Suzy Q B 17E Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2489 Markings question

[terveurn]

If you pull up the 19th BG records, you will find numerous B-17's in December 1941 / early 1942 that flew 25+ missions the first 2-3 months of the war.

The 19th BG was also the first to pioneer shuttle missions -- Australia to Del Monte Field, refuel then take-off again and bomb the Japanese -- return to Del Monte Field, refuel and fly back to Australia.

These same B-17s were not only being used for bombing, but as armed transports flying supplies into Del Monte and bringing out stranded troops, Rescuing MacArthur and his family, as well as anti-shipping strike missions.

From a lot of the reports, some of the B-17 (and LB-30's) were flying sometimes 2 missions each day.

[suzyQ194]

On You Tube A video entitled Scrapping World War II aircraft in North Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5N2APK ... railimages

Shows A b-17E with a number 6 on the tail and a RAF Fin Flash below, The Planes Name is Suzy-Q and displays 48 mission markings.

Is the the B-17E pictured above? on this page? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5N2APK ... railimages Bremerton Detachment?

Has anyone compiled a list of the B-17's that served in Africa with the 12th Air Force?

Thanks,
Tim

[terveurn]

Tim

searching for B-17's with the MTO / 9th AF / 12th AF is opening a can of worms......

you have ex-Pacific based B-17's in today's Israel flying combat missions from the eastern med (with the Halverson group (HALPRO)) and no known serial numbers (this bunch only came to light about 15 years ago -- even the 376th BG did not know about them), flying missions with both the RAF as well as with B-24D's

you have F-9's B-17 flying combat missions, but no known group (technically they were still assigned to the parent group in Colorado).

and borrowed "8th AF aircraft" (B-17E's), the groups that transferred their B-17E for F's models just before they permanently transferred to the MTO.

The entire MTO was a state of chaos for most of 1942 with anything flyable being used. Does not help that the group records (1942) for the 376th BG as well as the 99th BG were lost in combat and the 9th / 12th and 15th AF records have never been properly documented.

[Chris Brame]

The B-17F was the first USAAF heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe. After flying a total of 48 combat missions, Hell's Angels returned to the US in February 1944 and went on a war bond tour.

Another tidbit: 41-24577 Hell's Angels had one last chance to be saved for posterity; it was one of the B-17s that Paul Mantz bought in 1946 in his mass 475-aircraft purchase. Too bad nobody noticed at the time.

[Steve Birdsall]

The B-17E Susie-Q in the salvage footage is certainly one of the 513th Squadron planes but the serial number has never been confirmed as far as I know.

Apparently it was one of nine B-17Es assigned to the 513th, and they flew missions from Biskra, Ain M'Lila and St Donat between 28 December 1942 and 13 March 1943. They were relieved from combat on 14 March 1943.

Another one of these B-17Es showed up in the boneyard at Biskra . . .

[suzyQ194]

Steve ,
Wow thanks for the update, never heard of hal pro. Exciting news! Where does one start researching? THe MOE? The 93rd flew B-24D with b17es? Wow.
Thanks for the update. Wow exciting ..new information..
Question I want to build Suzy Q as she appeared in combat with the remote turret, with the us army and red center star prior to may 1942. From your research and the photo you shared do you think her name was in black lettering?
I am sure the 93rd b.s. 19th b.g. insignia was added for publicity and the white Suzy Q name. Did she ever have all her mission markings on the rear door? or where those added later?
In Bowman's book on page 36 he also shows her o.d. oversprayed in a darker shade of green r.a.f.? or h.a.d. green? Do you know where this info came from? or artist rendition?
Thanks for any assistance and the info on Hell's Angel's wow I need a time machine.
Did I share the newspaper article I found on Frank Buck forced landing in Australia?
Tim

[Steve Birdsall]

Sorry, can't help much with this . . . by the time 41-2489 returned from Australia (October 1942) it looks like there were fresher areas of paint in some places but I've never seen a colour photo of the plane. Definitely nothing to do with the RAF or Hawaiian Air Depot though.

The red centres of the national insignia had been over-painted by May 1942, and there's no record of when the name Susique was applied but it appears it was some time after the squadron moved to Mareeba in July.

As Dave mentioned, these older aircraft had really been through the mill and were pretty much considered war-weary by the middle of 1942. As new B-17s came in, these older planes were relegated to flying personnel around Australia and back and forth to New Guinea. When the supply of B-17s dried up some of them were completely overhauled and fitted with ball turrets, but 41-2489 had left Australia by then.

[aerovin2]

The B-17F was the first USAAF heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe. After flying a total of 48 combat missions, Hell's Angels returned to the US in February 1944 and went on a war bond tour.

Another tidbit: 41-24577 Hell's Angels had one last chance to be saved for posterity; it was one of the B-17s that Paul Mantz bought in 1946 in his mass 475-aircraft purchase. Too bad nobody noticed at the time.

Chris, a bit off topic, but Hell's Angels was actually noticed at the time....there are photos it as 'sort-of'' displayed at Stillwater for a short time, and it did survive to be trucked to Oklahoma City for use as a gas station cover...then scrapped, details obscure. See also this topic: viewtopic.php?p=2434

[terveurn]

Curiosity got to me Scott when you posted the link to the earlier discussion regarding this 3-gas station bombers. The discussion mentioned 10 ST & Villa in Oklahoma.... not much to go by.

but, if you google this location, it turns out this brick store is still in is around and, surprise, surprise, all the property has never been developed.

So, if anybody has a metal detector and lives in Oklahoma City, now is your chance to find some history.....

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