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

[edwest2]

Here's an illustration of "Thunderbird." Too bad the camouflage on the plane renders the tail numbers very difficult to read. The aircraft pictured could have been modified at some point.




http://www.markstyling.com/mto_b17s1.htm




Ed

[kaki3152]

Well, I guessed the airplane to be 42-97737 based on a 5th Bomb Wing PDF listing with B-17 serial numbers. I searched for any S/n ending in 37 AND being a PFF airplane. This was the only one that filled the two requirements.
According to the biography, this plane was assigned to the 2nd BG in May 1944, which I believe falls within the camouflage period. Since there are no Group/Squadron markings, the photograph may have been taken on May 1944, or slightly earlier before it was assigned to a Bomber Group.

[Buckeye30]

Kaki....42-97737 was a G-30-VE and would have been unpainted, camouflage was discontinued from the G-15-VE block; the first unpainted from VE was 42-97436 "Silver Meteor" , 99BG.
Nick

[kaki3152]

Ok, I'll have to go through a list I have of 5BW B-17s and look for s/ns ending in "37".

[Buckeye30]

My money is still on 42-30437!! sure I see a "30" and the 3rd from last has an upright stroke ( 4). The last 3 numbers have been remarked to show up on the lighter camo. Doesn't explain the radome though.
Nick

[Leendert]

B-17F 42-30437 is mentioned on website below as a "ferret" aircraft in service with 16th RS, 12th AF.
This unit was engaged in electronic warfare in the MTO, accounting for the extra radio/radar equipment in/on the B-17.

See full story on
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ferre...t.-a0438130091
and scroll down for the serials.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Just a follow-up. From the USAAF Chronology 30 Oct 1944:

ARMY AIR FORCE, MTO: The 16th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy, Special), AAF, MTO, begins a movement from Foggia, Italy to the US; the squadron flew combat in the MTO and ETO with B-17s as a radar detection and countermeasures unit from Sep 43 to Sep 44.Regards,

Leendert

[kaki3152]

By jove, I think you are correct. I had thought that the number next to the 3 was a "4", but was not sure.
From the evidence, the pictured B-17F with the radome is 42-30437.

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Guy's,
I was beguining to think I was seeing numbers that weren't there .
I'll go with 42-30437.
Alex

[kaki3152]

I have a book on Electronic Warfare. "Wild Weasels:The Sam Suppressions Story" by Larry Davis (Squadron Signal 6042". While the majority of the book deals with the war in Vietnam, there is a small portion on WWII, with a couple of small photographs showing the Ferret B-17s used by the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron. These photographs show the large radar radome (which looks to be fixed) along with three APA-24 direction finding antennas. The picture of 42-30437 shows the large radar radome, but not the three APA-24 antennas.
On the 16th RCN SQ, it has the following:
In Europe, it was the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the 16th Ferret Squadron,that pioneered anti-radar tactics. Based at Foch Field ,Tunisia, the 16th Sq flew missions against southern Europe...They carried out their missions from April 21,1943 through the Salerno invasion in September 1943 with only four ferret aircraft"