Were these ever solved ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Were these ever solved ?

Some time ago pictures of two Bombers came to light.
One was of an RAF Halifax, the other of an 8thAAF 379th BG B17G.
They both were odd in that they only had two motors, the outer ones had been removed and wings had been faired over with new panels.
Did the reason for the reversion from four to two engines ever come to light ?
And
Did the serial numbers ever get confirmed ?

Thank you,
Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Alex

No answer, but I confess I never saw these photos. Any chance of posting them?

Cheers
Stig

[Alfred.MONZAT]

I would like to see them too, particulary the B-17.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Sadly I don't have them on my tablet.
The B17 is to be found in the book "Hacks of the 8thAAF".
when I can look into a laptop I will search my picture files for the Halifax

The Halifax I was sure was discussed on this forum but have searched archive and could not find it. The post IIR was started by me following correspondence years ago with an RCAF veteran now dececed.

Alex

[kaki3152]

The Halifax with two engines was described in detail in Flypast in the 90s. I have these issues,but would have to do some digging.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Yes, that's the one.

The B17G, minus turrets had camouflage Finnish and K in triangle marking with code LF (526 BS).
In the background there are other camouflaged B17''s of the group.
So pre addition of "3" and greater outer yellow triangle marking. So unclear if it was indeed a"ww" a/c but would have been an early a/c in the group.
Alex

[Revi16]

Found this, https://forum.keypublishing.com/show...ery-old-thread

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Just to clarify, that the Alex in the Key attachment is not me.

I will look through "Fortresses of the Big Triangle First" and " Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth" which have details of perhaps all the B17's that were used by the 379th BG/526BS and other 379th BG squadrons.

Alex

[peter.r]

Saw a photo of a Halifax hulk with both outboard engines missing the caption said it was used in a radio research factory, photo was taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s, peter.r

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
This is what I found so far in regard to the B17G.

379BG got both B17F and B17G from May 1943.
AAF order that a/c should henceforth be NMF was 26th December, 1943.
Camouflaged a/c continued in service.
On production lines camouflage was discontinued from B17G-35-BO; B17G-35-DL; B17G-20-VE.
Or so I understand all a/c after these batches were NMF .
The Triangle K came into use from June 1943.
The White Squadron codes came into use from November 1943.
The AAF received its first B17G on 4th September, 1943.
The larger Yellow outer triangle came into use from August 1944.
"Fortresses of the Big Triangle First" lists 24 a/c that served in the 526th BS up until end of March 1944. 13 of these were lost and have MACR's, one was an"Aphrodite" a/c, one was interned in Switzerland.
The other eight were -
42-31043 - LF-L
42-37764 - LF-P
42-38057 - LF-K
42-38058 - LF-C
42-38185 - LF-J
42-39762 - LF-N
42-39789 - LF-W later P
42-39800 - LF-T

So perhaps it was one of these ?

However the photo shows the windows and nose gun side window that I think was of the later B17G-35-BO; B17G-35-DL and B17G-20-VE type ?

Alex