Nose Art Name of B17 124388 ?

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Had a close look at the photo of "124388" as it stood under the Rock at Gib.

There apears to be art work on her starboard nose side that looks very much like an Eagle with outstreched wings.

I have never seen reference to this aircraft having either artwork or a name.

Any one know of other photos of this aircraft that confirm this art work and maybe a name ??

thanks in advance

Alex

[Stephane Muret]

Hi Alex,

I could only find one pic from the plane on "Fortresses of the Big Triangle First" from Bishop, p. 16 but from the right side. No nose art or nickname. Plane was olive drab and seems to have a short operationnal life.

Sorry.
Stephane Muret

[Alex Smart]

Thanks for reply, YES the right side is the side i am talking about.

Same book same picture.

Look at the marking's just by the inboard prop hub. It's an Eagle i'm sure.

Alex

[edwest]

I cannot locate any name or artwork information but a brief history.

"41-24388 Ass 92BG Bangor 31/7/42; 340BS/97BG Polebrook 8/42; damaged UK 7/9/42, rep; flew Gens Doolittle & Lemnitzer to Gibraltar 6/11/42; badly damaged again by enemy ground attack Biskra 10/1/43; sal 14/1/43."


Source: The B-17 Flying Fortress Story by Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne.




Ed

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,


According to PRIDE OF SEATTLE - THE STORY OFTHE FIRST 300 B-17s by Steve Birdsall this Fortress was piloted by Lt. John C. Summers after transfer to the 340th BS, 97th BG. He and his crew named it 'Summers' Sleepers'. The same photo you described earlier also appears in the above book.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Stephane Muret]

Yes, now i took time to look carefully, it seems to be an eagle (like on Col. Eagleston's P47 and P51. I couldn't read the nickname.

Stephane

[fredlohr]

I am replying to this thread several months later because I just joined.
My father was the copilot on that b-17 that got shot up and had to land in gibralter. there is an interesting account of this in the book Flying fortresses by Jablonski. My father was wounded, gave up his seat to dolittle. they almost went into the drink when attacked off the coast transporting all the vip's to the gibralter conference with no guns.
i would love to see a copy of that photo. any chance of that?