Boeing B-17 Survivors

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Main article: B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing B-17 Survivors highlights the history of many well known flying and static displayed B-17s in the United States. A list is also provided of other Flying Fortress' on display around the world; including location, model and serial numbers, brief history, nicknames/markings, and conditions.

Contents 1 Background 2 Individual histories 3 B-17 survivors 3.1 B-17D BO Boeing-Seattle 3.2 B-17E BO Boeing-Seattle 3.3 B-17F BO Boeing-Seattle 3.4 B-17F DL Douglas-Long Beach 3.5 B-17G BO Boeing-Seattle 3.6 B-17G VE Lockheed-Vega 3.7 B-17G DL Douglas-Long Beach 4 References 5 External References 6 See also

[edit] Background

When the B-17 production lines closed down in late 1945 a total of 12,731 aircraft were produced by Boeing, Douglas & Lockheed. While a vast majority of these aircraft were lost in both combat operations as well as training accidents, the remaining combat veterans and early production models were stored and later scrapped in the vast scrap drives of the late 1940s.

A vast percentage of the remaining aircraft that survive today came from the last batches of aircraft produced by both Douglas and Lockheed, which had better corrosion control practices. These aircraft had found use in the 1950s and early 1960s as DB-17 Drone Director and QB-17 target aircraft with the USAF, as U.S. Navy / U.S. Coast Guard early warning, rescue or weather aircraft (known by the naval aircraft designations PB-1W or PB-1G), or overseas as photo mapping aircraft with French National Geographic Institute. After retirement from active service, these aircraft took up a second career during the early to late 1960s to the late 1980s as aerial sprayer or water tanker aircraft. During the late 1970s when the warbird movement began, these survivors were eagerly anticipated and as each came on the civilian market many were restored to original combat configuration.

With the availability of intact, existing airframes beginning to diminish, the warbird movement, starting in the late 1990s and continuing to the present, has been seeking out previously considered unrecoverable airframes for restoration.

Altogether 58 B-17s have survived and, as of January 2007, 12 airframes are currently in flying condition. There is at least another dozen airframes from various wrecks which could result in future restorations (including 2 known wartime B-17D wrecks).

[edit] Individual histories

Altogether 44 B-17 have survived and, as of January 2007, 14 airframes currently in flying condition. Examples include:^[1]

• Aluminum Overcast (B-17G-105VE 44-85740), civil reg. no. N5017N, — The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'s B-17G that tours the U.S. offering flight experiences.^[2]

• Liberty Belle (44-85734) — The Liberty Foundation's B-17G from Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[3]

• Memphis Belle, (B-17F-10BO 41-24485), which flew 25 missions over Europe before touring the United States to advertise war bonds, is arguably the most famous B-17 to survive.^[4] Forgotten in the post-war rush to disarm, the "Belle" was rescued off a salvage yard at Altus, Oklahoma in 1946 by an alert Memphis citizen who convinced the city fathers to reclaim the bomber before it was scrapped. The "Belle" was displayed at several locations in Memphis from 1948 to 2003, and was then transported to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in October 2005 for restoration and eventual display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The restoration is expected to take eight to ten years.^[5]

• Picadilly Lilly II (44-83684) — The last active B-17 in the United States Air Force, retired in 1959 after nine years as a DB-17P drone director. Acquired by Edward T. Maloney for his infant air museum, first at Claremont, California, then at Ontario Airport, California through 1969. Primary aircraft for Twelve O' Clock High television series, 1964–1966 as Picadilly Lily (one "l"). Now at the museum Planes of Fame, Chino, California.^[6]

• The Pink Lady (44-8846) — Flew six missions in April 1945 for the 511th Bomber Squadron of the 351st Bomber Group. Purchased by the French National Geographic Institute for survey work. Restored in 1984, it flew in the US film Memphis Belle as Mother and Country.^[7]

• Return to Glory, formally Starduster II (44-6393) — The B-17G was delivered to the 97th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force August 1944, was modified to a VB-17 and assigned to General Ira C. Eaker until he retired. Sold to Bolivia, it flew cargo until reacquired by the USAF Museum. It has been restored to its wartime appearance at the March Field Air Museum, March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California.^[8]

• Sally B (44-85784) — Housed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, England.^[9]

• Sentimental Journey (44-83514) — Operated by the Arizona Wing CAF and located at its Flying Museum facilities at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona and owned by the Commemorative Air Force.^[6] Sentimental Journey tours the U.S. annually and offers flight experiences.

