(Edited slightly for content)
As I can remember, Col Pittman was Project Office Engineering Div. Wright Field. The XC-108 was further modified at Wright Field by (our Lab?) Aero Medical to include litter supports and Troop support systems (augment seating).
Since I was on orders to India China for a special mission, Col. Pittman asked me to fly over in the XC-108 and report on its operation. (The B-17 modified to XC-108A was to be used to fly concentrated loads over th Hump, ammunition in and (WIA- wounded in action?) out of China. At this time, late 1943 and early 1944, plans were to invade China by air. This modified aircraft was part of the plan. (The plans were, as you know, cancelled in early 1944.) the plane was flown from Wright Field to Memphis, Tenn. to the Ferry Command.
A captain, one of the command's best pilots-his name escapes me at this time-but he had been a ferry pilot for the Canadian Air Force before we entered the war. With an outstanding crew we left Memphis for Miami, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Ascension, Accra, and on to India. The crew consisted of pilot, copilot, navigator, and crew chief. There was one other passenger other than myself-a major (traveling on transfer orders, I believe). We had nothing but problems.
Our first stop at Miami (we were) to be loaded to maximum weight. We had engine problems. Couldn't get it repaired until special permission was received from Wright Field since it was an experimental aircraft. Col. Pittman was contacted and permission recieved.
We got off to Puerto Rico and took on maximum fuel and departed for Belem, Brazil. More trouble-engine no. 3 fire over British Guiana jungle four hours out of Belem. Fire extinguisher in engine (was) not successful (electrical fire). Capt. gave permission to abandon plane but he planned to ride her down. All aboard decided to stay with the captain. The captain skillfully nursed the plane into Belem. The crew chief and I got out as soon as we could and with a fire extinguisher put out the fire before we stop(ped) rolling (lucky, yes).
The plane was repaired in four or five days and we departed for Asension, refueled and went on to Accra. Again engine problems. At this point I left the XC-108A since I had another mission to perform (my primary)."