Mary-Ann in Miniature

[DryMartini]

Yes, tough economic times or not, the B-17C project is still
crawling along. A good friend gave me a nice Christmas gift
this year, showing me what it will look like once finished.

[hang the expense]

Thats real nice ,Dry.Thats a good friend as well.

[TAdan]

Very nice build is it 1/72 or 1/144... looks tiny!

[pokryshkin]

This is clearly the Academy 1/72nd scale kit, with the incorrect centered Mission Commander's Bubble. It's BEAUTIFUL anyway!
Also, in the film, if you notice, the star-roundels are POST-May 1942, WITHOUT the red center. Looks good to me regardless!
Regards and best wishes,

[DryMartini]

You know, I never noticed that! Great catch!

[pokryshkin]

My pleasure, Bill (if I may presume to address you thus).
The film shows the later clear centered stars; IF the film aircraft were marked to fit the plot, the illustrated stars WOULD have been correct!
Regards,
Dan

[Dan Johnson]

Just watched my DVD copy of Air Force again.

I really love that movie, as far fetched as it is

I also keep looking for something to ID that 17 for real.

[pokryshkin]

The real problem is that, as near as I can tell from watching the bleeping thing, that they overpainted the real USAAC S/N and painted that "05564" fairly early on in the Second Unit outdoor work; As near as I can tell it's almost ALWAYS shown in that scheme. Taxiing in at Pearl through the smoke, in flight en route the Phillippines, et cetera.
I wish someone had some photographic enhancement software for the scene where the aircraft is over Hawaii heading toward the landing field, and I think the gear might or might not be down at that point.
Can someone tell me whether the rudder shows the original 4 digits, or the repainted 5 digits atop the "10"?
This MIGHT help.

[pokryshkin]

As a matter of fact, if you check the other Forum discussions I have contributed to, this particular aircraft MIGHT have its serial visible in one of the several earliest scenes from aircraft engine start up and turn to taxi out, through pre-takeoff engine run, and takeoff roll start, although again someone would need photographic enhancement software to accomplish this.

From the newspaper article contributed by Steve Birdsall, the likeliest 2 candidates according to Col. Saavedra are 39-003 and 39-007, which numbers atop the rudder would be "9003" and "9007"

I'd love to find out about "9006" or "8266" as well.

There's just one problem with "8266":

According to Colonel Saavedra, aircraft stationed at Hendricks Field or Sebring at the time of second unit filming - June through August 1942 - were these B-17Bs :
"8211", "8212", "8259", "8260", "8261", "8262", "8269"("18"),
"8270", "9001,"("15"), "9003," "9007", ("10?") and B-17D "3065"

(NOTE: They dropped the first "0" from these aircrafts' Serial Numbers and only painted the final 4 digits on the rudders of these B-17B through D machines after mid-1942 or so.That Multi-colored B-17D photographed on patrol out of Hickam in early 1942, leading the formation of B-17Es 41-2405 and 41-2434, [all 3 having rudder stripes], has its S/N on the fin also; so does "8219" "Mildred" photographed up in Washington somewhere during early 1942.)

On reflection, "8260", "8261", and "8262" also look like possible candidates, but then there's that newspaper article.....


Addendum, April 18 (anniversary of the Tokyo Raid), 2010:
As we now know, thanks to Dan Johnson's overstrained eyes, the REAL serial of "10" "MARY-ANN", is actually "8584", or rather, 38-584!
Respectfully Submitted,

Dan Katz

[pokryshkin]

Another candidate is 38-212!

In the boneyard photo behind 39-001 in the Lowery Boneyard, the Serial Number is repainted much lower than is normally seen on these B-17B C and D aircraft. You can also see that 9001 ("15" in Air Force has had the fin and rudder LOWER THAN the "9001" repainted at least twice!

Dan K.

[05564]

I can almost see "Irish" in the cockpit window ! If the real one comes out looking this good you will have a winner.

[Dennis56]

My pleasure, Bill (if I may presume to address you thus).
The film shows the later clear centered stars; IF the film aircraft were marked to fit the plot, the illustrated stars WOULD have been correct!
Regards,
Dan

Well actually, should have insignia on top of left wing and bottom of right wing with side insignias (for camouflaged aircraft). All 4 wing surfaces, no side insignia, and red and white alternating with vertical blue rudder striping for bare aluminum aircraft. "U.S. ARMY under wings for all (as seen in some of the footage). After Pearl Harbor, almost anything goes for Hawaiian Air Depot or Philippines aircraft, as many were hurriedly camouflaged. Dennis