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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2532. On March 26, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9060 and flown to Boise, Idaho. On May 29, 1942 arrived at Lowry Field. By June 1942 flown to Hickam Field. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 26th Bombardment Squadron (26th BS). Nicknamed "Zero Six Zero". Flown from Hickam Field across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Next, assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS) and operated from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. On March 23, 1943 this B-17 was parked at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal loaded with bombs and fuel ready for a night mission against Kahilli Airfield on southern Bougainville. During the night, three G4M1 Bettys from 705 Kōkūtai (705 Air Group) conduct a night bombing mission against Henderson Field and dropped 60kg and 250kg bombs on the northwest dispersal area. A bomb hit B-17E "Buzz King" 41-9124 that was fully loaded and triggered her bomb load to explode. Momnets later, another bomb hit this bomber destroying it. The resulting explosions caused a crater 40' wide by 30' deep. Also destroyed was B-24D "Flying Gator" 41-23898, B-24D "Shamrock", B-24D "Lone Wolf" and RNZAF Hudson from No. 3 Squadron. Captain Jim Carroll wrote: "Washing Machine Charlie was not to be denied. His bomb struck 41-9124 amidship and triggered her bomb load, which ignited her fuel load. She disappeared in a magnificent swoosh! A little later, 41-9060 [this aircraft] was hit by the nuisance bomber. The B-17 [41-9060] was blown to hell by Charlie, who dropped one along the plane which was loaded with eight 500 pounders... [the explosion left] a hole 40' wide and 30' deep - that was all. Two B-17s had disappeared in the blink of an eye." On October 31, 1944 this bomber was administratively written off. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9060 "9060 delivered to Boise Mar 26, 1942; transferred to Lowry May 29, 1942; assigned to 7AF Hawaii Jun 7, 1942. WO 3Oct 31, 1944." Fortress Against the Sun (2001) pages 326-327, 389, 424 (Chapter 16, footnote 13) Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information Contribute
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