Aero Vintage Books

Came across this image on eBay. Thought it might be fun to get the scanner going on it. The 17F in the rear of the photo intrigued me. Found the history in Scott's B-17 movies section. Nothing like a good crisp photo to scan from

The entire image


Gable and the B-17G


The Mantz B-17F. Oh to find one in the configuration now that could get back in the air!

I have never been able to say with absolute certainty that it was Mantz's B-17F (42-3360) from Stillwater that was used in the film. I am 99.5% certain. Everything fits but that elusive 'proof' remains elusive. He did not register the B-17F until he sold it in 1950. I had not noticed that nose gun modification before...hard to miss in this photo. This actually adds a bit of mystery if the Mantz B-17F was a stateside trainer, were other B-17s so modified for stateside use? Almost suggest this B-17F was a combat vet. I'll ask the experts add their opinions to this....

Definitely a Douglas B-17F and 42-3360 is a good fit for that one I think.

As far as I know those nose gun modifications were the work of U.S. modification centers. The same arrangement turns up on 42-3360's contemporaries in the 8th Air Force (42-3349 El Mangau, 42-3352 Virgin's Delight) and 12th Air Force (42-3389 Rangy Lil) for example.

The equivalent nose gun arrangement also shows up on Vega-built ZI trainers like 42-6153.

Looks like one of the RFC 17s listed by Scott has the same mod