28-BS, 194-BG. Transferred to 64-BS, then 65-BS of 43-BG, transferred to 54-TCW Nov 1943, later 58-TCS, 375-TCW and salvaged in 1946
• 41-24424 to 28-BS, 19-BG, transferred to 64-BS, 43-BG. Ditched at sea returning from Wewak in bad weather Mar 15, 1943. Only two crewmen survived
• 41-24425 (19-BG/30-BS) transferred to 64-BS-43-BG Oct 1942. Crashed into sea off Port Moresby, PNG during test flight Apr 17, 1943. All crew KIA
• 41-24426 (5-BG/42-BS) returned to USA in 1944
• 41-24427 (19-BG/30-BS) lost on mission Sep 15, 1942. Crew KIA
• 41-24428 (19-BG/30-BS) written off on landing at Mareeba, Qld Sep 6, 1942
• 41-24429 (43-BG/63-BS) lost in bad weather near Finschhafen, PNG Dec 3, 1942. All crew KIA
• 41-24430 ferried to New Zealand. Fate uncertain
• 41-24431 (91-BG/401-BS, *The Saint*). Involved in takeoff accident at Bassingbourn, UK Feb 12, 1943. Salvaged for parts
• 41-24432 (91-BG/401-BS, *Danellen*) shot down by Maj Priller of JG26 Dec 20, 1942, France and crashed next to Seine River between Tosny and Bernieres, Les Andes, Normandy. MACR 5381. 8 of 9 crew aboard KIA
• 41-24433 modified for long range photo recon and assigned to 15th PMS. Sent to England Oct 1942, and to North Africa Nov 18, 1942. Found unsatisfactory for mapping missions over enemy territory and later used as courier aircraft. Condemned May 1, 1944
• 41-24434 sold on civilian market as N60475. To Bolivia as CB-79, then to CP-579. Crashed near Unico, Bolivia Dec 29, 1958 while being owned by the Bolivian company Frigorifico Guigota
• 41-24435 delivered to 92-BG Jun 2, 1942, assigned to 97-BG/240-BS Aug 19, 1942. Transferred to 2-BG/492-BS Nov 14, 1943 and renamed *Yankee Do It*. Shot down by fighters Mar 18, 1944 during raid on Villaorba (Udine) airfield. Crashed 30-40 mi NE of Trieste and exploded. MACR 3259. 3 KIA, 7 POW
• 41-24436 written off in a Lowry, CO AAF base accident
• 41-24437 (341-BS, *Thunderbird*) salvaged Nov 9, 1944
• 41-24439 (91-BG) crashed during attempted forced landing at Fletching Dec 20, 1942.
• 41-24440 (3-BG/15-BS) used as F-9. Returned to USA
• 41-24441 (97-BG/342-BS, *Francis X*) shot down on mission to Lorient, France Oct 21, 1942
• 41-24442 (97-BG/414-BS, *Little Eva*) destroyed by German bombing at Tafaraoui, Algeria Dec 23, 1942
• 41-24443 (97-BG/414-BS, *Johnny Reb*) shot down on mission to Lorient, France Oct 21, 1942
• 41-24444 (97-BG/340-BS, *Superman/The Red Gremlin*) was the first B-17 in Africa. Returned to USA
• 41-24445 (97-BG/340-BS, *Southern Belle*) shot down by Hptm Karl-Heinz Meyer in Fw 190A-3 of JG 26/II Stab near Flasselles, France Sep 6, 1942 during mission to Rouen. 10 KIA
• 41-24446 (5-BG/23-BS, *Jezebel*) returned to USA
• 41-24447 (91-BG/401-BS, *Kickapoo*) shot down by fighter over North Sea Feb 26, 1943. MACR 3575. 10 KIA
• 41-24448 (43-BG, 64th BS, “Taxpayer’s Pride”) show down by Japanese J1N1 night fighter near Mt Varzin on mission to Rabaul Jun 26, 1943. 9 KIA, 1 POW
• 41-24449 (91-BG/401-BS, *Short Snorter*) shot down by fighter near Lorient, France Dec 30, 1942. 10 KIA. MACR 3265
• 41-24450 (5-BG/72-BS, *My Lovin’ Dove*) damaged over Nauru and ditched Feb 9, 1943. Crew spent 16 days on lift raft to Buka and rescued 50 more days later
