Question about a B-17E at Scott Field May 1944

[Steve Birdsall]

B-17E 41-2431 arrived in Hawaii in December 1941 and served with the 11th Bomb Group, first in the 26th Bomb Squadron and later in the 42nd. On 25 October 1942 it was being flown by Lt Harold Hensley and shot down a Japanese flying boat. When the 11th Bomb Group converted to B-24s, it was passed on to the 5th Bomb Group, where it was known as a “gas hog”.

41-2431 returned to the ZI early in 1944 and served at Scott and Chanute fields. It was at Scott in May 1944 when there was a devastating hangar fire but the old B-17E survived again, although her fabric-covered control surfaces were burned.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anybody knows of photos of that large fire and its aftermath at Scott . . . I’m hoping 41-2431 might turn up somewhere, even if just in part and in the background. Any help very welcome.

[Chris Brame]

Have you tried looking up the accident report photos for 431 and any other a/c involved in that fire?

[Steve Birdsall]

Yes, nothing there.