American aircraft photos

[Buckeye30]

Hi Stig. Though some of the photos were on Guadalcanal I'm sure the others are Espiritu Santo where the 11BG and HQ were based from July 1942; the maps on the wall show the New Hebrides, probably parts of Santo. There are several references on the mission board ( Dec. 1942) referring to "Cactus" ie. Guadalcanal eg.
"1 B-17 to Cactus for Service".
"1 B-17 spare at Cactus".
"Alert Striking Force..strike at Cactus" (7 a/c).
Also one B-17 to "Nandi" ( Fiji). The 42 / 98BSs had detachments at Cactus in December, often for Search missions, XIIIAF had a Search Command from Jan. 1943. The first 6 B-17s on the list were for "Search", a few having radar.

Some of the B-17s on the board can be ID'd ie. 41-9217, 41-9124, 41-9222, 41-2613, 41-2467, 41-2444, 41-2461; mostly 42nd/98th BSs. 41-24535 was one if the first B-17Fs sent to the S. Pacific (ex-5AF). "Ol' Shasta" was lost Dec 28 so the nose-art photos taken before then.

This is the No.2 Field on E. Santo a little later, Field 1 was off to the left. There are 30+ planes there, by this time the dispersals had been cleared and improved (mostly B-17s but by this date,1943 some may be Marine or RNZAF).
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...oNavalBase.jpg

Note on one photo of an engine crate was stamped "BELLOWS FLD. SUB DEPOT ENG.", much equipment coming via Hawaii. Roger Freeman found one B-17 (probably an "E") at Santo had 8 engine changes in 3 weeks, no doubt due to long missions and the climate.
Regards
Nick