B-17F- Yes, an F

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:48 am

Also from the stack. Don't think it's an F? Run the s/n. At least, Baugher says it's an F. Thought it was neat. An F with a chin turret. Block 115 Boeing model, apparently. Thoughts?

TAdan · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:52 am

Very nice shot.

Some of the late model F's did come with chin turrets.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:07 am

I think this came after the B-40 tests. The XB-40 was if I am not mistaken a B-17F.

n5151ts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:18 am

...look at station 29 on the fuselage the 12th rivet is missing....

TonyM · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:07 pm

It is a B-17F for sure. It has the chin turret as mentioned, an off spring of the YB-40 project. Notice the B-17F top turret as opposed to the later type turret as found on B-17G. Also, the airplane has staggered waist gun position and no cheek gun bulges. And it has the June-September 1943 red surround national insignia. This was always my favorite late B-17F photo and I have one hanging in my library.

TonyM.

B-17 Buff · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:47 pm

TonyM wrote:

It is a B-17F for sure. It has the chin turret as mentioned, an off spring of the YB-40 project. Notice the B-17F top turret as opposed to the later type turret as found on B-17G. Also, the airplane has staggered waist gun position and no cheek gun bulges. And it has the June-September 1943 red surround national insignia.
TonyM.

Absolutely correct. Most definately a later 'F' as per the aforementioned items. I'll check my books for info on her...

Holedigger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:35 pm

Looks like the V-Stab has been overpainted, and with no unit markings on the fuselage, was she pulled off the line and modified? Where was the pic taken? Some distinctive islands below, anyone recognize a location?

Holedigger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:40 pm

Well, that was wired! Timed out three times and then double posted? Something wacky going on in the server room? Somebody spill their coffee? It has been slow on loading today!

(this edit is to overwrite the second-redundant post)

TonyM · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:45 pm

Holedigger wrote:

Looks like the V-Stab has been overpainted, and with no unit markings on the fuselage, was she pulled off the line and modified? Where was the pic taken? Some distinctive islands below, anyone recognize a location?

Most Olive Drab painted B-17s produced by Boeing had the vertical stabilizer painted first. There are many many photos of Boeing built B-17s going down the assembly line with only the vertical stabilizer painted OD with the AAF serial number painted on in yellow and the rest of the aircraft in natural aluminum (to be painted later). That is what you are seeing there with the mismatched paint.

Examples of this can be seen on page 3 and page 59 of B-17 FLYING FORTRESS in Detail and Scale by Alywn T. Lloyd. Also, more examples of this practice can be found on page 23 and page 24 of FORGE OF FREEDOM -- American Aircraft Production in World War II by V. Dennis Wrynn. And more can be found on page 62, page 68 and page 71 in THE AMERCIAN AIRCRAFT FACTORY IN WORLD WAR II by Bill Yenne.

TonyM.;

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2628

From Roger Freemans B-17 book,

42-30631 Del. Boeing 31/7/43; Seattle 12/8/43; Mat. Com. Eglin armament testing 7/10/43; ass. 8AF; ret. US 121 BU Bradley 11/8/45; RFC Altus 9/10/45; SHERRY GAL.

Regards,

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:34 pm

How many late Fs had chin turrets, and how many early Gs didn't have cheek guns? This photo of the Paducah, KY Air Scouts B-17 I posted before shows a chin turret without cheek guns:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=18364

Maybe we can narrow down the ID on this one a bit - at least until a side view shows up!

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:31 pm

It's hard to really tell conclusively because the edges of the print are either fogged out or it was a foggy Western Washington day, but the Island looks like the middle part of Whidbey Island North of Seattle and West of Everett. If thats the case the aircraft is flying North East-ish.
The vertical fins were built by KENWORTH in the old KW factory on E. Marginal Way So. (South of plant 2 and just North of the MoF)

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:39 pm

It took a while to identify her conclusively, but this is 42-30631 "Sherry Gal" in the UK sometime in 1944, by which time she had been withdrawn from combat and had her turrets removed.

If anyone can fill in her service history while with the 8AF, and especially where this photo was taken, it would be gratefully received.

All the best,
PB

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:59 pm

Neat! Thanks for posting!

Dave Smith · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:34 pm

I still reckon that's Burtonwood, Paul, but Langford Lodge is just possible.

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B-17F- Yes, an F

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