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  B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2668  
USAAF
13th AF

Former Assignments
5th AF
19th BG
93rd BS

5th BG
394th BS


USAAF c1942

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2479. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2668. On March 9, 1942 flown to Minneapolis, MN. Later, flown to Panama.

Wartime History
On May 5, 1942 flown to Hickam Field and assigned to the 5th Bomb Group (5th BG), 394th Bomb Squadron (394th BS. Later, flown across the Pacific via Fiji to Australia. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 93rd Bombardment Squadron (93rd BS). No known nickname or nose art.

On October 15, 1942 parked at Mareeba Airfield and photographed during an awards ceremony for men from the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG) attended by Major General George C. Kenney (C.O., 5th Air Force), Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker (Commanding General, 5th Bomber Command, wearing sunglasses) and Lt Colonel Richard H. Carmichael (C.O. 19th Bombardment Group, holding cane).

On August 6, 1942 in the evening took off from Horn Island Airfield piloted by Captain Harl Pease on a flight bound for 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to stage for a bombing mission planned for August 7, 1942 against Rabaul. Roughly fifty miles into the flight, an engine valve failed forcing this B-17 to abort the flight and landed safely at Mareeba Airfield. Back on the ground, Pease and his crew instead boarded B-17E "Why" Don't We Do This More Often 41-2429 and took off from Mareeba Airfield and flew to 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to participate in the mission.

Afterwards, repaired and transfered to the 13th Air Force (13th AF) in the South Pacific (SOPAC).

In late 1943 flown back across the Pacific to the United States. On October 21, 1943 flown to Hericks. On July 13, 1944 written off. On March 20, 1946 scrapped.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2668
"2668 delivered to Minneapolis Mar 9, 1942, assigned to 19BG Hawaii May 5, 1942; RETUS to 3137 BU Hericks Oct 21, 1943. WO Jul 13, 1944. Reclaimed for scrap Mar 20, 1946."
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 236, 424, 431, 436
Kenneth N Walker - Photos by George Strock, LIFE Magazine October 15, 1942
Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information

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Last Updated
February 17, 2024

 

Tech Info
B-17

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