USAAF B-17 interned at Khabarovsk?

[Jan]

Hello,

Courtesy of Finnish aviation historian Carl-Fredrik Geust, I've received information of a USAAF B-17, possibly a B-17F, that was interned at Khabarovsk (alternative spelling Chabarovsk), Siberia, at an unknown date. I am aware of the fact that the Soviet Union operated 23 B-17's, but, as far as I am aware of, all of these were 'acquired' on Russian-held territory in Eastern Europe.

One B-17F was tested by the NII NKAP (i.e. Scientific Test Institute of the People's Commissariat for the Aviation Industry), which, possibly could be connected to the Khabarovsk B-17.

Can anyone add to this, and/or provide a possible USAAF s/n?

Regards,

Jan

[pokryshkin]

To the best of my knowledge, what the Soviet AF got, they got from painstakingly rebuilding aircraft written off at Poltava, and/or whatever other aircraft they might have located in crashes and/or crash landings on Soviet-held territory during shuttle flights and, truthfully, I do not have any idea what other means they might have had.
My Uneducated Inpert guess is that one of these aircraft might have been assigned or temporarily stationed there for some kind of testing and/or evaluation.
Uneducated Inpert=Wilbur and Orville (admitted their ignorance, willing to learn from ANYONE)
Educated Expert=Dr. Samuel Pierpont Langley (he of the "off the houseboat, Into the Potomac")
Best of luck in this research!
Regards and best wishes,

[pokryshkin]

Further, NKVD agents were probably grabbing B-17 Manuals (AND B-24 Manuals as well as the stuff for B-29s) right and left during that period. Uncle Joe had requested B-17s and B-24s but got only A-20s and B-25s. There may have been some translated manuals to help the V-VS gradually rebuild these aircraft, and/or some USAAF crews might have somehow given up their aircraft as well. I only wish I had more data for you.
Regards,
Dan

[huron1988]

Didn't a couple of Doolittles B-25's land in Russia? As they were not yet in the war, the plane and crew were "interred" there for awhile.
I also recall reading that some planes and crews from the Aleutians campaign may have gotten into Russian hands as well, plane types unknown.

[ww2John]

One Doolittle raider B25 ended up in Russian territory.

Since the crew was not buried, they were interned for a period of time.

[pokryshkin]

I cannot now recall the name of the pilot of the Doolittle Raid B-25B which was interned by the Russians, but the problem is that this particular aircraft, instead of having the special long-range carburators and/or settings set up for the raid, wound up having them replaced and/or reset by unknowing mechanics during repairs and/or servicing in (San Francisco? San Diego? I forget where Hornet sailed from) and therefor had less range than the rest! They wound up HAVING to set course for Siberia as the only place they could reach with the fuel consumption they had.

Second, there were a number of B-17G aircraft that were either damaged on shuttle raids or unwillingly given up by their crews for other reasons that the Russians made airworthy again. I just read this in one of my sources, I forget where, and apologize for not having it to share with you.
Regards,

[Guest]

The USS Hornet with the Doolittle Raiders aboard sailed from San Francisco.

[pokryshkin]

Thank you!
Regardless, those messed-up carburators, that were not optimized for range (don't forget the original launch distance was supposed to be 400 miles or so, and the distances involved - carrier to Japan to Chinese bases - was such that the maximum range had to be wrung out of the engines and what fuel could be carried aboard these early Mitchells (B-25B) so that the carburators had to be set up forminimum consumption consistent with keeping the aircraft aloft!

I JUST REMEMBERED: IT WAS EDWIN "SKI" YORK!!!!! His aircraft had the messed-up carburators and they were FORCED to go to Russian/Soviet territory as the ONLY FRIENDLY LAND THEY COULD REACHL!!!

Thanks again for the SFO info!

[aerovin2]

The Doolittle B-25s had their maintenance support done at McClellan Field (Sacramento) at its Air Depot. Its been a sore point between the different parties about who did what to which, as far as the B-25 engines were concerned.

[pokryshkin]

Wow!!
Thank you!!
I apologize for working strictly from memory.
You are great!!!
Again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
I guess that is one dispute that may or may not go away. There are so few Dolittle Raiders left, now (20??) -or am I thinking AVG?

Regardless, my gratitude is boundless, as is my admiration for you who juggle so many forums and info, et cetera!

May your EVERY good wish come true - you, and all who love you!

Regards and best wishes again,
Dennis L. "Dan" Katz
IPMS-USA 2018 (received at the 1967 Convention, where , in between college courses, and family responsibilities at the Madrid Hotel, I helped John Peters, the guy who was stuck running the thing as no one else would help much!!)1967-74, 1990-91
SAFCH 1512 (1990-2000)
AAHS 18301 1990-2000