• 41-24451 (91-BG/401-BS) flew into Slieveanorro Mountain, Northern Ireland Oct 3, 1942. 6 crew killed
• 41-24452 (91-BG/401-BS) shot down by Hptm Karl-Heinz Meyer in Fw 190A-4 of JG 26/II Stab near Mantes, France Dec 20, 1942. MACR 16243. 3 KIA, 7 POW
• 41-24453 (91-BG/322-BS, *Mizpah/The Bearded Beauty*) shot down Aug 17, 1943 on Schweinfurt raid by Hptm Gunther Specht in Bf 109G-6 of JG 11/11 Stab at Vlatten, Germany. MACR 275. 5 KIA, 5 POW
• 41-24454 (19-BG/28-BS, then to 43-BG/65-BS, *Georgia Peach*) shot down by Japanese J1N1 night fighter at Ubili, PNG Jun 13, 1943. 8 KIA, 2 POW. One POW executed later
• 41-24455 (5-BG/63-BS, *Old Baldy*) returned to USA late 1943
• 41-24456 never flew combat missions, scrapped
• 41-24457 (5-BG/31-BS, *The Azte’s Curse*) crashlanded due to brake failure Apr 23, 1943 and wwritten off
• 41-24458 (43-BG/64-BS, *San Antonio Rose I*) shot down by Japanese fighters Jan 5, 1943 on bombing mission at Rabaul, New Britain. 9 KIA, 2 POW
• 41-24459 (91-BG/401-BS, *Hellsapoppin*) shot down by Obfw Friedrich Erlenkamper in Bf 109G-4 of JG 54/1 over Bremen Apr 17, 1943 and crashed near Wunstorf, Germany. MACR 15520. 5 KIA, 5 POW
• 41-24460 (306-BG/423-BS, then to 482-BG, then to 379-BG) to RFC at Kingman, AZ Oct 7, 1946
• 41-24463 (306-BG/423-BS) exploded over Atlantic after takeoff from Gander, Newfoundland Sept 5, 1942. 9 killed
• 41-24464 (91-BG/323-BS, *Excalibur*) shot down by fighters over North Sea Mar 4, 1943. 3 KIA, 7 rescued
• 41-24465 (306-BG/368-BS, *Montana Power*) damaged by AAA, shot down by Maj. Josef Priller in Fw 190A-5 of JG 26/Stab and crashed at West Kapelle, Belgium Apr 5, 1943. MACR 15534. 3 KIA, 7 POW
• 41-24466 became trainer aircraft
• 41-24467 (306-BG/368-BS, *The Grim Reaper/Blasted Event*) damaged by AAA, then shot down by Fw 190A of JG 11/1 at Aurich, Germany Apr 17, 1943. MACR 15525. 2 KIA, 8 POW
• 41-24468 (306-BG/368-BS, *Wa-hoo*) scrapped May 31, 1945
• 41-24469 (306-BG/367-BS) crashed after takeoff near Thurleigh, UK Jan 6, 1943
• 41-24470 (306-BG/369-BS, *Sons of Fury*) shot down and crashed near Brest, France Jan 3, 1943. 10 KIA
• 41-24471 (306-BG/369-BS, *Four of a Kind*) crashed after midair collision with B-17F 41-24498 at Lille, France Jan 13, 1943. MACR 15502 3 KIA, 7 POW
• 41-24472 (306-BG/369-BS) hit by AAA and then shot down by Lt Gerhard Seifert in Fw 190A-4 of JG 26/9 over Lille, France Nov 8, 1943. 5 KIA, 4 POW, 1 evaded
• 41-24473 (97-BG/414-BS, *Kiss-me Kowboy*) scrapped Aug 1, 1945
• 41-24474 (306-BG/367-BS, *Floozy*) hit by AAA and ditched into English Channel Nov 18, 1942. 1 KIA, 9 POW
• 41-24475 (306-BG/423-BS, *Old Faithful*) scrapped Dec 5, 1943
• 41-24476 (306-BG/369-BS, *A-Dorable*) in collision with B-17F 42-5251 over UK Mar 1, 1943. Scrapped Mar 19, 1943
• 41-24477 (97-BG/340-BS, *Joan of Arc/Falming Mayme*) crashed after midair collision with Fw 190A at Tunis, Tunisia Feb 1, 1943. MACR 3516. 7 KIA, 3 returned
• 41-24478 (306-BG/369-BS) shot down by fighter of JG 2 and crashed into sea near St Nazaire, France Nov 23, 1942. 7 KIA, 2 POW