• Texas Raiders (B-17G-95-DL 44-83872) , converted to PB-1W BuNo. 77235, turned N7227C - Only combat patrols were with Navy Airborne Early Warning Squadron One (VW-1) NAS Atsugi during Korean Conflict. Retired from service in 1957, she was used as a high altitude aerial surveying platform until being purchased by the Confederate Air Force (Now Commemorative Air Force), being maintained and flown by the Gulf Coast Wing out of William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston, Texas.

• Thunderbird (44-85718) — Housed at the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas.^[6]

• Wicked Wanda/Gremlin's Hideout/now unnamed (44-83863) — B-17G-95-DL/PB-1W BuNo 77231/firebomber, Tanker 18/71/D1, N5233V, now on display at Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.^[10]

• Yankee Lady (44-85829) - Housed at the Yankee Air Museum, Belleville, Michigan by the Yankee Air Force

• DB-17P (44-83624) (a converted B-17G that did not see combat), at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base (without its top turret, which it gave up for the restoration of Shoo Shoo Baby on display in the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio). Shoo-Shoo Baby replaced 44-83624 as the Air Force Museum's long-time Fortress exhibit. Ball-turret from B-24D Strawberry Bitch - expected it to be removed in 2008 and reinstalled.

[edit] B-17 survivors

Each line describes one remaining complete or partial airframe. Each line is broken down into several sections:

Aircraft number	History	Markings	Holder	Location	Condition
B-17G-35BO 42-32076 (F-BGSH)	ex-8th / 401st BS / 91th BG ex Danish AF 672 ex Institut Geographique National	Shoo Shoo Baby	USAFM	Dayton, Ohio	(D)

• Aircraft Number describes the type of aircraft and model B-17G-35BO its s/n 42-32076
  and registration (F-BGSH).
• History tells the history (oldest to newest): ex 8th / 401st BS / 91th BG
  then Danish AF 672 then ex-Institut Geographique National.
• Markings deals with current markings, codes first then name: Shoo Shoo Baby
• Holder is current owner or museum: USAFM
• Location deals with either location where it might be seen or owner's address: Dayton, Ohio
• Condition:

(D) = Display

(A) = Airworthy

(S) = Stored

(R) = Under restoration

(W) = Wreck

[edit] B-17D BO Boeing-Seattle

• B-17D BO c/n 2125 40-3097, accepted: 25 April 1941,ex-11th BG / 17th BS (Pilot: Lieutenant Henry Godman) "21 11B Ole Betsy" - Clark Field, ex-19th BG / 14th BS - Del Monte Field / Mindanao, ex-personal transport of Gen. George Brett (Pilot: Captain Weldon Smith) "The Swoose", SOC: 6 April 1946, “ The Swoose “, NASM, VA (S) ^[11][12][13]

note: tail from B-17D 40-3091

note: to be traded for USAF Museum's B-17 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby in 2009

[edit] B-17E BO Boeing-Seattle

• B-17E-BO c/n 2231 41-2420, accepted: 17 November 1941, ex-13th AF / 11th BD / 42nd BS (Pilot: 1st Lt Charles E. Norton) - ditched: 24 September 1942 - Ndomo, Guadalcanal, " Bessie the Jap Basher ", Ndomo, Honiara - Solomon Islands (W) ^[14]

• B-17E-BO c/n 2257 41-2446, accepted: 6 December 1941, ex-5th AF / 7th BG / 22th BS (Pilot: Captain Fred Eaton) - Garbutt Airfield Australia - 1 combat mission, crashed: 22 February 1942 - Karaisa PNG, " Swamp Ghost ", David Tallichet, Lae, Papua New Guinea (S) ^[15][16][17]

note: impounded and stored

• B-17E-BO c/n 2406 41-2595, accepted: 14 February 1942, ex-97th BG - MacDill Field, ex-383rd BG "Desert Rat" - Ainworth Field, converted to: XC-108A / 17 August 1943, ex-ATC - Chabua, India, SOC: December 1945, " Desert Rat ", Mike Kellner, Galt, IL (R) ^{[18] [19][20]}

• B-17E-BO c/n 2504 41-9032, ex-8th AF / 97nd BG / 342nd BS (Pilot: Lt. Ralf Stinson) - crashed: 27 June 1942 Goose Bay Greenland (N65.21' W45.53'), “ My Gal Sal “, Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial, Cincinnati, Ohio (R)

• B-17E-BO c/n 2562 41-9090 (N3142U), ex-8th AF / 97nd BG / 342nd BS (Pilot: Major HC Chambers) - crashed: 27 June 1942 Narssaq, Greenland (N60.58' W45.40'), " Sooner ", Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial, Narsawak, Greenland (W)

