Warbird Information Exchange

I was trolling through the footnote website and came across a shot showing a double line of B-24s, with a B-17 parked at the side. The caption indicates that the B-17 (41-9112) has a power nose turret, a power tail turret and something unusual in the radio position. Attached is a closeup of this aircraft - does anyone have any information on this oddball? I'm assuming it's a field mod?



Doug

the original photo is at:
http://www.footnote.com/image/32443380/

Project Reed B-17E (41-9112), an effort by the 92nd BG in the UK to develop better defensive armament on the -17 based on the unit's experiences. Performed in the summer of 1943, it included a Consolidated nose and tail turret, powered twin guns in the radio compartment, Martin top turret, and bi-fold bomb bay doors.

One ugly B-17. Only one modified as such.

Doug,

I posted these pictures on a thread about a B-24 with a B-17 nose grafted on in a similar experiment to the Reed Project which created this thing.The bombardier ended up in a prone position.The airplane also had double hinged bomb bay doors instead of the usual B-17 type.Among other things,this was supposed to keep the Luftwaffe fighter pilots guessing on when the bomb run had started as with these doors would be harder to tell if they had opened compared to the normal B-17 bomb bay doors.The twin 50 caliber machinegun mount in the radio room position was hydraulically boosted.







THese pictures came from one of Roger A. Freeman's B-17 books.

Fan-dam-tastic gentlemen! I didn't expect so much so quickly. Thanks Aerovin, thanks Larry!

Doug

How'dyou like to be the radio room gunner at 25,000 feet?

Duane

It's okay. The guns are "power" assisted. Minus 40 friggin degrees, 150 knot wind, but they're "power" assisted.