Aero Vintage Books

B-17E 41-2534

Sebring AAF "34"

Hobbs "61"

Good matchup! Note the plane has picked up some extra lighter/darker splotches of camo in the last photo, plus some kind of insignia that looks something like a playing card(?).

One thing: was Hobbs referring to the field or the pilot? - Per Dave Osborne and AAIR:

Dave Osborne wrote:41-2534 Del Sebring 27/1/42; Cheyenne 20/5/42; Eglin 29/11/42; c/l w/Bill Yeats, Hendricks 10/4/43; rep. then f/l base w/R.A. Hobbs 7/7/43; Sal 5/2/44.

AAIR wrote:430410 B-17E 41-2534 87 School Hendricks Field, FL LAC 3 Yeates, William E USA FL Hendricks Field, FL

AAIR wrote:430707 B-17E 41-2534 87 School Hendricks Field, Sebring, FL GAC 4 Young, Robert A (mechanic) USA FL Hendricks Field, Sebring, FL

Osborne says "R.A. Hobbs" had the second forced landing on July 7, 1943, but the AAIR report lists it as a ground collision with "Robert A. Young"; same first two initials. (I think the photo is of the crash landing at Hendricks on April 10; I scanned it from page 104 of Edward Jablonski's book Flying Fortress.) I don't think this plane was based at Hobbs AAF, though; the numbers on the tail don't match the narrower, less bold style used at Hobbs. What do you think?

you are so correct - Pilot was Hobbs:

HOBBS, R. A.; NEAL, ALLEN R.; NORRIS, R. H.; GRAVES, J. B.; YOUNG, R. H. (44-7-7-54)

Yeates crash

YEATES, WILLIAM E.; FLETCHER, WILLIAM H.; FARRY, EDWARD T.; DONOVAN, PHILIP R.; GEISWITE, E. W. (43-4- 10-22)

agree - Hendricks AAF - large bold numbers.....

same as 41-9167....

and just found another shot of the crash landing...

VERY cool! The splotchy camo shows up even better.

Note that a ball turret has been added by the time of the crash. Having seen other pics of stateside Es lacking ball turrets in early 1942, I'm guessing there was a shortage of them at that time.

Man, you guys are good.