B-17F Knucklehead

[Steve Birdsall]

I thought some of the trainer experts might be interested in this photo of B-17F Knucklehead – and the partially visible tail in the background.

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/28228

Knucklehead shows up elsewhere as being at Dalhart on 15 June 1943 but I don’t have a serial number for it.

My apologies if this is old news.

[terveurn]

ID block looks like 42-5307 for Knucklehead



Background B-17 is interesting - has an Id number, but wearing the squadron insignia of the 317th BS / 88th BG.

Now as we all know, the 88th BG was assigned to the 3rd AF and used a Letter / Number combination in later 1943

before November 1943 they was stationed at Walla Walla and and did not use any identifier.

Gives us three possible serial numbers 42-5351, 42-5356, 42-5358,


42-5351 is assigned to 88th BG but not 317th but 319th BS insignia:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/8097



42-5357 is not possible, photos do not show a number 57 on tail:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/8103

[Chris Brame]

Sister ship? 41-24556 taken at at Ephrata, #56 - number size and boldness seem to match:


(Can someone post the Knucklehead photo? AAM keeps giving me an "Aw, Snap!" error. I can get the thumbnail to enlarge a little but that's it.)

[Steve Birdsall]

Thanks, you were the experts I had in mind.

Chris, if you PM me with an email address I'll happily send that image. It's 1.5 MB and a healthy 6085 x 4790 scan. Confirms the serial number of Knucklehead is 42-5307.

[terveurn]

Well isn't that special

41-24556 looks to be carrying the tail insignia of the 399th BS / 88th BG (another Walla Walla ship)

So ?? does that mean the 88th BG carried tail numbers before Florida

or, was these aircraft reassigned and never had the squadron insignia removed .

******

or is she carrying the tail insignia of the 334th BS / 95th BG ?

399th BS small.jpg

42-5307 BB small.jpg

42-5307 BB data plate small.jpg

[terveurn]

From the 88th Bg records - a horrible listing of the aircraft on hand August 43

Walla Walla pg 1.JPG

Walla Wall pg 2.JPG