B-17Es to Mid-Continental in Minneapolis

[Steve Birdsall]

In March 1942 seventeen brand-new B-17Es were flown from Seattle to Mid-Continental Air Lines in Minneapolis. The serial numbers were: 41-2650, 41-2658, 41-2659, 41-2660, 41-2661, 41-2662, 41-2663, 41-2664, 41-2665, 41-2666, 41-2667, 41-2668, 41-2669, 41-9011, 41-9012, 41-9014 and 41-9015. Boeing delivered the planes between 4 and 10 March, and it was that entire week's production. (The missing numbers, 41-2651 through 41-2657, were all delivered on 3 March and went to Lowry.)

The 17 passed through Hawaii in May and June and four – 41-2660, 41-2661, 41-2665, 41-9011 – got caught up in the Midway battle, flying with 5th and 11th Bomb Group crews.

Two were soon written off – 41-2661 was wrecked at Lanai, Hawaii on 5 June 1942 and 41-2667 crashed on takeoff from Whenuapai, New Zealand on 9 June. All the others ended up in Australia with the 19th Bomb Group. When the 19th went home, the survivors were passed on to the 43rd, and a couple of them ended up as armed transports in the 54th Troop Carrier Wing.

I have everything I need about their combat histories, but I’m curious to know exactly why these 17 were sent to Minneapolis and what modifications were carried out there. As far as I can see no other B-17Es or B-17Fs were flown direct to Minneapolis before or after this bunch.

[terveurn]

are you sure they went to Mid-Continental...

I know Northwest Airlines had a modification center at Minneapolis - but that was usually B-24s & C-47's

http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMa ... 24-333.pdf

http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00110.xml

(search modification)


Minneapolis was also the home for Honeywell Aero Division - usually RADAR mods.


Cheers

[Steve Birdsall]

Yes, definitely "Mid-Continental Air Lines" according to Boeing records.

[Dan Johnson]

are you sure they went to Mid-Continental...

I know Northwest Airlines had a modification center at Minneapolis - but that was usually B-24s & C-47's

http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMa ... 24-333.pdf

http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00110.xml

(search modification)


Minneapolis was also the home for Honeywell Aero Division - usually RADAR mods.


Cheers

My Dad worked for Honeywell Aero. One of his projects was Radar Altimeters for B-52s.

Didn't the Doolittle B-25s come through Minneapolis for modifications as well?

[Steve Birdsall]

Dan, you probably know that Minneapolis-Honeywell had its own B-17E . . . 41-9210. They got it in mid-May 1942 and had the use of it for more-or-less the entire war. I'm sure there must be photos of it around, but I don't have any.

[OldBillB17F]