Aero Vintage Books

Before I state my opinion on the status, present and future of 40-3097, I'd like to correct some misstatements in the narrative. First, the Swoose emblem currently on the aircraft is not original. When the Swoose was stripped down to bare metal in 1944, after the fact, someone decided that it would ...

I seriously doubt there is any concern about the LBJ connection.

I just read that the AF Museum has decided to restore the Swoose in its final, transport configuration. What a disappointment. this aircraft is getting shrift compared the the more glamorous "Belle" but is just as if not more historically than the B-17F. What a cop out.

The history of 40-2067 in interesting. Initially assigned to the 7th BG, the to the 28th BS, 19th BG prior to movement to Clark Field. I've never seen documentation that the 28th became part of the 19th BG on paper in the States.

And then there's this one. Also note the enlarged cheek gun window. The earliest B-17E I've seen with that modification. No guns in the Sperry lower turret.

We know the Philippine B-17's were painted at Clark Field, - there was two in the hanger being painted at the time of the attack Several were painted at Clark, some arrived there already painted. Most remained in NMF. A few had upper surfaces painted at Del Monte including Ole Betsey(later the Swoo...

Me too, around 7 years ago. I thought I'd bring it back in response to the to the original post above. It came from a rather obscure website covering B-17s and B-24s.

How it was done.

It's a B model with C model upgrades. Note that the nose mounts modifications are not finished.

The tech order was for the B-17E, not the B-17G.

Interestingly, the Tech Order does not mention the radio room gun.

I agree that the white cowlings probably indicate a stateside aircraft, but there were quite a few B-17s in England without nose guns, for for reasons I have I have never been able to determine.

Based on my reading (Fortress Against The Sun, and Samurai) and the accounts in both books, I have to agree with "varsity" on this. Not to mention the many pictures that show the .50 mounted in the lower right of the nose. Now MY question: I always thought the F model WAS fitted with a .50 in the g...

With all due respect, I have to disagree with you premise regarding Japanese head on attacks. As early as the Java campaign it was evident that the Japanese were using head on attacks. Many of the 19th Bomb Groups B-17Es had .50 cal nose guns installed to address this problem as it was obvious that ...