15th AF B-17 PFF - s/n 42-97737?

[kaki3152]

An American E-Bay find

Elusive picture of a B-17G, with the old fashioned tail turret, the distinctive PFF housing and the last number of "37". The number before this is hard to read. Some digging I came up with 42-97737, belonging to the 2nd and 463rd BG. Not sure, if this is correct as the airplane carries no visible SQ markings.

Its covered in some form of camouflage, olive drab?

[RSwank]

The plane crashed on take-off on 30 November 1944. The mission was to Linz. There is a 2 page "MACR" on fold3 which has the NOK list and a letter which states what happened. The MACR is filed in the <blank> section (no plane number). Someone has "added" a notation that the plane was 42-97737. That number does not appear in the documents. It appears to be MACR 16027,

There is an also accident report for the loss here.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...y/Nov1944O.htm
The pilot was Jerre J Atchinson, who was KNB according to the fold3.

[kaki3152]

Great info. I'm going to check it out on Fold3. Do you agree that it is probably 42-97737?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
It may be 42-30437 ?
97BG.
I think that I can make out a "3" and an "0" on the tail in front of the obscured number in from of the "37" ?
But then I have no idea if that a/c was a PFF a/c unless it was one of the early ones ?
For the late 43 early 44 period it seems odd that the a/c is camouflaged in two or more colours - does not look like sections that have been resprayed or replaced.
Just my thoughts.
Alex

[edwest2]

It is probably not 42-97737. The lack of fuselage code and tail markings indicates it may be that 1) The aircraft was to be sold to an Ally after the war, 2) The aircraft was to be transferred to another unit or Ally during the war, or 3) It was held back for some other reason instead of being scrapped.


Here is a good book that looks at USAAF camouflage schemes that appears about to be reprinted.


https://www.amazon.com/USAAF-Aircraf.../dp/0764302469



Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[Alex Smart]

Hello Ed,
That was on my mind, camouflage was ended on the B17's according to Roger Freeman's book .

National Insignia change incorporated
B17G-10-Bo
42-31232-42-31331

Camouflage finish discontinued
B17G-15-VE
42-97436-42-97535

B17G-35-BO
42-31932-42-32116
Camouflage finish discontinued from 42-32044

B17G-35-DL
42-106984-42-107253
Camouflage finish discontinued

42-97737 would be the second a/c in the B17G- 30-VE series. 42-97736-42-97835.

So after the 15-VE series.

Am open to corection on this but think that 42-97737 would have been in natural metal finish.

Alex

[Buckeye30]

Quite possibly B-17F-BO 41-24437 "Thunderbird" , ex.-97BG at Polebrook UK which was most likely in their RAF-style camouflage ; transferred to N. Africa in Nov. 1942 and Twelfth AF ( note B-26 in background). These early B-17Es and Fs were used for various purposes including radio relay, photo and transports.
Note that 42-30437 above was delivered to N. Africa from the US so almost certainly in OD-NG camo.
Nick

[kaki3152]

But was "Thunderbird" used as a PFF airplane? I don't believe so.

[Buckeye30]

I'm now pretty sure it's not 41-24437 as it looks more like Alex's 42-30437 and F-models were delivered plain OD--NG; the 2-tone 92 / 97BG Forts in England in 1942 were B-17Es. As both 437s were Fs a lighter colour must have been added in Tunisia ( sand or light earth). The H2X "Mickey" radar in a retractible housing in place of the ball turret was only standard on B-17Gs in the Eighth and Fifteenth AFs so on a B-17F very unusual (maybe a trial installation as it should be retracted when on the ground ?).
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Some if not all of the early H2S and H2X a/c had fixed, not retractable units, so it just might be an early a/c .
Again from the 8thAAF War Diary there is picture of " Duke of Paducah " 42-37736 which was a special a/c also, and it is in camouflage, caption says 20th October 44, in the UK.
So could it be the next in line a/c 42-37737 ?

Alex