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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 63rd BS Former Assignments 7th BG 19th BG 28th BS 435th BS 30th BS 43rd BG 65th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2283. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2472. On December 24, 1941 took off from Boeing Field on a ferry flight to McChord Airfield. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG). Departed the United States piloted by F. M. Key flying via the African route to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) to Java arriving January 15, 1942. At the end of the Java campaign one of sixteen B-17 evacuated to Darwin. In Australia, assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 28th Bombardment Squadron (28th BS). Next, assigned to the 435th Bombardment Squadron (435th BS) "Kangaroo Squadron" and nicknamed "Ole Miss II". Also assigned to the 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). While assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group the lower Bendix turret was removed as ineffective and to save weight. During November 1942, assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) and operated from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On June 20, 1943 transfered to the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) then, the same day returned to the 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). On September 20, 1943 returned to the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS). Assigned to pilot Barnett with crew chief Farrell. Nickanmed "Guinea Pig". During late 1943 this B-17 had a large scoreboard painted on the left side of the nose including 212 bombs indicating missions flown plus siloetes for 22 aircraft and 3 ships claimed. In total, this B-17 flew missions between January 22, 1942 until October 5, 1943 and reportedly logged a total of 1,500 hours. Steve Birdsall adds: "The aircraft was around for a long time, but certainly never flew the 200+ missions some claim." In October 1944, scrapped at Brisbane. References Other sources state this B-17 returned to the United States in December 1943 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2472 "2472 delivered McChord Dec 24, 1941. Assigned to 7th BG Java Jan 15, 1942. Transferred to 19th BG, 28th BS Australia, transferred to 43rd BG, 30th BS, transferred to 63rd BS. Flew 212 missions between Jan 22, 1942 and Oct 5, 1943, serving with 7th, 19th and 43rd BG in Pacific. Scrapped Oct 1944." IMDB - Stingaree (1934) 1st Lt. Walter E. Buchanan, Jr. crew photo pose notes this bomber was B-17E "Stingaree II". Fortress Against The Sun pages 120, 132, 386, 409 (Chapter 9 footnotes 1, 4, 9, 15), 412 (Chapter 10 footnotes 8, 9, 11, 17) Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume I pages 69, 307-308, 326, 328, 345, 347-348, 393 (index Guinea Pig), 400 (index Ole Miss II) Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Edward Rogers for additional information Contribute
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