PFF B17's How were they chosen ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

PFF B17's How were they and their colours chosen ?

Were they despatched from the Factory as such, or from Modification Depots within the USA or oversea's ?

Following from this some were to be seen in Natural metal finnish while some were camouflaged in Olive Drab and others were to be seen in an overall Grey finnish. How and why was a specific finnish chosen ?

Again were their Colours applied at the factory or at a Modification Center ?

PFF B17's within a close serial number range can be seen in all three of the finnishes even after camoflage was stopped at factories.

Thank you
Alex

[Graham Boak]

As I understand the USAAF system, aircraft were manufactured to a minimum common standard, lacking all theatre-specific modifications. These were fitted at Base Aerial Depots such as the 8th AF's Burtonwood (BAD 1) and Warton (BAD 2). I would expect the PFF aircraft to receive their appropriate set of modifications in the same manner: a request for sixteen (or however many) would result in the next sixteen arrivals being allocated. These would be grouped in close serial order, although probably not directly sequential.

[Bruce Dennis]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

...aircraft were manufactured to a minimum common standard, lacking all theatre-specific modifications. These were fitted at Base Aerial Depots such as the 8th AF's Burtonwood (BAD 1) and Warton (BAD 2). ...

Hello Graham, I see that system was workable for US forces, but presumably did not apply to aircraft built to an order for non-US end-users? In other words, if the 'purchase order' was from a foreign government, weren't the specifics of their requirements included in that contract?

Bruce

[Graham Boak]

Aircraft ordered by, and paid for by, the British Government were fitted out to the required standards. These may have lacked some equipment, but I suspect this would have to be investigated on an individual basis. The majority of aircraft supplied were under Lend-lease, so the standard was officially exactly that of any US aircraft. In this case differences were generally little more than a coat of paint, if that. US aircraft were fitted/modified to British requirements by partner companies in the UK, acting in a similar manner to the BADs.

I suspect that there may have been some detail compromises to these principles, but can't quote any. I do wonder about seat belts, for example.

It might be interesting to study the Liberators, which I believe passed through a US modification centre before going to the UK. Many, but possibly not all the bombers at least, then were worked on at Scottish Aviation. I shall have to dig out the recent Air Britain book to confirm, but I recall an example of a Coastal Command unit in West Africa being established with aircraft that did not pass through SA.

However, in case of possible confusion, Alex means USAAF PFF aircraft. The RAF PFF did not operate B-17s.