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| USAAF 5th AF 7th BG 9th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2282. On December 20, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2471 and the same day flown to McChord Field. Wartime History Assigned to the Far East Air Force (FEAF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS). No known nose art or nickname. During the middle of January 1942 departed MacDill Field piloted by Donald R. Strother on a ferry flight via the "African Route" to Java in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). On February 5, 1942 became part of the 5th Air Force (5th AF). On February 8, 1942 at 7:35am took off from Singosari Airfield on Java piloted by Don Strother armed with seven 100 pound bombs and a bomb bay fuel tank as one of nine B-17s led by B-17E 41-2456 piloted by Captain John "Duke" Dufrane on a bombing mission against Kendari II Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi). Over the target, a dozen Japanese fighters trailed the formation from behind and made head on attacks. Shot down was B-17E 41-2492 and B-17E 41-2456. Damage was B-17E 41-2455 hit in the bomb bay fuel tank causing it to catch fire and was jettisoned. Afterwards, the remaining B-17s abort the mission and landed at Djogjakarta Airfield (Yogyakarta) on Java. After landing, strafed by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) and damaged. Wreckage Afterwards, this B-17 was written off at Djogjakarta Airfield (Yogyakarta) and the nose section and two engines and propellers were removed for use as spare parts and the rest of the bomber was abandoned. On March 8, 1942 captured by the Japanese when they occupied Djogjakarta Airfield (Yogyakarta). Afterwards, technical personnel from Giken (Army Aviation Technical Research Institute) arrived and this bomber was repaired to flying status. Later, a pair of captured B-17E Flying Fortresses including this bomber were test flown at Bandoeng Airfield (Bandung). In Japanese service, the B-17 retained the olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. A white vertical stripe was addd the rear fuselage and Japanese Hinomaru "rising sun" markings applied atop the U.S. Star on the upper and lower sides of both wings and both sides of the fuselage. Afterwards, the two B-17s repaired to flying status in Java were escorted by a L2D Tabby plus fighter aircraft for the ferry flight via the Philippines to Tachikawa Airfield in Japan. By late 1943 both B-17E and B-17D 40-3095 were based at Tachikawa Airfield for flight testing and experiments by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). All three were photographed flying in formation near Mount Fuji. During June 1944 or July 1944 two B-17s were flown to Hamamatsu Airfield. The captured B-17s were also used in training films and news reels for the public. Details and photographed of all three B-17s were published in aviation magazines including Koku-Asahi and published books. The precise fate of the captured B-17Es is unknown. Likely, both were scrapped or otherwise disappeared before the arrival of American occupation forces after the surrender of Japan in early September 1945. In early 1944, one B-17E was damaged during take off at Fussa Airfield when a sudden cross wind caused it to veer off the runway and collided with a parked Ki-49 Helen. Afterwards, the B-17 was written off due to damage caused by the collision and was likely scrapped. During May 1945 a four engine bomber, possibly this B-17 was spotted by U.S. inelegance in a photograph parked at Tachikawa Airfield that was noted as "Tachikawa Field 104" because it was deemed to have a 104' wingspan (the B-17 Flying Fortress wingspan was 103' 10"). This four engine bomber was not seen in subsequent photographs. The second B-17E may have been parked at Irumagawa Airfield away from the runway for use as an instructional airframe or training aid for students at Toyooka Shikan Gako (Japanese Air Force Academy). References Other sources list this B-17 as captured at Madioen Field on Java. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2471 "2471 Delivered McChord Dec 20, 1941. Assigned 19th BG Java Jan 18, 1942. Transferred to 7th BG, 9th BS. Crash landed Feb 8, 1942, Djokjakarta, Java and abandoned. May have been rebuilt by the Japanese." Fortress Against the Sun pages 101 (photo), 118, 122, 150 (February 8, 1942 destroyed Djogjakarta), 152 (Japanese capture Djogjakarta), 409 (footnote 1, footnote 4), 410, 411, 386 (SN list) Nihongun Hokakuki Hiroku Air Classics "Japan's Mystery Fleet of American Bombers" by Robert Mikesh Vol 9, No 5, May 1973 Aviation History "The Surprising Story of Japan's B-17 Fleet" by Robert C. Mikesh July 2010 Thanks to Robert C. Mikesh and William Bartsch for additional information Contribute
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