A couple of rare photos of the famous B-17E "Suzy-Q" ...

[Mark Allen M]

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress 'Suzy-Q' from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group on a war bond tour.
Some information and links to additional stories and information below.

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Delivered to the US Army on January 4, 1942 at MacDill Field. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Group, 93rd Bombardment Squadron in Java on February 7, 1942. Nicknamed "Suzy Q". This B-17 participated in the Java campaign.

Afterwards, flown to Australia and based at Mareeba Airfield, flying combat missions over New Guinea until late in 1942. Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2489, "Suzy-Q" was one of the most famous Flying Fortresses of the Pacific War and took part in all of the early Pacific battles except Midway, and it's gunners claimed no less than 26 Japanese aircraft destroyed.

This B-17 was flown back across the Pacific arriving at Hamilton Field on October 23, 1942. During November 1942, it participated in a war bonds tour in the United States. Afterwards, this B-17 was at Peterson Field on June 8, 1944 and Smoky Hill Field on July 12, 1944, San Bernadino Field on December 31, 1945.

On July 15, 1946 reduced to spare parts and removed from the inventory. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

Below link is a nice article from Steve Birdsall
http://www.australianflying.com.au/news ... nks-part-2

Additional links

https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/ ... -2489.html
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ ... 17-suzy-q/






This photo was taken at Walla Wall WA on a war bond tour.


'Suzy-Q' is I believe the center B-17, not sure though as these three may be B-17F's.


Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress 'Suzy-Q' from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group on a war bond tour. Photo taken at Ardmore Army Air Field, Oklahoma

[MattP38]

Thank you for sharing, Mark; profile courtesy of Mark Styling Illustrations.

[Chris Brame]

Thanks Mark! Also from the Walla Walla shot:
(left) 42-29730 - Per Dave Osborne, a stateside trainer then based at Great Falls, MT and later based at Walla Walla; lost on July 12, 1944 north of Gulfport, MS (bailout, stalled/spun in).

(right) 42-29534 - Again per Osborne, another trainer, based at Walla Walla from March-November '43, then to several other bases before going to the RFC at Albuquerque in June '45.

[Pat Carry]

Excellent Mark, thanks