Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. On June 11, 1942 delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F-1-BO Flying Fortress serial number 41-24353. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Ferried overseas to Australia by Lt. James T. Murphy. Assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group, Bombardment Squadron.

Nicknamed "Cap'n & The Kids". The left side of the nose included a scoreboard including Japanese flags indicating aircraft claimed shot down, ship silhouettes and bomb markings for missions flown.

Regularly flown by Captain Edward W. Scott, Jr. a pioneer of "skip bombing" low level bombing to skip bombs on the surface into enemy ships.

On January 21, 1943 this B-17 piloted by Edward W. Scott, Jr. took off on a mission against enemy shipping off Rabaul. Over the target, dropped a 500lbs bomb alongside a 8,000 ton transport. The explosion caused it to lift out of the water and the crew were observed trying to beach the damaged ship.

On March 13, 1943 this B-17 made a low level skip bomb attack from 200' against a Japanese tanker then continued the bomb run on a second ship nearby, causing both to sink.

On September 5, 1943, this B-17, took off from 7-Mile Drome with General Kenney aboard to observe the U. S. Army 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR) paratrooper drop over Nadzab. The flight was dubbed by General Kenney the "Brass Hat's Flight". Also in the flight was B-17F "The Mustang" 41-24554 carrying General Richard Sutherland, plus B-17F "Talisman" 41-24537 with General MacArthur aboard.

On October 18, 1943 took off piloted by F/O Halbert Miller on a weather reconnaissance over Rabaul, but aborted on the way to the target near Gasmata due to bad weather with a 200' ceiling. This was the B-17's last combat mission with the 43rd Bombardment Group.

In total, this bomber flew eighty combat missions in New Guinea based at 7-Mile Drome with the 43rd Bombardment Group.

During early November 1943, converted to an armed transport at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field. The Sperry ball turret was removed and the bomb bay modified with trays for air drop cargo. Assigned to the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing, 69th Troop Carrier Squadron on February 23, 1944,

On March 2, 1944 took off from Finschafen Airfield piloted by Captain A. J. Beck on a mission to air drop supplies to ground forces and strafe enemy positions on Los Negros. Over the target, Beck was intercepted by four fighters, including a Ki-61 Tony.

This B-17 continued to serve as an armed transport until August 1944.

Assigned as the personal transport of US Army General Robert Eichelberger based at Hollandia. Eichelberger nicknamed the bomber "Miss Em" in honor of his wife, Emaline.

This B-17 flew 160 flights over 141 days (including 63 combat missions) for Eichelberger. Last flown for the General on August 6, 1945 on a flight to Nichols Field. During April 1946, scrapped at Tacloban Airfield.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - Boeing B-17F-1-BO Flying Fortress 41-24353
"24353 delivered Cheyenne Jun 28, 1942. Assigned to 43rd BG, 63rd BS Charlesville, Australia Jul 31, 1942. Named "Cap'n and the Kids". To Torrens Creed, Australia Aug 27, 1942, To Iron Ridge, Australia Oct 17, 1942, to Mareeba, Australia Jan 21, 1943. To Port Moresby, New Guinea May 11, 1943. In early Nov 1943 convertd to armed transport--ball turret removed and bomb bay modified with trays for air drop cargo. To Dobodora, New Guinea Dec 13, 1943, to Nazab, New Guinea Mar 12, 1944. Transferred 69 TCS, 433 TCG New Guinea Feb 23, 1944. Returned to Australia and named *Miss Em* and used as General R. L. Eichelberger's personal transport. Salvaged Tacloban, Letye Apr 31, 1946."
Pride of Seattle page 6-7
Fortress Against The Sun page 100 (photo), 317, 365, 368-369, 371, 390, 431 (note 16), 430
Oz @ War - Cap'n and the Kids Tail No. 41-24353

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

Last Updated
December 15, 2019