• 41-24479 (91-BG/322-BS, *Sad Sack*) in midiar collision with B-17F 41-24499 and crashed into sea Nov 23, 1942. MACR 16273
• 41-24480 (91-BG/324-BS, *The Bad Penny*) scraspped Oct 19, 1944
• 41-24481 (91-BG/322-BS, *Hells Angels*) hit by a fighter and crashed into North Sea W of Amrum, Germany May 14, 1943. MACR 15498. All 10 KIA
• 41-24482 (91-BG/322-BS, *Heavyweight Annihilators*) crashlanded Feb 27, 1943 and scrapped
• 41-24483 (91-BG/322-BS, *Spirit of Alcohol*) shot down by Lt Heinz Knoke in Bf 109G of JG 11/5 and crashed into Kiel Bay, Germany May 19, 1943. MACR 15632. 6 KIA, 4 POW
• 41-24484 (91-BG/401-BS, *The Bad Egg*) crashlanded and hit a jeep on Anderw Field, UK Dec 31, 1943. The jeep driver was killed. The plane was aaken to a repair group, where front half joined B-17G 42-31229
• 41-24485 (91-BG/324-BS, *Memphis Belle*) was first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions over Europe. Was put on display at site in Memphis, TN. Reported Oct 2004 to be under restoration by Memphis Belle Memorial Association at Millinton, TN. Was delivered by truck to USAF Museum in 2005 for total overhaul due to extensive damage due to years of exposure to the elements
• 41-24486 (306-BG/367-BS, *Man O’War*) shot down by AAA and crashed into English Channel Nov 9, 1942. 11 KIA
• 41-24487 (*Eager Beaver*) served with 368-BS/306-BG at Thurleight. Transferred May 1, 1944 to AF Service Command and returned to USA Jul 1944. Given to Williamsport Technical Institute, Williamsport, Pennsylvania after the war for use in an aeronautical program. WTI later became Williamsport Area Community College and later the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Nose section was sent to the Mighty Eighth Airforce Museum near Savannah, and is still on display there
• 41-24488 (306-BG/369-BS, *Banshee II*) shot down by Oblt. Rudolf Sigmund in BF 110G-4 oF NJG 1/10 at Greetsiel, Germany Apr 17, 1943. MACR 15445. 5 KIA, 5 POW
• 41-24489 (306-BG/367-BS, *Terry and the Pirates*) shot down by fighters over France Dec 20, 1942
• 41-24490 (324-BS/91-BG, *Jack the Ripper*) shot down by fighters over Muenster, Germany Feb 22, 1944. MACR 2640
• 41-24491 (306-BG/423-BS) MIA Oct 9, 1942, Germany. MACR 6012
• 41-24492 (306-BG/367-BS) crashed near Spalding, England during practice mission over the Wash Oct 2, 1942. Waist gunner became unconscious due to problems with the oxygen supply. Pilot dived the plane to 15.000 feet but pulled out too sharply, control cables snapped, part of one wing broke away and plane caught fire. Both bomb doors broke away, one severing the tail. Tail gunner was able to bail out. One other crew member bailed out but injured, rest of crew died when aircraft crashed
• 41-24494 (306-BG) overshot landing and crashed, Portreath, England Nov 9, 1942
• 41-24495 (306-BG/367-BS) lost Dec 20, 1942
• 41-24497 (91-BG/322-BS) lost Sep 6, 1943
• 41-24497 (91-BG/322-BS, *Mizpah II/Friscoe Jennie*) ran out of fuel and ditched into English Channel 1 mile off Bexhill on Sea, UK Sep 6, 1943. Crew rescued
• 41-24498 (306-BG/369-BS) in midair collision with B-17F 41-24471 over Lille, France Jan 13, 1943
• 41-24501 (306-BG/368-BS) lost Jan 3, 1943
