|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF FEAF Headquarters Former Assignment 5th AF 19th BG |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2273. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2462. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG). Nicknamed "Tojo's Jinx". On February 23, 1942 at 5:30am took off from Madioen Airfield in eastern Java piloted by Lt. Preston as one of three B-17s with B-17E "El Toro" 41-2461 and a third aborted the mission. The two B-17s flew at an altitude of 27,000' in thick clouds to bomb Denpasar Airfield on Bali. On August 7, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Edward M. Jacquet on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Edward M. Jacquet, pilot of B-17E "Tojo's Jinx" 41-2462 recalled: "[B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" 41-2429 piloted by Captain Hal Pease was on his right wing] We hollered and screamed for the formation to slow down to protect Harl. We broke silence on our radios but of course they were very unreliable radios. Later the other pilots said they never heard us." Later, this B-17 was assigned to U.S. Army Lt. General Walter Kruger, commander Sixth Army as his personal transport. Nicknamed "Billy" in a block cursive style with an outline inside a rectangle on the left side of the nose. On September 9, 1944 this B-17 and assigned crew were photographed at Wakde Airfield. The assigned crew from Far East Air Force (FEAF), Headquarters Squadron (HQ Squadron) included pilot Major A. R. Anderson of Pittsburgh, PA, waist gunner TSgt C. E. Stevens of Albany, TX, radio operator Sgt C. L. Jostad of Holman, WI, crew chief Sgt C. E. McNichols of Long Beach, CA. nose gunner SSgt O. F. Riehkmer of Bismark, MO and assistant Engineer Cpl C. E. Majes of Mulberry, KS. During 1945, scrapped in New Guinea. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Fortress 41-2462 "2462 reported strafed at Port Moresby, Australia on Dec 25, 1941. Repaired. Named "Billy" when used as a hack for LT. GEN Krueger of 6th Army. WO Jun 3, 1945. 2462 (*Tojo's Jinx*) scrapped in New Guinea in 1945." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 107, 111, 178, 144, 149, 385, 410, 414 Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 B-17  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
