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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2694. On May 23, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9222 and flown to Cheyenne, WY. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History On June 6, 1942 assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 26th Bombardment Squadron (26th BS). Later, 431st Bombardment Squadron (431st BS). Nicknamed "Knuckle Head". Later, this B-17 was assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS). Assigned to Captain Anthony Dean Lucas who renamed it "Li'l Nell" in honor of his wife, Nellie "Nell" Lucas who he married in May 1942. The bomber had no nose art associated with the name. On July 19, 1943, one of nine B-17s that took off from Carney Field piloted by Captain Anthony Dean Lucas around midnight on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) at 2:15am. Over the target, this B-17 took the second position, and was targeted by search lights from the ground. Diary of Captain Anthony Dean Lucas (piloting this B-17): "July 19, 1943: Nine ships of our squadron took off around midnight to bomb Kahili airfield. All my bombs hit on the target from 14,000 feet. While on the beginning of my bombing run I saw one of my best friends go down in flames [B-17E "Tokyo Taxi" 41-9153]. Shot down by Jap night fighters. He was Lt., soon to be Capt., Eckles, of Santa Barbara. We had been together for the past year in the 23rd. We were both [flight school class] 42E men. His was a real crew, with some swell men, co-pilot, Lt. Jones, a classmate of my co-pilot, Bomb. Lt. Knop, Nav. Lt. Fox, Enj., Sgt. Kelly, Ass. Enj., Sgt. Greene, Radio, Sgt. Davis, Hill and a couple of other men. I'm going to ask if I can take Rex's personal things home to his folks, and one day wife in Santa Barbara. During this same mission I was held in the search lights for six or seven minutes and I imagine the night fighters were getting pretty close." In fact, this B-17 was shot down by Japanese J1N1 Irving night fighter. Justin Taylan adds: "I researched the Japanese side of this mission in Japan at the Tokyo Defense Archives. According to Japanese records, a J1N1 pilot Tokumoto took off from Ballale Airfield at 10:40pm. At 11:15pm sighted a B-24 and made three attacks and claiming it shot down. Next, at 2:15 local time sighted a B-17 and made three attacks, claiming it shot down. Damaged in both engines, the J1N1 ditched into the sea and sank, killing the observer in the crash. Confirmed by Lucas' diary entry, the claim for the B-17 at 2:15 is most certainly B-17E "Tokyo Taxi" 41-9153." On October 21, 1943 departed from Espiritu Santo piloted by Captain Anthony Dean Lucas on a ferry flight of ear;y B-17Es from the squadron back to the United States, led by Major Berton Burns (C. O. 23rd Bombardment Squadron). The formation of four war weary early model B-17s included this bomber, B-17E 41-2444, B-17E "San Antonio Rose" 41-2467, B-17E "Knucklehead" 41-9222 plus another unidentified B-17. When the four bombers were inspected at Oklahoma City, all four were deemed "unfit to fly" and grounded. On Octoer 4, 1945 at Altus Airfield at Altus, OK and scrapped. Relatives Nellie Lucas (wife of Anthony Dean Lucas) Rex Lucas (son of Anthony Dean Lucas) Gwendolyn Waters (daughter of Anthony Dean Lucas) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9222 "9222 delivered to Cheyenne, May 23, 1942; assigned to 7th AF at Hickham, Hawaii, June 6, 1942; RETUS October 21 1943; RFC at Altus October 4, 1945." Kodochosho, 251st Kōkūtai, July 19, 1943 Captain Anthony Dean Lucas diary - July 19, 1943 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 367, 390, 477 (footnote 30) A History of IJN's Night-Fighters (2004) page 78 Quest for Rex Eckles and B-17E Tokyo Taxi by Gwendolyn Waters Thanks to Gwendolyn Waters and Minoru Kamada for additional information Contribute
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