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| USAAF 5th AF 54th TCW Former Assignments 19th BG 435th BS 30th BS 43rd BG 65th BS 63rd BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2468. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2657. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving on April 17, 1942. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 435th Bombardment Squadron (435th BS). Later, assigned to the 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nickname or nose art. On August 7, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Fred F. Wesche as one of thirteen B-17s on a mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul, but aborted the mission due to engine failure. On November 22, 1942 or November 23, 1942 one of six or seven B-17s that participated in a bombing mission against Japanese ships off Lae in Huon Gulf. On August 30, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in the early morning hours piloted by Lt. Cecil C. Knudson on a dawn bombing mission against Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Steve Birdsall adds: "I think this mission happened on November 22, in the afternoon or evening, but I am surprised there's so many differing reports. November 23... Combined Headquarters at Townsville has an entry for November 23 noting that six B-17s "attack ships Lae"... identifies 65th Squadron, and #536 [this B-17 was] "shot down" and #552 "turned back". Other numbers mentioned are 537, 657, 420, 015 and 638. So, maybe seven planes took off to attack Japanese shipping near Lae. B-17F "Listen Here, Tojo!" 41-24552 turned back, B-17E 41-2638, 41-2657 [this aircraft], 41-9015, B-17F "Talisman" 41-24537 and B-17F 41-24420 attacked, and B-17E 41-2536 was shot down. Also, it is possible this mission was on November 21 or 22." During November 1942, assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). Nicknamed "Old Faithful". During late July 1942 assigned to the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) and retained the nickname. On January 8, 1943 took off piloted by Captain Jay P. Rousek leading five B-17s from the 65th BS and 63th BS on a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy off Lae. On the bomb run at 6:00pm, intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars, this B-17 was hit by a cannon shell in the astrodome in the nose that damaged instruments and disabled the oxygen system and killed navigator 1st Lt Roy K. Duffee. Damaged, the B-17 aborted the mission and return to 7 Mile Drome. On September 8, 1943 last combat mission with the squadron. During early November 1943, converted into an armed transport at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field. On December 8, 1943 assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Wing (54th TCW) and continued to fly as an armed transport in New Guinea and later the Philippines. Fate On June 21, 1945 scrapped in Manila. Memorials Duffee killed on January 8, 1943 is buried at Decatur Cemetery in Decatur, GA at section 8. References Possibly, during 54th Troop Carrier Wing, this B-17 was nicknamed "Caroline" USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Fortress 41-2657 "2657 ("Old Faithful") delivered to Lowry Mar 5, 1942; assigned to 19B at Hickam, Hawaii Apr 7, 1942; transferred to 43BG/20BS May 22, 1942; Salvaged Jun 21, 1945." FindAGrave - 1LT Roy Kenneth Duffee (photo, grave photo) Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 168, 227, 368, 388, 391, 428 Ken’s Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2016) pages 111 (January 8, 1943), 313 (January 8, 1943 KIA Duffle), 326 (63rd BS, 41-2657), 328 (65th BS, 41-2657), 399 (index Old Faithful) Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information Contribute
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