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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2226. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2415. This bomber was purchased by donations from citizens of San Francisco. Nicknamed "City of San Francisco". Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS). Ferried overseas via Hamilton Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC) to Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo. On December 16, 1942 at 6:45am took off from Bomber 1 Airfield on Espiritu Santo (Buttons) piloted by Lt. Omar D. Thomas armed with twenty 100 pound fragmentation bombs as one of six B-17s on a bombing mission led by Captain Hall against Munda Airfield on New Georgia. Arriving over the target at 11:58 the formation was spotted by A6M Zeros but they did not engage. After the bomb run, the B-17s were intercepted by twelve A6M Zeros. Lost was B-17E "G. I. Angel" 41-2521 (crew rescued). Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Note some published references incorrectly list Captain Robert S. Porter and crew as lost aboard B-17E 41-2415 MIA June 5, 1942 in error. In fact, they went missing aboard B-17E 41-9212. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2415 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 303, 384 (lists Ports are lost aboard B-17E 41-2415 off Midway in error) Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information Contribute
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