• 41-24503 (91-BG/324-BS) last seen off the Brest Penisula Nov 23, 1942, probably lost over the English Channel. MACR 16162
• 41-24506 (91-BG) crashed during attempted forced landing at Leavesden, England Nov 23, 1942
• 41-24507 (384-BG/546-BS, *Yankee Rider*) shot down by fighter at Etrepagny, France Sep 6, 1943. MACR 772. 1 KIA, 6 POW, 3 evaded
• 41-24508 (306-BG) flew into ground near Graveley, England Oct 27, 1942
• 41-24509 (306-BG/423-BS) lost Nov 9, 1942. MACR 16010
• 41-24510 (306-BG/367-BS, *Snoozy II*) crashed Oct 9, 1942, Nechin, Belgium. MACR 6706
• 41-24511 (91-BG/322-BS, *Wheel’n Deal*) hit by flak and shot down by Lt Hans Ehlers in Fw 190A-6 of JG 1/3 and crashed into river Rheine between Dusseldorf and Duisburg, Germany Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1323. 1 KIA, 9 POW
• 41-24512 (91-BG/322-BS) lost Texel, Netherlands Mar 4, 1943. MACR 3721
• 41-24514 (306-BG) lost Mar 8, 1943, France. Mar 8, 1943. MACR 6088
• 41-24515 (91-BG/324-BS) lost May 21, 1943. MACR 3458
• 41-24516 (*Meltin’ Pot*) found under water off Irish coast
• 41-24517 (303-BG/427-BS) lost Jan 3, 1943. MACR 6141
• 41-24520 (*Fighting Swede*) lost May 8, 1943 on mission to Wewak. MACR 15689
• 41-24521 (63-BS, *Black Jack – The Joker’s Wild*) ditched Jul 11, 1943 during raid on Rabaul. The wreck is still down there
• 41-24523 (91-BG/323-BS) lost Aug 31 1943. MACR 563
• 41-24524 (323-BS/91-BG *The Eagle’s Wrath*) shot down by Uffz Kurt Leibing in Bf 109G of JG 3/1 at Gelnhausen, Germany Aug 17, 1943 during Schweinfurt raid. MACR 279. 3 KIA, 5 POW, 2 evaded
• 41-24525 (384-BG/547-BS) MIA Jan 7, 1943
• 41-24526 (303-BG, *Leapin Liz*) MIA Jan 3, 1943, France. MACR 7650
• 41-24527 (91-BG/324-BS, *Sky Wolf*) shot down by Fw. Hans Meissner in Bf 109G-6 of JG 1/9 Aug 17, 1943 at Waldaschaff, Germany. MACR 274. 10 POW
• 41-24529 (384-BG/546-BS) overshot landing and wrecked at Grafton Underwood, UK Oct 9, 1943. Salvaged Oct 17, 1943
• 41-24533 (305-BG/365-BS) lost Jun 22, 1943. MACR 16205
• 41-24536 (43-BG/63-BS, *Double Trouble*) lost Mar 3, 1943, Battle of the Bismarck Sea
• 41-24539 (303-BG/358-BS, *Jersey Bounce*) MIA Jul 27, 1943
• 41-24541 (303-BG/358-BS, *Spook*) lost Feb 16, 1943. MACR 15476
• 41-24544 (91-BG/323-BS) lost Feb 4, 1943, North Sea. MACR 3557 and 4635
• 41-24547 (91-BG/323-BS) lost May 1, 1943. MACR 3573
• 41-24549 (91-BG/323-BS, *Stupen-Taket*) shot down by AAA Mar 4, 1943. MACR 15596. 8 KIA, 2 POW
• 41-24550 (63-BS) ditched into Bootless Bay, PNG Dec 14, 1942 after engine failure
• 41-24551 (43-BG/403-BS, *Fire Ball Mail*) destroyed on ground at Milne Bay Jan 17, 1943
• 41-24552 (43-BG/65-BS, *Listen Here, Tojo*) MIA Sep 15, 1943 after mission to Lae. MACR 648. Wreckage found in 1992
• 41-24553 (305-BG/422-BS) lost Dec 6, 1942
• 41-24554 (*The Mustang*) served in New Guinea
• 41-24557 (384-BG/545-BS, *Damn Yankee*) shot down by Hptm Herbert Huppertz in Fw 190A-6 of JG 2/11 at Jabbeke, Belgium Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1334. 5 KIA, 4 POW, 1 evaded
• 41-24558 (303-BG/258-BS, *Hunga Dunga*) shot down by AAA near Wilhelmshaven, Germany Mar 18, 1943
