B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Hey guys,

I recently acquired part of a Norden Bombsight that has an overhaul tag dated Feb 1945.

On the back, it appears to indicate:

B-17G 44-17101
Happy Gal

The problem is I cannot find ANY info on this bird, and the serial number does not seem right.

Any thoughts on this?

TIA

Mike

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

There is nothing wrong with the serial number. There is a gap in the record where this number would be. If the bombsight was acquired through a reputable dealer then I would regard it as authentic.

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Serial Number 44-17101 was the serial number of a Stinson L-5B Sentinel, not a B17G.

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Alex,

No it is not.

I already checked that. Serials are in a similar range, but as Edwest pointed out, there is a gap in the records for this B-17 block.

Mike

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Well Mike, I can only suggest that you check the Joe Baugher's site .
44-167033 - 17102 are listed as Stinson L-5B Sentinels.
The Martin W, BOWMAN'S Crowood book pages 186/187 Appendix IV B-17 Serials.
The A T Lloyd and T D Moore "B-17 Flying Fortress part 1 "IN Detail & Scale" series part 1 page 63 production Blocks and serials.
The Roger A, Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" page's 53 -56.
and H,P Willmott's "B-17 Flying Fortress page 63 serial Blocks.
And finally Cliff T, Bishop's " Fortresses of the Big Triangle First" page 12, B-17 Serial Numbers.

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Re the gaps , this is quite clear in the Baugher's list.
There were no B-17's with a serial number ??-171##
https://web.archive.org/web/20200205...ls/1944_1.html
Closest would have been in the following.
42-102379 - 102543
42-102544 - 102743
42-102744 - 102978
42-106984 - 107233.
and
42-97101 - assigned RAF as HB764 and then transferred to 388BGin July '44. Force landed November 9th,'44, Salvaged November 28th '44.

Maybe the "44-17101" wa a part number for the Bombsite ?
Or just an error made by a serviceman at the time?

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Alex,

Nah, it is not a number for the bombsight.

Please note that there are a lot of errors on that website, as confirmed by the owner.

It is probably a situation of bad handwriting, as it could reads "44-19101".

I have had other parts when sloppy/quick handwriting that appears to indicate one thing, when it was something else...7 for a 1...6 for an 8, etc.

This is an original wartime tag, and the info on it is 100% legit. Just a matter of trying to determine if maintenance was smoking crack at the time of writing.

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

44-18203/19287 Cancelled contracts

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Using the database below there are zero B-17's that start with 44-17xxx or 44-19xxx. Additionally if they inadvertently had added/subtracted a 4 as in 44-417xx or 44-419xx do not exist either.


B-17 Serial Numbers
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/datenbank/

B-17's with "710" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=710

B-17's with "7101" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=7101

B-17's with "910" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=910

B-17's with "9101" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=9101

B-17's with "Happy" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=happy

B-17's with "Gal" in them.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/?s=gal

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

It is a known that not all nose art was recorded (I have numerous nose art photos of B-17s that are not on the lists above shown)...I also have numerous data plates from aircraft not listed on Joe Baugher's site.

I have already gone through every website known, so when I posted this, I was looking for info on what this "could be" from an outside the box perspective.

100% the tag is legit, and was written in 1945.

I am trying to determine what this "could" be, based on the limited info.

Obviously, the person writing it made a clerical error...which is why I was hoping the, "Happy Gal" would bring up something else.

Re: B-17G "Happy Gal" with odd serial number...info needed
 

Happy Gal was not a unique name. Everything is not online.