5th Air Force B-17E Armed Transport

[Steve Birdsall]

Can anyone confirm the identity of this B-17E armed transport? Available information suggests it belonged to the 317th Troop Carrier Group. If so, it can only be one of two aircraft – 41-2408 of the 46th Troop Carrier Squadron or 41-2665 from the 40th Squadron. Which one is it?

[Leendert]

Steve,

Thru books.google the book "Fortress Against the Sun" by Gene Salecker suggests that 41-2408 had no name, while 41-2665 was named "Lulu"...

No reference to a B-17E "Pretty Baby" in this particular book.

Regards,

Leendert

[Steve Birdsall]

One of the reasons that this B-17 is hard to identify is the fact that it has been totally repainted, and not necessarily only once.

Information provided by Dave Vincent proved that it's not 41-2408, but I've yet to prove conclusively that it's 41-2665. If it is, it will have the number 41 painted behind the cockpit.

[Frank Olynyk]

Steve,
Checking in Roger Freeman's book, The B-17 Flying Fortress Story, 41-2408 is listed as assigned to 40BS/19BG, and then 43ReconS; salvaged 14 Oct 44. 41-2665 is noted as assigned to 93BS/19BG, transferred to 6SR at Clark Field, and named LULU. 6SR may be a typo for 6ReconS.

I went through the listings of all B-17E and did not see one as PRETTY BABY. I didn't look for any references to TCS or TCG units.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

A little on the introduction of B-17 Armed Transports.

In November 1943 pursuant to conferences between Major General Ennis C Whitehead, Deputy Commander Fifth Air Force Brigadier General Paul H Prentiss, CG 54th TCW and Colonel Victor E Bertrandias, CO Air Service Command at Townsville, a plan was formulated to convert B-17s unfit for combat into troop carrier planes. As troop carrier aircraft these Fortesses would be able to drop supplies to the most forward Allied patrols in enemy territory where unarmed C-47s could not go. They were to be equipped with "dropping hatches" set in the waist and the ball turret was to be removed. They were to carry full crews of gunners as well as extra personnel to assist in reloading the dropping hatches and operating them.

During November 1943 two of these aircraft were in Depot No.2 at Townsville for conversion and on 8 December per Airplane Assignment Memo Number 186, 12 "Troop Carrier B-17s" were assigned to the 54th TCW (see below). The first of these aircraft, B-17E 41-2458, made a drop mission on 17 December 1943 to US army troops on Arawe, New Britain, two days after they had landed there. The B-17 was assigned to the the 39th TCS, 317th TCG, and flown by Captain L Bird and his crew, all transferred from the 43rd Bomb Group (Heavy).

By 31 January 1944 eight converted B-17s had arrived in New Guinea and one had been assigned to each squadron of the 317th and 375th TCGs. Four were also allotted to the 433rd TCG. All had made regular dropping missions, some as far into New Britain as 100 miles from Rabaul.

Fifth Air Force Airplane Assignment Order No.186, assignment of B-17s.

Air Corps Serial No. - - Type - - Assigned to - - Field/Nose No.
-41-2408 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 46th TCS - - - 97
-41-2432 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 69th TCS - - - 372
-41-2458 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 39th TCS - - - 25
-41-2657 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 56th TCS - - - 143
-41-2662 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 55th TCS - - - 119
-41-2665 - - - - - - - - B-17E - - 40th TCS - - - 41 & 49*
41-24353 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 69th TCS - - - 371
41-24357 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 41st TCS - - - 75
41-24358 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 68th TCS - - - Unknown.
41-24381 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 433rd TCS - - - Unknown.
41-24420 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 58th TCS - - - 176
41-24548 - - - - - - - - B-17F - - 57th TCS - - - 167

* Later mentions of 41-2665 quote only Field/Nose No.41.

See:
Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII - Volume Two. 1943 - Year of Expansion and Consolidation.
Kelly,Robert H.
n.p.:Author,2006
p.8

Col.

[Steve Birdsall]

Thanks to fellow forum member ozhawk40 I now have confirmation that Pretty Baby was 41-2665.

A few comments about the two planes on Col's list that didn’t display nose numbers . . . 41-24358 was stripped back to bare metal and I think served as a “VIP” transport, but so far I haven’t found exactly who it was assigned to.

The other B-17F, 41-24381, carried the nickname Well Goddam and was reportedly assigned to General Paul Wurtsmith as his personal transport.



I'm still hoping to confirm the serial number of the transport B-17E named Caroline. I also need to find out if 41-2432 was still carrying the name The Last Straw, and if 41-2662 was still named Spawn of Hell.