Attn shoppers: 44-83404 postwar

[Chris Brame]

Taken in 1948 at Punto Alegre, Brazil. This one had an interesting career (per David Osborne at least); looks like one of the few combat veterans to evade the smelters at Kingman and stay in service for a while:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-1948-PHOT ... SwJChexvPX

Osborne's info doesn't mention the photo pod in place of the chin turret, though:

44-83404 Del Lincoln 21/2/45; Grenier 12/3/45; slated 15AF, tran 34BG Mendlesham 14/3/44 (last a/c assgd to grp); RetUS Bradley 28/6/45; Sth Plains 2/7/45; 4168 BU Sth Plains 31/1/46; 4117 BU Robins 3/3/46; 91 RCN McDill 29/4/46; re-ass 31/3/47; 91 RLP Howard (CZ) 6AF 18/1/48; 91 RLP Waller (Trinidad) 18/7/48; 91 RLP Sq McGuire 9/2/49; 3902 AB Offutt 23/3/49; trans USN; Sal 24/2/50.

So, ended up as a parts bin for the PB-1 program?

[aerovin2]

For those that have my 1993 book B-17 In Blue, Appendix J on page 115 relates that 28 RB-17Gs, including 44-83404, were transferred to the Navy for parts support for PB-1Ws. RB-17Gs from the the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, the 3902 Air Base Group, and the the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, were transferred. The book identifies 24 of them...four of them are unidentified. Thirty were originally allotted but only 28 were transferred. Two other EB-17Gs converted by the USAF to PB-1W configuration for tests were also transferred at around the same time.

Great to see a photo of one of these airplanes.