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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2451. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2640 and flown to Lowry Field. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS). During 1942, this B-17 managed to escape from Philippines to Australia. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). Nicknamed "Tojo's Physic". This B-17 was based at Mareeba Airfield. Wartime History On July 4, 1942 took off piloted by Captain Felix Hardison leading a bombing mission against Lae Airfield. Mission History On July 30, 1942 predawn took off from Horn Island Airfield piloted by Lt. Carey O'Brien as one of six B-17s on a bombing mission against Lae. While taxing, B-17E 41-2460 collided with this bomber, tearing off the nose section, which was unoccupied for take off and there were only minor injuries to the crew of each bomber. Steve Birdsall adds: "It was destroyed on July 30. That's what Carey O'Bryan told me (quoting from his diary), and it's supported by the fact that 41-2640 was not one of the nine that were on the Buna Mission on July 27, 1942. After the accident, this B-17 was salvaged at Horn Island. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Note, other sources list the Horn Island Airfield collision as July 13, 1942 or July 27, 1942, both dates are incorrect. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2640 "2640 ("Tojo's Physic") delivered to Lowry Mar 5, 1942; assigned to 19BG/92BS at Hickam, Hawaii Apr 22, 1942; sustained a ground collision at Horn Island, Australia Jul 13, 1942, repaired; Hit by an aircraft while on the ground sheering off the nose Jul 27, 1943. Salvaged for parts." The B-17 Flying Fortress "Famous Aircraft Series" Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 218, 235, 385, 388, 424 (footnote 23) Horn Island (2002) mentions this loss pages 198-199 Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Richard Rudd for additional information Contribute
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