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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 63rd BS Former Assignments 64th BS 65th BS 19th BG |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2420. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2609. On March 8, 1942 flown to Lowry Field. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 435th Bombardment Squadron (435th BS) "Kangaroo Squadron". Nicknamed "Miss Mavis" in capital letters. The bomber had a SCR-521 surface search radar installed, but was removed before transfer. During November 1942, transfered to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). Assigned to crew chief Daws. Renamed with the nicknamed "Loose-Goose" with a hyphen between the words and below "Hot Runs" in smaller outlined letters., in reference to an incident when the bomber was transporting a goose that escaped during a flight to Mareeba Airfield. The nose art depicted a white goose dropping bombs atop a Japanese rising sun flag. On one engine cowlings was "Dee" in capital letters and "Daddy Long-Legs" on another. On May 17, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome piloted by Lt. Raymond E. Crawford as one of two B-17s on an armed reconnaissance mission over New Britain. Over the Solomon Sea off the southern coast of New Britain, this B-17 observed a large formation of Japanese bombers escorted by fighters and reported them without being spotted. Next, overflew Gasmata Airfield and noted five bombers and three fighters parked off the runway. Next, attempted a low pass to bomb and strafe ships in Thilenius Harbor (Gasmata Harbor) when hit by machine gun fire that caused a large hole in the nose near the navigator's escape hatch, damaged the no. 2 engine supercharger and a fire in the bomb bay and wounded Crawford in the leg. After dropping their bombs, one remained hung up in the bomb bay plus the bomb bay fuel tank. Two of the crew, TSgt William K. Walker attempted to release the bomb unsuccessfully. SSgt George Tolson fought the fire with his bare hands when the fire extinguisher failed. and attempted to release the bomb. Finally, F/O Robert J. Mayer managed to salvo the bomb. Despite the damage, the B-17 manged to land at 7 Mile Drome safely and was repaired. On July 1, 1943 around midnight took off from 7 Mile Drome piloted by 2nd Lt. Roger G. Kettleson as part of a mixed formation of B-17s and three B-24s on a night bombing mission over Rapopo Airfield. Inbound to the target was bad weather forcing two of the B-24s to abort. Over the target between 3:25am to 4:40am at different altitudes, the remaining planes bombed the area but reported night fighters airborne. This bomber's no. 1 engine began running rough over the target and was feathered and soon afterwards the no. 3 engine failed, and the no. 1 engine was restarted and departed for Doboudra and circled until dawn because the ground personnel would not turn on the landing lights. Afterwards, the crew flown back to 7 Mile Drome. Afterwards, the bomber was repaired by a service squadron. In early July 1943 assigned to the 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). On July 22, 1943 transfered to the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS). This B-17 operated from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On September 20, 1943 took off piloted by Flight Officer Herbert V. Miller on a mission, this was one of the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) last missions with the B-17 Flying Fortress before conversion to B-24 Liberators. During October 1943 left the squadron. In 1943 or early 1944, this B-17 was photographed at the 13th Air Depot (13th AD) in New Caledonia with a large scoreboard on the left side of the nose with 119 bomb markings indicating missions, 20 fighter silhouettes of fighters claimed by gunners and six ship silhouettes plus six Purple Hearts indicating wounded crew members. Afterwards, flown back across the Pacific via Hickam Field to the United States. Steve Birdsall adds: "The elaborate nose markings she carried at that time were probably painted on the aircraft not long before her return to the United States. They are remarkably similar to decorations applied to other ex-43rd Bomb Group B-17s including B-17E "Loose Goose" 41-2609 [this aircraft], and B-17E 41-2649 and B-17F "The Mustang" 41-24554, which were photographed at 13th Air Depot on New Caledonia late in 1943." Fate Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2609 incorrectly listed as assigned to Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and sent to the United Kingdom (UK) Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 387 (41-2609) Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2020) pages 83 (photos), 196-197 (May 17, 1943), 248 (July 1, 1943), 316 (photo), 317 (October 21, 1943 return USA), 334 (63rd BS, 41-2609), 337 (64th BS, 41-2609, 65th BS 41-2609), 353 (photo), 354, 405 (index Loose-Goose), 407 (index Miss Mavis) Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information Contribute
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