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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 3236. On August 4, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F-25-BO Flying Fortress serial number 41-24551. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving in late September 1942. Wartime History On September 26, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). Nicknamed "Fire Ball Mail". Assigned to crew chief SSgt Quentin R. Ember. On October 25, 1942 at night took off piloted by Lt. Jack Wilson on a skip bombing mission against enemy shipping off Rabaul. Over the target, this B-17 claimed a hit on on cargo vessel of 5,000 tons. On January 17, 1943 parked in a revetment made of coconut logs at Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip) near Milne Bay. The B-17 fueled and was being prepared for a test hop when a Japanese air raid commenced by G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M Zeros this B-24 caught fire and was destroyed. Wreckage After the smoke cleared, the entire fuselage and wing center section was burned. Only the engines and tail with the fabric control surfaces burned off survived. On March 2, 1943, a piece of fabric from the rudder of this B-17, B-17E 41-2639 or B-17F 41-24540 was souvenir by Private Clarence C. Evief of the 58th Signal Battalion. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise removed. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17F-25-BO Flying Fortress 41-24551 "24551 (43th BG, 403rd BS, Fire Ball Mail) destroyed on ground at Milne Bay Jan 17, 1943." Pride of Seattle (1998) pages 15, 17 Fortress Against the Sun (2001) pages 276 (October 25, 1942), 288, 392 The Lae Convoy (2012) by Richard Dunn Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2016) pages 72 (October 25, 1942), 99 (map), 115 (photos), 116 (photos), 117 (January 17, 1943), 215 (Profile 4), 330 (403rd BS, 41-24551), 336 (photo), 343 (photo), 344, 352-353 (Profile 4 description), 365, 391 (index Fire Ball Mail) Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2020) pages 72 (October 25, 1942), 101 (map), 115-117, 118 (January 17, 1943) 119 (photos), 120 (photos), 215 (Profile 4), 339 (403rd BS, 41-24551), 345, 352 (photo), 353, 361 (Profile 4 description), 362, 374, 400 (index Fire Ball Mail) South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 128-129 (January 17, 1943) Thanks to Larry Hickey, Steve Birdsall and Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis Contribute
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