• B-17E-BO c/n 2573 41-9101, ex-8th AF / 97th BG "Big Stoop" - crashed: 15 July 1942 Greenland (N65.20' - W40.20'), Greenland (W)

note: buried under 200' of ice

• B-17E-BO c/n 2577 41-9105, ex-8th AF / 97th BG "Do-Do" - crashed: 15 July 1942 Greenland (N65.20' - W40.20'), Greenland (W)

note: buried under 200' of ice

• B-17E-BO c/n 2682 41-9210 (N12355), accepted: 16 May 1942, loaned: Honeywell (avionics research), SOC: 8 November 1945, Flying Heritage Museum, Bellevue, WA (R) ^[21][22]

• B-17E-BO c/n 2706 41-9234, ex-Fortress IIA FL461, ex-5th AF / 43rd BG / 65th BS - 7-Mile Aerodrome, Port Moresby - 13 combat missions, crashed: 8 January 1943, " Grey Ghost ", Wau, Papua New Guinea (W) ^[23] (E146 48' 21" S7 2'14")

[edit] B-17F BO Boeing-Seattle

• B-17F-10BO c/n 3170 41-24485, accepted: 15 July 1942, ex-8th AF / 1st AD / 91st BG / 322nd BS (Pilot: Col. Robert K. Morgan) "DF * A Memphis Belle" - Bassingbourne - 25 combat missions, converted: TB-17F, ex-1st AF - McDill Field, SOC: August 1945 - Altus, Ok, " DF-A / Memphis Belle ", USAF Museum (USAFM), Dayton, OH (R) ^{[24] [25]}

• B-17F-20BO c/n 3206 41-24521, 23 July 1942, ex-5th AF / 43rd BG / 63rd BS, (Pilot: Capt. Ken McCullar) - ditched: 11 July 1943 " Black Jack / The Jokes Wild ",Boga Boga, Papua New Guinea (W) ^[26]

• B-17F-70BO c/n 4896 42-29782 (N17W), converted to: TB-17F, ex-air tanker #E84, #C84, #C44, #44, #04, ex-1000 Plane Raid, ex-Tora Tora Tora (B-17 crash scenes), ex-Memphis Belle "DP*Y Kathleen", " Boeing Bee ", Museum of Flight, Renton, WA (S) ^[27]

• B-17F-115BO c/n 5795 42-30681, ex-11th AF (Pilot: James Aubrey), - crashed 27 April 1943 - Ruby, Alaska, Tillamook Air Museum , Tillamook, OR (S) ^[28][29]

note: wings with Artic Warbirds, Fairbanks-Bradley Field AK

note: Aft fuselage - Cincinnati, OH

[edit] B-17F DL Douglas-Long Beach

• B-17F-15DL c/n 7944 42-3008, ex-8th AF / 92nd BG / 407th BS " PY * T Ready Teddy " - ditched: 30 January 1944 - Sweden, Poeskallavik, Sweden (W)

note: planned recovery

• B-17F-50DL 42-3374, ex-TB-17F, “ 230230 / L / Homesick Angel “, Offutt AFB, Nebraska (D)

[edit] B-17G BO Boeing-Seattle

• B-17G-1BO 42-31044, ex-15th AF/97th BG "Her Did", Calvi, Corsica (W) ^[30]

• B-17G-35BO 42-32076, ex-8th AF/91th BG/401st BS "LL-E Shoo Shoo Baby" - 24 combat missions, ex-SAAB (SE-BAP), ex-DDL-Danish Airlines (OY-DFA) "Stig Viking", ex-Royal Danish AAC 67-672 "Store Bjoern", ex-Institut Geographique National (F-BGSH), " LL-E Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby ", USAF Museum, Dayton, OH (D) ^[31][32]

• B-17G-90BO 43-38635 (N3702G), ex-Tanker 61, " A N / Virgin s Delight ", Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California (D)^[33] (N 37 21' 54.16" W 120 34' 41.75")

[edit] B-17G VE Lockheed-Vega

• B-17G-35VE c/n 7219 42-97854 (N9094V), ex-8th AF / 390th BG - ditched: 9 April 1944 - Graah Fjord, Greenland, Aeronautical Archaeological Research, Auburn, CA (W)

