An early YB17

[Dan Johnson]

Nothing great about the photo I suppose, but it appealed to me. I don't know where it was taken but it's dated September 11, 1939. I wonder what the crowd was thinking at the time, and the crew of this 17 as well with the world slowly building towards another World War.

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[DryMartini]

Information from Dik Shepard:

Not much a picture here, but enough to be able to give some information about it. Don't know the location, but the Y1B-17 is aircraft 36-155. It had been the Headquarters Squadron number 10 and was called the 2nd Bomb Group "FLAGSHIP", that is until the "B" models started to arrive. The first "B" model to the 2nd BG was the second B-17B (s/n 38-212) and it went to (where else) the Headquarters Squadron, where it got the aircraft number 10 and became the new "FLAGSHIP". 36-155 stayed in the HQ Squadron, but it's number was changed to 11 (as you can see on the vertical in the photo). Also notice that 36-155 retained the three color engine cowlings of the HQ squadron.

[05564]

If I'm in the crowd, I'm thinking "What a BIG Beautiful SOB". In 1939, this was probably the largest aircraft flying.