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| USAAF 5th AF 7th BG 9th RS Former Assignments 88th RS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2227. On November 14, 1941 delivered to U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2416 at Boeing Filed. That same day flown by Lt. Frank Bostrom to Hamilton Field. By late November 1941 assigned to the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (88th RS) at Fort Douglas Airfield. Nicknamed "San Antonio Rose" with a Mexican girl painted on the pilot's side of cockpit. Wartime History On December 6, 1941 took off from Hamilton Field piloted by 1st Lt. Frank P. Bostrom on a ferry flight bound for Hickam Field on Oahu. This bomber had the .50 caliber machine guns installed but carried no ammunition. Aboard was "Crew No. 6" including 2d Lt Wilson L. Cook, 2d Lt Earl Sheggrud, Aviation Cadet Rob R. Carruthers, TSgt Herbert B. Collins, SSgt Leslie O. Hansen, PFC Herbert Wheatley Jr., PFC Elwood B. Shouldis, PFC Clyde L. Horn. On December 7, 1941 in the morning incoming Japanese aircraft detected on radar were dismissed as the expected flight of B-17s and arrived during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. This bomber was accidentally fired on by a U.S. Navy (USN) destroyer and attacked by A6M2 Zeros. This B-17 sustained some damage but none of the crew were injured. Afterwards, landed at Kuhuku Golf Course and sank into the soft ground. Afterwards, the landing gear was dug out and readied for take off from the golf course. On December 9, 1941 took off from Kuhuku Golf Course and landed at Hickam Field. Sometime afterwards, 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. For the remainder of December 1941, flew reconnaissance missions from Hickam Field over the Pacific Ocean area off Hawaii. On February 10, 1942 departed Hickam Field on a ferry flight across the Pacific bound for Australia. During the flight, a directive was issued that all B-17 type aircraft were to be referred to as Hudson Mark 6 aircraft in all communications that involved wireless transmission. This B-17 was modified with a pair of .50 caliber machine guns in a scarff ring the radio compartment. On February 22, 1942 in the evening at Garbutt Field at Townsville sustained damage to the right wing and no. 4 engine when the left wing of B-17E 41-2434 hit this bomber while taxing. As a result, both bombers were unable to participate in the first American bombing mission against Rabaul. Heavily damaged, this B-17 was stripped for usable parts. Immediately, the left wing tip was used to repair B-17E 41-2434. By April 1942 stripped of all usable parts. Officially written off January 31, 1944 at Brisbane. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Fortress 41-2416 "2416 delivered Salt Lake SAD Nov 28, 1941. Assigned to 88th RS, 7th BG, then 19th BG, 40th RS. Was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941. slightly damaged by Japanese strafing and landed at Kuhuku golf course. Transferred to 88th RS, 19th BG, then to 7th BG. Damaged at Townsville, Australia Feb 22, 1942 when collided with 41-2434. *San Antonio Rose * staged through Batchelor Field to Del Monte Philippines on bombing sortie against Japanese landings at Legaspi Mar 1942. Eventualy used as hangar queen in Australia. WFU at Brisbane Jan 31, 1944." 7 December 1941 The Air Force Story Appendix D - B-17s Arriving During the Attack pages 157-158 (Page 157) "B-17E/41-2416 / 1st Lt Frank P. Bostrom / Where landed: Kahuku Golf Crs / Status: Repairable" (Page 158) "Crew No. 6: 1st Lt Frank P. Bostrom, 2d Lt Wilson L. Cook, 2d Lt Earl Sheggrud, Avn Cdt Rob R. Carruthers, TSgt Herbert B. Collins, SSgt Leslie O. Hansen, PFC Herbert Wheatley Jr., PFC Elwood B. Shouldis, PFC Clyde L. Horn." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 19 (December 6-7, 1941), 153 (February 22, 1942) Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information Contribute
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