B-17E identity. A mystery for the masters

[Dan Johnson]

Came across this image on eBay and figured it needed a home. Also figured it might provide a mystery for the 17 experts here. I'm assuming it's down in the snow, although I suppose it could be desert.

I blew up parts of the photo to show the nose, each wing and tail. I don't think it's My Gal Sal as the tail is clearly much higher in the air and the nose buried. The image floating around of Sal on the snow after ditching, she is laying much flatter.

The complete photo. Worth it just for dreaming of a 17 sitting out there somewhere to be found. Think she's still out there?


Cropped to show the entire plane. Interesting to note the camo showing through and the different looks on the ailerons and elevators. Also wondering if that is some kind of ID band on the left wing and tail.


The nose sure seems to show the framed nose glass of an E model.


Left wing. Note what appears to be a painted band on the wing tip. Wondering if they ran number 1 engine too after they ditched it. Sal was #4 if I remember right.


Right wing with camo showing through


Tail with the band on the left tail wing as well as the camo showing. Tail seems to be up off the ground a fair amount.

[varsity07840]

My guess is it's one of the B-17Es that crash landed in Iceland a la "Galcier Gal" . Some of those B-17s had RAF style camoflage.

Duane

[OldBillB17F]

The Lost Squadron B-17Es.

41-9101 Big Stoop







41-9105 Do Do

[Dan Johnson]

Doesn't appear to be either of those based on the buried nose glass and the prop angles. Hmmmmm

[OldBillB17F]

My theory is that it is My Gal Sal. Maybe this photo was shot later in the war? Either way, it doesn't seem to be a fresh crash (no disturbed ground). Granted, a night's worth of snow in Greenland could have covered her tracks by the next morning.

If you look at later photos of her (1960s), she has this huge snow drift that developed under her and that which ultimately broke her back. I think the aircraft may have been flipped by high winds too, if I remember correctly.

[DryMartini]

Remember that My Gal Sal had the tips of the prop on #4
engine sawed off in order to run the engine and charge the
batteries. It looks to me like the tips on #4 are there, as are
the tips on #1 (in case the photo is reversed).

[Dan Johnson]

The lack of missing prop tips on #4 was why I figured it isn't "My Gal Sal"

Wasn't there another E model the guys who had My Gal Sal went looking for at one point? Alabama Exterminator or something like that?

[OldBillB17F]

I don't see a yellow prop tip on engine #4. I do on all of the others.

There was 41-9108 Alabama Exterminator. The below photos could be a later time and later season, but seems doubtful.





The only other B-17E I know of would be 41-9090 Sooner, but I believe that was a ditching.

[spriso]

What a great mystery... I too noted the position of the props in the first image and agree that this is not Big Stoop.

Here are a couple other shots of My Gal Sal (note the lack of stripes on the wing):



Here is the Alabama Exterminator on the edge of the water (I had not seen this photo before!):



"Sooner" down in Greenland as well:



Great photo-- let's hope that the mystery can be solved!

Michael

[Dan Johnson]

Now I'm leaning towards a later picture of Sal.

It appears from this much later 1964 photo that the panel on number 1 is off like in the photo I posted. The props, outside of number 4 seem to be in the same positions. Could be the first photo was taken sometime later after the crew rescue and before the winds and show broke her back.

[DryMartini]

I'm leaning toward My Gal Sal, too.
The aileron and elevator color variations seem really close.

Looking at #4, I don't see the yellow prop tips.
Don't know what I was looking at before.

[05564]

Sounds like mystery solved, but what an exciting adventure it was. I knew the experts on here would figure it out. Great photos BTW, thanks.

[CaptnFig]

Dan Johnson - I'd be greatly indebted to you if you contact me by private message. I'm a researcher who has been working on My Gal Sal for more than 18 months. I also represent the descendants of the crew and passengers. Thanks!