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| USAAF 7th BG Former Assignment 19th BG 30th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. On December 30, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2488 and flown to McChord Airfield. Wartime History Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nickname or nose art. During late January 1942, flown by pilot 1st Lt. John D. Bridges from MacDill Field via the "Africa route" to Java. On February 6, 1942 arrives Surabaja Airfield as a replacement aircraft. Transferred to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG). On February 13, 1942 at night took off piloted by Beck as one of eleven B-17s (three from the 19th BG and eight from the 19th BG) on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Makassar. This was the largest formation by Java based B-17s to date. Inbound to the target, B-17E 41-2466 aborted the mission due to engine trouble. The rest of the formation bombed through clouds, reporting: "Bombs were dropped on lights off shore - results undetermined." but claimed one ship hit. On February 14, 1942 after midnight took off piloted by Rouse as one of fourteen B-17s (eight from 7th BG and six from the 19th BG) on a mission to bomb a Japanese convoy reportedly heading for Sumatra, but the formation was unable to locate the convoy and all the bombers returned to base. On February 16, 1942 took off piloted by Green on on a bombing mission against Palembang but aborted due to bad weather. On February 17, 1942 took off piloted by Hal Pease one of five B-17s on a bombing mission against Palembang, but the formation again aborted the mission due to a storm front. On February 18, 1942 took off piloted by Carpenter on a bombing mission against Palembang but the formation again aborted the mission due to bad weather. On February 20, 1942 piloted by Major John D. Bridges and during the afternoon parked at Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java. Around 3:45pm, nine fighters were spotted over the area below a layer of clouds, but were assumed to be friendly and no air raid alarm was sounded. In fact, they were nine A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai that began strafing runs over the parked B-17 Flying Fortresses. During their attack, this B-17 was destroyed. Nine personnel were wounded on the ground, two seriously. The five parked B-17s were set on fire and destroyed including three destroyed: B-17E 41-2455, B-17E 41-2484, B-17E 41-2488 (this aircraft) plus two others burned and damaged beyond repair: B-17E 41-2478 and B-17E 41-2498. Afterwards, salvaged for parts and abandoned when the Americans abandoned the airfield. Wreckage This B-17 was captured by the Japanese. The tail was photographed with pilots from the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) 58th Hiko Sentai (58th Flying Regiment). Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Other sources list this B-17 as destroyed on the ground at Malang Airfield. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2488 "2488 delivered McChord Dec 30, 1941. Assigned 19th BG, 30th BS Java Feb 6, 1942. Transferred to 7th BG. Destroyed on ground at Singosari, Java Feb 20, 1942. Salvaged." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 137, 141, 386 (Appendix B: B-17E 41-2488 30/19, Destroyed by strafing Malang, 20 Feb 42.), 412 (footnotes 8, 9, 16, 19, 20) Arawasi Issue 13 Photo Album: 59th Sentai page 7 (upper left photo: Yoshida and 1st Lt. Fujikawa posing with tail of B-17E 41-2488) Contribute
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