I'd never have thought twice but for the numbers painted behind the cockpit. Having first seen that look in "Flying Buccaneers" way back when, I'm guessing Steve might know more about this recent eBay find. Hope I wasn't bidding against anyone here.
Closer look at just the 17. Clearly no ball turret so I'm assuming one of the armed 5th AF Transports.
Right on the money Dan . . . armed transport from the 433rd Troop Carrier Group. It's an early photo of 41-24353, Cap'n & The Kids, before the nose art was restored.
Could be as a result of a taxi accident with a C-47 at Ward's Strip (Port Moresby) on 19 February 1944 . . . 41-24353 suffered unspecified damage to the "nose section" and fuselage.
Figured I'd kick this one back up to the top as another image of 371 turned up on eBay and I was lucky enough to grab it. No nose art again so maybe taken at the same time?