4th Isreali B-17 fate?

[MarcKyle64]

I was reading through my copy of Final Cut (3rd ed.) and noticed something. There were three B-17s used by Israel as bombers, but they tried to smuggle in four. One was seized in the Azores and the trail ends there according to Final Cut. Does anyone know what happened to it? I searched the forum but found no mention of Portugal other than the 'Everything But The Flak' reference.

[aerovin2]

I am of the opinion, and I thought it was in the 3rd edition, is that the airplane (44-83842) went to the Dominican Republic as one of there two B-17s. See this excerpt from the B-17 Movie pages on Fighter Squadron on the Aero Vintage Website:

"One of my best sources for postwar B-17 information has been the late Malcolm Gougon. His records indicate the following about 44-83842: It was sold as surplus out of Altus AAF in May 1947 to Bob Sturges (dba Columbia Airmotive) of Troutdale, Oregon, and registered as NL1212N. In February 1948 he sold it to aircraft broker Charles Babb operating from the Grand Central Air Terminal in Southern California. Babb leased it to Warner Brothers for Fighter Squadron in the late spring of 1948 and then to MGM for Command Decision a month later. The airplane retained the gun turrets at this time. It was then sold in late June or early July to Israeli interests represented by Al Schwimmer, who had already smuggled three B-17s out of the U.S. bound for Israel. A crew tried to fly NL1212N out of the country during the second week of July. During the first week of July arrangements were made by a company named "World Air Ferries" at White Plains, New York, to purchase 6,500 gallons of avgas to be used to fuel two B-17s and four A-26s. When NL1212N showed up on July 11 at 0800, it was marked with the bogus registration of NL7712M. It was fueled and, after a short test flight, immediately departed bound for the Azores. It suffered some engine problems and ended up landng at Halifx, Nova Scotia, where it was imppounded. After a minor international incident, it was released for a return flight to the U.S. on July 16. During that flight, which apparently heaed east instead of southwest out of Halifax, ended early when three cowlings blew off the B-17 and it returned to Halifax. After repairs, the Canadians only would authorized a depature if the B-17 was escorted back to the U.S., arrangements for which were made for a July 18th departure. Shortly before midnight on the 17th, though, the airplane departed Halifax without permission and ended up in the Azores. There, Portugese authorities impounded the airplane and crew, the crew later being released to return to the U.S. The airplane's fate is not confirmed, but the best sources would indicate that it was shortly afterwards covertly obtained by the Dominican Republic. Some reports suggest that it was flown into the Domincan Republic in 1951 and became part of its air force flying as FAD 2301. However, Dan Hagedorn's excellent Central American and Caribbean Air Forces notes the arrival of a B-17G in the Dominican Republic in mid-September 1948, which makes more sense in the timeline. Two sources suggest this B-17G later carried the Dominican air force serial of FAD 2301. It remained in service until at least July 1954 but its ultimate fate is unknown. "

[DryMartini]

On the ball like always, Scott!