Looking up Army Air Force serial numbers?

[bdsmith337]

Im somewhat new to the forum but im trying to research a B-17 in a photo containing my Grandfather. Im unable to scan and post the picture but directly in front of it is a ''100 hour inspection'' chalkboard with ''2769'' written in the ''AAF Airplane No.'' section. Does anyone know what this number means or if theres a place I can go to online to look it up?

[aerovin]

The "2769" is probably the last four digits of its Army serial number and if you can tell what series B-17 it is (F or G, most likely), you might be able to narrow it down to half a dozen possibilities with a bit of research.

[Edward Sheetmetalhands]

Im somewhat new to the forum but im trying to research a B-17 in a photo containing my Grandfather. Im unable to scan and post the picture but directly in front of it is a ''100 hour inspection'' chalkboard with ''2769'' written in the ''AAF Airplane No.'' section. Does anyone know what this number means or if theres a place I can go to online to look it up?

Joe Baugher's website has all the military serial numbers for your research. Click the link and scroll down for the links to the individual year prefix:

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html

[jamesintucson]

Im somewhat new to the forum but im trying to research a B-17 in a photo containing my Grandfather. Im unable to scan and post the picture but directly in front of it is a ''100 hour inspection'' chalkboard with ''2769'' written in the ''AAF Airplane No.'' section. Does anyone know what this number means or if theres a place I can go to online to look it up?

It is probably serial number 42-102769 which appears to have been a stateside training aircraft. From here: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_5.html

"102769 to RFC at Altus as TB-17G Nov 7, 1945"


Which means that it was transferred to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation at Altus Army Airfield, Oklahoma on November 7, 1945. The TB designation indicates a trainer. The RFC was the government agency that sold off surplus military equipement for reuse or scrap.

James