• 41-24559 (360-BS, *Ooold Soljer*) collided with 42-29573 near Wellingboro, UK Mar 31, 1943. First plane demolished, second was salvaged
• 41-24560 (384-BG/545-BS) returned to USA May 1944
• 41-24561 (359-BS/303-BG, *The Duchess* aka *Sure Stuff*) scrapped in USA Aug 1945
• 41-24562 (303-BG/358-BS, *Sky Wolf*) lost Jan 11, 1944. MACR 1925
• 41-24563 (303-BG/360-BS, *Garbage*) damaged in landing at RAF Luton Nov 11, 1942 after colliding with Anson EF939. By Dec 1942 had been cannibalized and was salvaged
• 41-24564 (305-BG/365-BS, *Patches*) shot down by Obfw Adolf Glunz in Fw 190A of JG 26/4 near Testelt, Belgium Aug 17, 1943. MACR 300. Dec 20, 1942
• 41-24565 (303-BG/359-BS, *Idaho Potato Peeler* aka *Rambling Wreck*) shot down by Uffz Hand Ahrend in Fw 190A-6 of JG 2/3 at Wouw, Netherlands Nov 5, 1943. MACR 1157. 1 KIA, 9 POW
• 41-24566 (303-BG/359-BS, *Zombie*) lost Dec 20, 1942. MACR 15708
• 41-24567 (303-BG/360-BS, *Beats Me*) lost Jan 23, 1943. MACR 15571
• 41-24568 (303-BG/359th-BS, *Lady Fairweather*) shot down near target by aircraft of III./JG2 during raid on St Nazaire Nov 23, 1942
• 41-24569 (427-BS/303-BG, *Memphis Tot*) shot down by fighters over Zwolle, Holland Feb 4, 1943. MACR 15348
• 41-24571 (2-BG, 49-BS) lost Feb 24, 1944 over Steyr, Austria. MACR 2619
• 41-24573 (305-BG/364-BS) lost May 19, 1943. 6 KIA, 4 POW
• 41-24575 (384-BG/544-BS, *Sunrise Serenader*) engine caught fire and plane exploded in midair near Wargrove, England Nov 13, 1943. 9 killed, one bailed out
• 41-24576 (97-BG) lost May 25, 1943. MACR 16525
• 41-24577 (303-BG/358-BS, *Hells Angels*) was first aircraft to complete 25 combat missions in 8th AF, doing so May 14, 1943. Returned to USA after 48th mission Dec 13, 1943. Scrapped Aug 14, 1945. The *Memphis Belle* crew actually flew some of its 25 missions on other planes
• 41-24578 (384-BG/547-BS) returned to USA Apr 10, 1944
• 41-24579 (303-BG, *Thumper*) damaged by German fighters near Lorient Jan 23, 1943. All crew except pilot and copilot bailed out, one being killed when parachute failed to open. Pilots brought the plane back to England and made wheels-up landing at Lulsgate Bottom. Aircraft written off
• 41-24580 (303-BG/358-BS, *Hell Cat*) lost Jan 23, 1943. MACR 15473
• 41-24581 (303-BG) crashed on landing at Bovingdon Dec 20, 1942
• 41-24582 (303-BG/358-BS, *One O’Clock Jump*) lost Dec 12, 1942
• 41-24584 (303-BG/427-BS, *SUSFU*) lost Jan 23, 1943. MACR 15571
• 41-24585 (360-BS/303-BG, *Wulf Hound*) force-landed in France on Dec 12, 1942, after attacking Rouen Sotteville marshalling yards, while in service with 303-BG, Molesworth. Recovered by Luftwaffe. After flight testing at Rechlin it was used for demonstration visits to Luftwaffe Jagdgruppen as DL+XC, before being assigned to I./KG200 in Sep 1943 as A3+AE
• 41-24587 (303-BG/427-BS, *Bad Check*) lost Jan 11, 1944. MACR 1922
• 41-24588 (305-BG/364-BS) shot down Mar 8, 1943 over English Channel. All crew KIA. MACR 15718
• 41-24589 (91-BG/323-BS) named *Texas Bronco*; shot-down by Hauptmann Joachim Jabs, a Staffelkapitan of IV./NJG 1, during a raid at Emden on Feb 4, 1943. MACR 15124
