Aero Vintage Books

Good stuff as ever Scott.

Regards this photo:



That would be 43-38970, assigned to the 398th as N7A on January 3rd 1945, and remained with the unit until June 1945, during which time she completed 42 missions.

All the best,
Paul

Thanks Steve,

Here's what I have on 41-24460:

Originally assigned 306BG, 423BS "A", SBA trainer during 1943,
Assigned 482BG 22/9/43, training aircraft as of 14/2/44
Assigned 1st Bomb Div. Special Purpose Flight, Kimbolton.
As of 31/3/44 oldest B-17F in 8AF still on hand.

All the best,
PB

From NARA comes this image: http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k227/ramc181/81-V.jpg Brigadier General Robert B. Williams' plane, a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" is parked along the taxi strip during his visit to the 91st Bomb Group base at Bassingbourn, England. Does anyone know the serial number of...

Thanks for that.

Keep up the good work.

All the best,
PB

Spanner,

For us non a/c repair bods, could you clarify:

Are these the old rivet heads that ended up left inside the structure, or have the heads come off the new rivets put in during the AD?

All the best,
PB

Unusual fitting in a B-17 radio compartment...... anyone have any info on it?
The original caption says it's a rocket launcher, at the 2900th CCRC which was at RAF Bovingdon, England, at the time the photo was taken.

All the best,
PB

Does anyone have an idea why there is an SCS-51 Glide Path Receiver indicator fitted upside-down in the Bombardier's position in this B-17G? http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k227/ramc181/bdrcrop.jpg The only other info I can add is that it is probably 42-97947 SC-U of the 401BG, and was H2X-equippe...

Thanks all.

I was wondering if a damaged turret could look like this, or whether a PFF radome could delaminate in such a way as to appear that way.

The "lump" certainly looks more likely to be a panel from a ball turret.

All the best,
PB

Does anyone have any ideas what this is on this ball turret? http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k227/ramc181/cropfort.jpg I'm trying to ID the individual aircraft, and I've narrowed it down to two, one of which had a standard turret, the other had a PFF radome. Any suggestions welcome. ;) Thanks in a...

Hi All,

I'm trying to track down a copy of the diagram showing the different antenna fittings on B-17Gs. I've got the one for the B-17F, and was hoping someone here might have the later version.

All the best,
Paul

I noticed this mentioned on another forum and was wondering if anyone had an ID or knew any more? From Warbird-Parts.com: "G-607: B-17G project aircraft, consists of props, tail gear, wheels, tires, brakes, engine mounts and more. Has all paper work - currently on US registry, long term project. POA...

I hadn't come across an A-suffix for this, or any other, PFF equipped B-17 until this thread. I first found it in relation to Chuckie on the FAA Registry Certificate. As a cross-check, I looked at the French Registry for F-BGSO 44-8889 which was also a PFF aircraft, there is no suffix on that certif...

There are three CIA/RoCAF B-17 losses since 1950 listed HERE.

26/5/54: Special Ops Unit B-17. Lost to PLA AAA, Fujian.
22/6/56: Special Ops Unit B-17. Lost to PLA MiG-17, Jiangxi.
29/5/59: 34 Sqdn B-17 "835". Lost to PLA Mig-17, Guandong.

More info, and photos, HERE.

Hope that's of use,
Paul

Could it be possible that she was converted with PFF equipment, and then used for H2X development and testing by the ATSC? This interior photo I have here of a PFF-equipped B-17 from that serial number range in 401BG, 8AF service, is fitted with the AN/APS-15 set but with the computer from the AN/AP...

Oh, and by the way, does anyone know if there are plans to convert her back to a PFF bird? I think that would be super cool, given that it would be a unique conversion and one that would be fully justified. Joe I believe that is one of the long-term aims. :D I found another mention of 44-8543 in th...