Pacific Wrecks - B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2397

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2397

USAAF
11th BG
26th BS

Former Assignments
431st BS

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2208. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2397. Ferried to Hickam Field on Oahu.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group, 431st Bombardment Squadron. Later, assigned to the 26th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Joe Bftsplk".

Sometime after December 7, 1941, painted in Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) three color camouflage scheme consisting of dark green, olive drab and tan upper surfaces with standard gray lower surfaces.

This B-17 was officially written off on October 31, 1944. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2397
"2397 condemned Oct 31, 1944"
The Battle of Midway (1942) by John Ford includes footage of B-17E 41-2397 taking off from Midway Airfield
USAF Serial Number Search Results B-17E 41-2397 condemned Oct 31, 1944
Fortress Against The Sun page 383
Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 23, 2019

B-17

Interviews & Oral Histories