Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. On January 3, 1941 delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2498.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group, 30th Bombardment Squadron. Next, transfered to the 7th Bombardment Group, 14th Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

This B-17 departed MacDill Field piloted by 1st Lt. Pierre D. Jacques via the "Africa route" before arriving in Java.

On February 14, 1942 after midnight took off piloted by Vandevanter as one of fourteen B-17s (8 from 7th BG and six from the 19th BG) on a mission to bomb a Japanese convoy reported heading for Sumatra, but the formation was unable to locate the convoy and all the bombers returned to base.

On February 17, 1942 took off piloted by Shedd one of five B-17s on a bombing mission against Palembang, but the formation aborted the mission due to a storm front.

On February 18, 1942 took off piloted by Parsel on a bombing mission against Palembang, but the formation again aborted the mission due to bad weather.

On February 20, 1942 during the afternoon parked at Singosari Airfield on Java. Around 3:45pm, nine fighters were spotted over the area below a layer of clouds, but were assumed to be friendly fighters 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 plus two others burned and damaged beyond repair: B-17E 41-2478 and B-17E 41-2498 (this aircraft).

Afterwards, salvaged for parts and abandoned when the Americans abandoned the airfield.

Wreckage
This B-17 was captured by the Japanese. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
Other sources list this B-17 as destroyed on the ground at Malang Airfield or Bandoeng Airfield.
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2498
"2498 delivered McDill [sic] Jan 3, 1942. To 19th BG 305h BS [sic] Java. (19th BG) damaged on ground at Bandoeng [sic], Java Feb 20, 1942. Salvaged."
Fortress Against The Sun pages 137, 141, 386 (Appendix B: B-17E 41-2498, 20 [sic] /19, destroyed by strafing at Malang, 20 Feb 42), 412 (footnotes 9, 19, 20)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 23, 2019