SWPA B-17F Question. Bill? Anyone?

[Steve Birdsall]

Talisman was a 43rd Bomb Group B-17F, 41-24537. I'm curious to know what modification all that riveting on the nose might indicate. I'm unsure of exactly when or where the work was done. (It's not battle or other damage repairs.)

[OldBillB17F]

My guess is that something extensive was mounted in the interior of the nose. What's throwing me off is the patchwork paint-job. Rivets look like they were applied AFTER the paint. Maybe re-positioned navigator equipment?

[Steve Birdsall]

Yes, I've heard tales of the navigator's desk being moved from the port side to the starboard side in some B-17s, but I don't know if it's correct or why it was done.

[Steve Birdsall]

Could some of this be related to the installation of the B-5 Drift Meter which superseded the B-3? That change didn't occur on the production line until somewhat later, but I don't know when it might have begun in the modification centers.

[hang the expense]

Could it be mounts for additional ammo boxes? The spacing of the rivets looks uniform enough.The there is the idea of more oxygen bottle mounts.

[DryMartini]

Hmm.
My first thought was a box feed system for the starboard nose gun,
but the odd-shaped, bunch of rivets above it leaves me stumped.

The rivets are not on any stringers or ribs - all on the skin,
unless they are attached to the ribs/stringers internally with tabs.