Hobbs Update

[Dennis56]

Hate to disagree, but this looks much more like B-17E 41-2542 at Hendricks? We had B-17F 42-5452 IDed as #95.

Do you have many other Hendricks B-17s identified by the buzz number? # 17, a B-17B was used to test the new runways at nearby Avon Park Bombing Range. Curious as to what serial number that may have been. I have access to two pictures of it, but not authorized to share them (could possibly get permission). Given that at least 2 B-17B had fatal crashes in the area, I'm wondering if either might be #17. Do have pictures of 2 B-17s that crashed at Hendricks. One short of a runway, and one that bellied short of a runway and caught fire. Dennis

[Chris Brame]

B-17 ditching trainer 44.jpg

Hmm. The number is in the right place, but there should be an H- in front of it. Odd lettering style, too.
How many bases had ditching trainers? I've seen several different photos of them.
Wonder where was this filmed? I see distant mountains behind 42-6092 (note the Dyersburg code is missing later on).

B-17F trainer 42-6092 DY.jpg

B-17F trainer 42-6092 no DY.jpg

And check out the tail of a P-43 in this shot, far right beside the two L-birds:

P-43 tail.jpg

[Second Air Force]

Grand Island had a ditching trainer, also an OD airplane. I can't remember where they are, but I'll see if I can find my photos of the trainer and pool.

[terveurn]

Hendricks had a B-17C / D used as a ditching trainer

[Dennis56]

B-17B used as water trainer at Drew Field (now Tampa International Airport) B-17B in pond.tif

[Chris Brame]

Image isn't showing, Dennis - please try again, I wanna see this

[terveurn]

From the files

H-?7

42-30877 hobbs.jpg

[terveurn]

another Ditching trainer - this time Amarillo

Amarillo ditching trainer.jpg

[Dennis56]

B-17B in pond.jpg

Have this as a clipping from am old newspaper article about Drew Field. Scanned it, but it wasn't correct format to attach. Fixed that now.
Have pics of 2 Hendricks wrecks too. Dennis

[Chris Brame]

VERY intriguing! Looks like there may be a faded number on the nose (forty-something?)
Wouldn't you know it, I had a free weekend on newspapers.com and if I'd known about this I would have looked it up. What was the newspaper and date?
Terveurn, think you can ID this one with a larger image?

[Dennis56]

It was the Tampa Tribune, which now is called "Tampa Bay Times". It was sometime in the 90s. I should have the clipping somewhere, I'll have to find it. There is some kind of name on the nose, but I believe that, along with the 1944 insignia, were not it's service markings, Also, about 1997, there was an article about an AAF mechanic who was at MacDill. This article had a picture of a B-17B that had gone into Hillsborough Bay (part of Tampa Bay) and was recovered. From my research, it was the first AAF plane to go in the bay. I don't think they were the same plane. Dennis

[Second Air Force]

Here is the article from the Grand Island Base Historical Record.

[terveurn]

Have this as a clipping from am old newspaper article about Drew Field. Scanned it, but it wasn't correct format to attach. Fixed that now.
Have pics of 2 Hendricks wrecks too. Dennis

Post the Hendrick wreck shots

[terveurn]

Terveurn, think you can ID this one with a larger image?

If it is a B-17B, should not be too many candidates

38-211 - crashed (Class 5): 22 Oct 42 - Hendricks - SOC.

38-222 - crashed (Class 5): 20 June 42 - Hillsborough Bay - SOC.

38-258 - TAC (Class 4): 25 Jan 43 - Hendricks - SOC.

38-259 - LAC (Class 4): 7 Dec 42 - Hendricks - SOC.

38-262 - Crashed (Class 5): 2 Apr 43 - 19 miles S Hendricks - SOC.

38-269 - LAC (Class 4): 10 Oct 42 - Hendricks - SOC.

38-583 - LAC (Class 4): 4 Dec 43 - Dal Mabry - SOC.

39-2 - Stricken / scrapped: 4 August 43 - Hendricks - SOC.

So....... From the photo, you can clearly see the July / August 1943 USAAF insignia and it looks like it was an intact airframe (ie Class 5 is usually a complete wreck, Class 4 is major structural damage)

If you wanted my opinion, I would call this B-17B in the pond, 39-2

Dave

[Dennis56]

Realistically, It would have to be 38-222. The 2 class 5s from Hendricks were destroyed, one spinning in and the other (19 miles south) crashing into an orange grove. I suspectthe spin job to be buried. Not to mention that they wouldn't haul a hulk that big the 100 miles from Hendricks, or not like 175 miles from Dale Mabry.
I got excited a few years back when I found a strange cowl in a swamp off where Mabry used to be. Especially excited because the cowl has a faded scallop painted on it (think the one picture of Mary Ann). Turned out the next trip to verify and the inspection stamps showed it to be from a Northrop Raider - surplus incident, not military. The cowl is still there.
I've always suspected the Hillsborough Bay plane, but also figured it could have been a hangar queen that ended up wet.
Both my Hendricks wrecks are Es, maybe an E and an F. Will post later - nap time. Dennis