• 41-24591 (305-BG/366-BS) lost Sep 6, 1943, France. MACR 1344 and 2155
• 41-24592 (305-BG/366-BS *Madame Butterfly*) interned in Switzerland Sep 6, 1943. MACR 1345. Returned Sep 1, 1945
• 41-24593 (305-BG/364-BS) lost Feb 4, 1943
• 41-24594 to RAF as Fortress II FA695. SOC Jul 31, 1947
• 41-24595 to RAF as Fortress II FA696. SOC Mar 11, 1947
• 41-24596 to RAF as Fortress II FA697. Crashed at Lagens, Azores Dec 19, 1943 while trying to land in bad weather
• 41-24597 to RAF as Fortress II FA698. Crashed into hill near RAF Chivenor, UK Mar 26, 1943
• 41-24598 to RAF as Fortress II FA699. SOC Dec 29, 1945
• 41-24599 to RAF as Fortress II FA700. SOC Dec 22, 1945
• 41-24601 (305-BG/365-BS) slot down by AAA on mission to Lille, France Jan 13, 1943 and crashed near Pollinkhove, Belgium. Crew of 10 all KIA. MACR 15639
• 41-24602 (303-BG/360-BS, *Yardbird*) MIA May 29, 1943
• 41-24603 (303-BG/359-BS, *The Green Hornet*) lost Jan 23, 1943
• 41-24604 (305-BG/366-BS) lost Feb 26, 1943. MACR 15443
• 41-24605 (359-BS/303-BG, *Knock-out Dropper*) was first B-17 with 50 missions Nov 16, 1943, first B-17 with 75 missions Mar 27, 1944. Scrapped at Stillwater, OK Jul 1945
• 41-24606 (303-BG/358-BS, *Werewolf*) crashed in UK Jan 13, 1943
• 41-24607 (303-BG/427-BS, *Jerry Jinx*) lost Jan 23, 1943. MACR 15473
• 41-24608 (303-BG/359-BS, *Yahoodi*) lost Jan 3, 1943
• 41-24609 (303-BG/359-BS, *Holy Mackerel*) lost Apr 4, 1943. MACR 15069
• 41-24610 (303-BG/427-BS, *Joe Btfsplk II*) lost May 1, 1943. MACR 15727
• 41-24611 (305-BG/422-BS) lost Feb 16, 1943. MACR 16236
• 41-24612 (305-BG/427-BS, *The Devil Himself*) to AFSC May 20, 1943. Returned to USA Dec 20, 1944
• 41-24617 (305-BG/364-BS, *Southern Comfort*) damaged by enemy action (date unknown) and crew bailed out over Essex and crashed at Great Totham
• 41-24618 (2-BG) lost Feb 24, 1944. MACR 2614
• 41-24619 (427-BS/303-BG, *S for Sugar*) shot down by AAA over Oschersleben, Germany Jan 11, 1944. Crew POW. MACR 1923
• 41-24620 (303-BG/360-BS, *Snap! Crackle! Pop!*) lost Jan 3, 1943. MACR 15464
• 41-24621 collided with another B-17 42-6031 over Gulf of Mexico Sept 10, 1943. 11 on each aircraft killed
• 41-24623 (305-BG/365-BS) lost Feb 26, 1943
• 41-24624 (305-BG/366-BS) lost May 19, 1943. MACR 15549
• 41-24629 (303-BG/358-BS) shot down by Hptm Peter-Paul Steindl in Bf 109G-6 of JG 26/11 at Valenciennes, France near Cambrai Oct 20, 1943. MACR 1032. 2 KIA, 8 POW
• 41-24631 crashed 5 miles S of Walla Walla, WA Jul 15, 1942. All 5 crew killed
• 41-24634 (41-BG) lost Feb 11, 1944, China. MACR 3011
• 41-24635 (303-BG/359-BS, *The 8 Ball Mk. II*) scrapped Feb 8, 1945
• 41-24637 (305-BG/366-BS) shot down by Lt Paul Arlt in Bf 109G-1 of JG 1/1 near Wilhemlshaven, Germany Jan 27, 1943. MACR 15501. 5 KIA, 5 POW
• 41-24639 (323-BG/91-BG, *The Careful Virgin*) transferred to AFSC for Aphrodite mission. Launched against V-1 sites at Mimoyecques, Pas-de-Calais, but impacted short of target due to controller.

Something to Add ?
Photos; Combat Experiences Stories
Documents : use form bellow.

Several photos ? Go to the Upload page (top bar of the site).
Thank you

Allowed jpg, gif, jepg, png, txt, tif, bmp, pdf.