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Another B-17 mystery: 42-102803

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 7:59 pm
by Chris Brame
In my never-ending search to ID the Paducah B-17G, I found this image on the America Air Museum in Britain's site, credited to the Roger Freeman collection:
Image
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102803) at Gulfport USA, used for training purposes. Image stamped on reverse: 'Air Ministry.'

42-102803 B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/4/44; Gulfport 20/4/44; 4119 BU Brookley 22/11/44; 328 BU Gulfport 24/11/44; 4117 BU Robins 4/1/45; 4104 BU Rome 18/1/45; 3704 BU Keesler 21/6/45.
Not sure where this is, but it sure isn't Gulfport, MS with the desert landscape plus a batch of Vampires and an Avro York! The Fort's engines and turrets are missing, the life raft container is open, and it has a generally derelict look to it... so any guesses as to what's going on here?

Re: Another B-17 mystery: 42-102803

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:29 pm
by hang the expense
Engines and props gone as well as aft crew door.It also has a stinger tail gun.I cant enlarge the photo to see if the adf is still in place.Might have belly landed.

Re: Another B-17 mystery: 42-102803

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:54 pm
by terveurn
This is not a B-17G - she is a B-17H

This photo was taken after she had a crash landing on 27 August 1947 not 1957 (slight keyboard oops)
803.JPG

Re: Another B-17 mystery: 42-102803

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:02 am
by Second Air Force
Good information!!!

I wanted to suggest that the item hanging below the nose might be a radome but I didn't really want to stick my neck out....your research sure points to that being remains of an H2X.