Swedish F-17 Flying Fortresses, photo request

[Jan]

Hello,

My name is Jan Forsgren, a Swedish aviation historian. I am new to this forum. The reason for this e-mail is that I have just finished a manuscript for a book on the history of the seven (plus two spares ships) B-17's that in 1944/45 were converted by the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab into civilian passenger airliners. The provisional title for the book is The Boeing F-17 Flying Fortress in Civil and Military Service. And yes, the B-17 was indeed renamed as the F-17 in Swedish service! As the story goes, the B-17 was renamed the F-17 in honour of the US Air Attaché, Felix Hardison, for his work re the transfer of the B-17's to Sweden.

The British publisher Mushroom Models Publications, web site: www.mmpbooks.biz, e-mail: Rogerw@mmpbooks.biz (Roger Wallsgrove) are interested to turn my research into a book. I am looking for all kinds of illustations, photos etc, of these aircraft in American (before and during internment in Sweden), service with the Swedish airline SILA, the Danish airline DDL, the Danish air arm and the French IGN. Also, any photos of 42-32076 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby (later SE-BAP, OY-DFA, s/n 67-672 and F-BGSH) during her restoration at Dover AFB, or leads to same, would be much appreciated.

Regarding the restoration, does anybody have any idea where the interior, fittings, seats etc and the nose section ended up after the restoration was completed in 1988? I have information in a Swedish book entitled Kurirflygningar (i.e. Courier Flights), that two windows from the B-17 ended up at a summer cottage in Delaware! But, does any of the non-standard USAAF equipment remain?

Incidentally, the seven plus two aircraft involved were:

B-17F-75-DL s/n 42-3543, became SE-BAH
B-17F-115-BO s/n 42-30661, became SE-BAK
B-17G-5-BO s/n 42-31163, became SE-BAM
B-17F-70-DL s/n 42-3490, became SE-BAN
B-17G-40-BO s/n 42-97155, became SE-BAO
B-17G-35-BO s/n 42-32076, became SE-BAP, OY-DFA, 67-672 and F-BGSH
B-17G-35-DL s/n 42-107067, became SE-BAR and OY-DFE
B-17F-35-DL s/n 42-3217 Spares recovery
B-17F-25-VE s/n 42-5827 Spares recovery

Thank you very much for your attention,

Jan

[Steve Birdsall]

This gives me the opportunity to post a couple of old favourites . . .



and only ten years later . . .



The first photo was taken by Mike Leister at Dover AFB during the early stages of the restoration. The second shot was taken by Bob DeGroat on September 11, 1988.

Jan, did you get my message?

[hang the expense]

Hey nice pics.Shows the amount of reskinning that was required to get her back in military configuration not to mention a complete nose.That is why she is OD and grey and not natural finish.I hope that the AFM is able to make the trade for the Swoose.If you got the shark fin bird you win.

[Jan]

Steve,

No, I didn't receive your message. Please pm me, or drop me a line on janforsgren@yahoo.se

Incidentally, small parts of SE-BAN still exist at the Arlanda Civil Aviation Museum, located just north of Stockholm. Nothing to build an aircraft upon, but among the parts are one of the Wright Cyclone engines and part of one cowling.

Best regards,

Jan

[Totter]

Hello Jan, My father was the pilot who flew aircraft# 42-3490 to sweden on june 21st 1944. I would love to see some of the research you have done. I do have many pictures of his crew. I am in contact with his copilot and hope to find pictures of the aircraft.
Take care, Tim

[Jan]

Hello Tim,

I have a couple of photos of your father's B-17, s/n 42-3490/SE-BAN. Drop me a line at my e-mail address above if you're interested. I tried to send you an e-mail and pm, but apparently this didn't work. I would be very interested in learning more about your father and his crew's wartime experiences and subsequent interment in Sweden, as well as seeing photos. Hopefully, my book on the Swedish Fortress operations will be released later this year.

The information I have on your father's arrival in Sweden is that 2/Lt Totter landed at Bulltofta airport on 21 June 1944, 1230 hrs (Local Time). The landing was due to two damaged engines, with the airframe also having suffered some shrapnel damage. The crew, 2/Lt M P Totter (Pilot), 2/Lt W J Lynch (Co-Pilot), F/O E P Van Der Heyden (Navigator), S/Sgt A Strahle (Engineer), S/Sgt W G Rissmiller (TTG, Dorsal turret gunner), S/Sgt W A Lynch (Radio Operator), Sgt R W Rayle (Ball Turret Gunner), Sgt Stafford (Tail Gunner), Sgt C L Lewis (Right Waist Gunner) and Sgt J H Ranz (Left Waist Gunner) was unharmed, and were sent to internment camp IV at Korsnäs, just outside of Falun in central Sweden. By early November, all of them had been repatriated.

As for their B-17, it was repaired, and flown to Linköping, where it was converted into an ad hoc airliner. In Swedish service, it received the civil registration SE-BAN. It also received the name 'Ted'. SE-BAN was the last remaining B-17 in Sweden, and was scrapped sometime during mid-1950.

Incidentally, I assume that you have seen the relevant MACR for this mission, No. 5919?

Regards,

Jan

[Totter]

Thanks Jan, I would love to see Photos. I will also e-mail you their story. William Lynch is in the process of sending me his side of the story. By the time they made it to Sweden they only had one engine running. When the p-38 saw them they still had two.
Tim