• B-17G-55VE c/n 7656 44-8256, modified to PFF, ex-8th AF / 1st AD / 41st BW / 303rd BG / 359th BS / - Molesworth, " Triangle-C(3) BN * Y Yankee Girl ",The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D)^[34]

note: nose art panel only

• B-17G-70VE c/n 7943 44-8543 (N3701G), modified to PFF, ex-TB-17G, ex ETB-17G, ex-JTB-17G,“ Chuckie “, Vintage Flying Machines, Ft. Worth, Texas (A)

• B-17G-70VE c/n 7984 44-8584, modified to PFF, ex-15th AF / 5th CBW / 483rd BG / 816th BS " Y-Star Rum & Coke ",The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D)^[35]

note: nose art panel only

• B-17G-85VE 44-8810, ex-8th AF / 3rd AD / 13th CBW / 100th BG / 349th BS (Pilot: 1st William Smith) - Podington, " Square-D XR-L Target for Tonight ",The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D)^{[36] [37]}

note: nose art panel only

• B-17G-85VE c/n 8246 44-8846 (F-AZDX), ex-8th AF / 1st AD / 94th CBW / 351st BG / 511th BS - Polebrook, "Triangle-J DS*M" - six combat missions, ex-Institut Geographique National, " The Pink Lady " , Saint-Yan, France (A)

• B-17G-85VE c/n 8254 44-8854, ex-8th AF / 3rd AD / 4th CBW / 94th BG / 333th BS - Bassingborn, " Square-A TS*? Just Once More ",The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D)^[38] note: nose art panel only

• B-17G-85VE c/n 8289 44-8889 (F-BGSO), accepted: 31 February 1945, assigned: 8th AF (stored), ex-7499th BS - Viesbaden Germany, converted: RB-17G 14 October 1949, converted: QB-17G April 1954 - Olmestead AFB, SOC: June 1954, ex-Institut Geographique National, SOC: 23 September 1976, Musee de l Air, Le Bourget, France (D) ^{[39][40] [41]}

• B-17G-95VE c/n 8492 44-85583, converted: B-17H, redesignated: SB-17G, sold: Brazil June 1953, ex-Brazilian AF FAB 5402, ex-6th Grupo de Aviacao / 1st Esquadraos - Recife, SOC: 1968, " B17-5402 ", Base Aerea de Recife, Brazil (D) ^[42][43][44]

• B-17G-100VE c/n 8508 44-85599, converted: EDB-17G, converted: DB-17G, converted: DB-17P, " 338133 AW*O Reluctant Dragon ", Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX (D) ^[45]

• B-17G-105VE c/n 8627 44-85718 (N900RW), accepted: 10 May 1945, stored: 6 July 1945 - Syracuse AAF, stored: 21 November 1945- Altus AAF, sold: 10 December 1947 SNCAC, ex-Institut Geographique National (F-BEEC) "Charlotte", SOC: 12 June 1984, “ 238050 BN*U Thunderbird “ , Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM), Galveston, TX (A) ^{[46][47][48][49]}

• B-17G-105VE 44-85734 (N390TH), ex-Pratt & Whitney turboprop test aircraft, “ Liberty Belle “, Liberty Belle Foundation Tulsa OK., (A)

• B-17G-105VE 44-85738, ex-20th AF/509th CG, ex-Operation Crossroads, ex-DB-17G, ex-EDB-17G, " K / Preston's Pride ", AMVETS, Tulare, CA (D) (N36 09'10.56" W119 19' 52.30")

• B-17G-105VE 44-85740 (N5017N), “ 2102516 / FU*D / Aluminum Overcast “, EAA Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin (A)

• B-17G-105VE 44-85778, ex-TB-17G, ex-VB-17G, ex-tanker 102, " Miss Angela ", Palm Springs Air Museum, 'Palm Springs, California (A) ^[50]

• B-17G-105VE 44-85784 (G-BEDF), ex-EB-17G, ex ETB-17G, ex-Institut Geographique National (F-BGSR), “ Sally B “, B-17 Preservation Ltd, Duxford, England (A)

• B-17G-105VE 44-85790, " Lacey's Lady ", The Bomber Foundation/Art Lacey, Milwaukie, OR (D) (N45 25'31.37" W122 38' 03.72") note: nose section under restoration at Aurora, OR

• B-17G-110VE 44-85813, ex-EB-17G, ex-JB-17G, ex Curtis-Wright turboprop test aircraft, Tom Reilly, Douglas, Georgia (R)

• B-17G-110VE 44-85821, ex-PB-1G Bu 77247, British Columbia, Canada (S)

• B-17G-110VE 44-85828 (N9233R), ex-PB-1G Bu 77254, " 231892 / I ll Be Around ", Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona (D)

