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| USAAF 5th AF 19th BG 30th BS
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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2297. On December 31, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2486. Ferried overseas to the Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nose art or nickname. By early February 1942 this B-17 arrived on Java and participated in the Java campaign. On Feb 8, 1942 took off from Jogja on a flight to Malang landing at 5:30pm. By late February 1942, until evacuated from Java southward to Broome Airfield in Western Australia. On March 1, 1942 flown to Pearce Airfield to disperse the bomber. Royce Mission On April 11, 1942 took off from Batchelor Field near Darwin piloted by Captain Edward Teats as one of three B-17s with nine B-25C Mitchells on the Royce Mission on a flight 1,500 miles northward to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao in the Philippines. On April 12, 1942 the three B-17s conduct single-bomber strikes against Cebu and Davao. On April 13, 1942 spotted by F1M2 Pete and bombed at Del Monte Airfield. Afterwards, the bombers were loaded with military and diplomatic personnel assembled at Del Monte Airfield. After dark, the remaining bombers took off from Mindanao for the flight back to Australia with the B-25s landing safely on April 14, 1942 at 3:00am at Batchelor Field near Darwin. Returned to the United States during November 1942. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2486 "2486 delivered Langley Dec 31, 1941, assigned 43rd BG 64th BS [sic] Java Feb 7, 1942. Used in MacArthur's first rescue attempt. Transferred to 19th BG, 30th BS at RAAF Pearce, Australia Mar 1, 1942. Then to 7th BG, 9th BS Daly Waters, Australia May 1941 [sic 1942]. Returned to USA Oct 1941 [sic November 1942]. To RFC Altus Oct 4,1945." Hanford Morning Journal "Pacific Heroes Reunited at Coast Air Base" April 30, 1943 page 9 "Santa Ana, April 29 - One year ago [April 29, 1942], at a bomb-pocked airfield [Del Monte Airfield] on the beleaguered island of Mindanao, a battered [B-17] Flying Fortress idled for takeoff, ready to evacuate a small group of strategic military personnel to Australia. But there was not space aboard for everybody. Aerial gunner SSgt Herbert M. Wheatley of Los Angeles stepped out to make room for Lieut. Paul S. Miller of Dos Palos, Calif., a pilot." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 122, 136, 139, 154, 164–166 (Royce Mission) 386 (41-2486), 412, 414, 436 Contribute
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