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USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 65th BS Former Assignments 7th BG 88th RS 19th BG 30th BS 374th TCG 21st TCS 64th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2219. On October 29, 1941 delivered to the to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2408 at Boeing Field. Assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group, 88th Reconnaissance Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Wartime History On December 6, 1941 took off from Hamilton Field piloted by Lt. Karl Barthelmess on an unarmed ferry flight bound for Hickam Field. On the morning of December 7, 1941 incoming Japanese aircraft detected on radar were dismissed as the expected flight of B-17s. The formation of B-17s arrived during the Japanese surprise attack against Pearl Harbor and Oahu. During the attack, this B-17 managed to safely land at Hickam Field. 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. During the remainder of December 1942, this B-17 flew reconnaissance missions from Hickam Field to patrol the Pacific Ocean area around Hawaii. In January 1942, flown on a ferry flight from Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia. On February 20, 1942 assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 30th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. While with the 19th Bombardment Group, the lower Bendix turret was removed. During early February, dispersed from Garbutt Field to Mareeba Airfield, fearing a Japanese air raid against Townsville. Afterwards, flown back to Garbutt Field. On February 22-23, 1942 took off from Garbutt Field piloted by Harry Brandon on a bombing mission against Rabaul and claimed one Zero shot down (none were lost). Afterwards, landed
at 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby with the left engine out from battle damage and ran out
of fuel taxing on the runway. During September 1942, this B-17 was briefly assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Group, 21st Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) and was overhauled and modified in Australia. On November 28, 1942 assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron and continued to fly bombing missions operating from 7-Mile Drome near Port
Moresby over New Guinea. References Contribute
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