• B-17G-110VE 44-85829 (N3193G), ex-PB-1G Bu 77255, ex-tanker C34 / 34, “ GD Y / Yankee Lady “, Yankee Air Force, Ypsilanti, Michigan (A)

[edit] B-17G DL Douglas-Long Beach

• B-17G-50DL 44-6393, ex 15th AF, ex-CB-17G, ex VB-17G, “ 2nd Patches “, March AFB, California (D)

• B-17G-65DL 44-6779, ex-15th AF / 463rd BG / 775th BS, SOC: 25 October 1945 - Walnut Ridge, " Triangle-Y Tish ", ,The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D)^[51] note: nose art panel only

• B-17G-75DL 44-83316, Ocotillo Wells, California (S)

• B-17G-75DL 44-83387, MGM Twelve O'Clock High, (Nose section only) California (S)

• B-17G-80DL 44-83462, (D)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83512, ex-TB-17G, “H T / Heaven Above “, USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX (D)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83514 (N9323Z), ex-RB-17G, ex DB-17G, ex-DB-17P, " F / Sentimental Journey ", CAF Southern Wing, Mesa, Arizona (A)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83525 (N83525), ex DB-17G, Weeks Air Museum, Kissimmee, Florida (R)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83542 (N9324Z), ex tanker 18, " Picadilly Princess ", Fantasy of Flight, Polk, Florida (D)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83546 (N3703G), ex-CB-17, ex VB-17G, " Memphis Belle ", David Tallichet, Chino, California (A)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83559, ex DB-17G, ex-DB-17P, " 23474 / EP B / King Bee " , SAC Museum, Offutt AFB, Nebraska (D)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83563 (N9563Z), ex-CB-17G, ex VB-17G, “ 297400 / K T / Fuddy Duddy “, owner: Martin Aviation, John Wayne Airport, CA^[52] (F)

• B-17G-85DL 44-83575 (N93012), ex-TB-17H, ex SB-17G, “ 231909 / OR R / Nine-O-Nine “, Collings Foundation, Stow, MA (A)

• B-17G-90DL 44-83624, ex-MB-17G, ex DB-17G, ex DB-17P, " 2107112 / VE O / Sleepy Time Gal ", Dover AFB, Dover, DE (D)

• B-17G-90DL 44-83663, ex-TB-17G, Ex Brazilian AF (5400), “ Short Brier “, Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah (D)

• B-17G-90DL 44-83684 (N3713G), ex-DB-17G, ex DB-17P, “ Picadilly Lilly “, Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, California (R)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83690, ex-DB-17G, ex-DB-17P, Grissom AFB, Indiana (D)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83718, ex-Brazilian AF (5408), Museu Aerospacial, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (S)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83722, Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida (S)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83735 (F-BDRS), ex-Institut Geographique National," 231983 / IY G / Mary Alice ", Imperial War Museum, Duxford, England (D) ^[53]

• B-17G-95DL c/n 32426 44-83785 (N207EV), ex-TB-17, ex-SB-17, ex-CIA, ex-air Tanker 22, C71 and B71, "-K Shady Lady ", Evergreen Aviation Museum (EAM), McMinnville, OR (D)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83790, ex-8th AF Brooks Aviation, Douglas, Georgia (R)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83814 (N66571), ex-tanker A18, 18, C13 & 09, NASM, Dulles Airport, VA (S)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83863 (N5233V), ex-PB-1W Bu 77231, ex-tanker F71, D1, 18, Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida (D)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83868 (N5237V), ex-PB-1W Bu 77233 XD-2, ex-tanker E15, F15, 65, " N ", Royal Air Force Museum, London, England (D)^[54]

• B-17G-95DL 44-83872 (N7227C), ex-PB-1W Bu 77235, “ Texas Raiders “, CAF, TX (R)

• B-17G-95DL 44-83884 (N5230V), ex-PB-1W Bu 77244 XD-10, ex-tanker C19, E19 & 19, “ Yankee Doodle II “ , Barksdale AFB, LA (D)

[edit] References

[edit] External References

• B-17 News
• Black Jack 124521
• Liberty Belle Liberty Belle info
• The Swoose
• Swamp Ghost 12446
• Labrador B-17 483790
• Brian's B-17 Survivors List
• Greenland crash list
• B-17 Database (Germany)
• Boeing Tankers page
• B-17 Aerotankers history

[edit] See also

• B-17 Flying Fortress variants
• C-108 Flying Fortress

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