B17G's NMF ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Am seeking information on the NMF B17G a/c.
I understand that the production run at Boeing, ended the camouflage on the a/c from B17G -35 - BO with 42-32044 being the first NMF a/c, is this correct ?
Also
At Dallas did the camouflage a/c end with the start of B17G -35-DL 42-106984 being the first NMF a/c ?
And
At Vega did the NMF a/c begin with B17G-20-VE 42-97635, during or at the end of the production ?
I assume that ALL B17's after these batches were NMF ?

Thanks
Alex

[Buckeye30]

Hi Alex. These are the mods to B-17 production including deletion of camouflage; note the references to "silver" in the plane names of the unpainted ones.
Regards
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Hello Nick,
Happy New Year and Thank you for the attachment.
Alex

[Buckeye30]

Sorry Alex....I did these lists some years ago based on Boeing records and Roger Freeman's researches---I've found that Vega did delete camo. in Block 15-VE but not at the beginning; I don't know why 42-97436 was named "Silver Meteor" if indeed it was but certainly 42-97469 ( "Busy Baby" 379BG) and 42-97470 ( "Oh Kay" 457BG) were camouflaged as there are photos.
Obviously they were unpainted at the factory somewhere in this block.
I'll check some more photos when possible. I really should get out more !
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Nick,
I look forward to your next update.
Alex

[Buckeye30]

Alex. I now think the first unpainted VEGA B-17G was the last G-15-VE in the block, 42-97535 ( "Bouncing Betty II" 457BG) which was bare metal; the previous B-17G 42-97534 was camouflaged ( "Patches" a PFF H2X originally 482BG then 413BS --with 303's triangle "C" ---then 452BG). 42-97532 ( 482 PFF) was also OD / NG ( to 305BG as JJ-V with plain white triangle).
The subsequent block was G-20-VE, the first being 42-97536 ( "Fargo Express 463BG) this and the following planes were unpainted. So this block apparently unpainted.
Hope this makes sense.
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Nick,
This is a great help to my search for a B17 of the 379th BG.
As it will I hope eliminate many in the list I have available to me.
Alex

[Buckeye30]

Alex. Just for reference the 2nd and 3rd B-17Gs in Block 20-VE were both unpainted.
42-97537 ( 457BG " Chicken Ship")
42-97538 ( 447BG "Dallas Dottie" ).
There is a photo of 42-97555 MZ-F a PFF from the 413BS from this block in camouflage but I'm sure it's been painted for some reason considering the serial style and non-standard colour division, top and bottom.
Nick