AAF B-17 as Civil Airplane during WWII

[aerovin]

I just posted on an obscure AAF B-17G, 42-102642, that flew from RAF Bovingdon in November and December 1944 with the civil registration of NC19929. It was assigned to the HQ of VIII Bomber Command (actually USSTAF) during the time. Examining the scant information in the CAA airplane file and the available military records, there is no obvious reason for having the airplane carry a civil number. Perhaps easier diplomatic clearances? Perhaps a clandestine reason. I posted what I can find out about the airplane. It was salvaged after a March 1945 landing accident at Orly Field at Paris.

https://www.aerovintage.com/2024/03/01/an-obscure-clandestine-b-17g-42-102642/

[JohnB]

Bailed to a civil entity?

During the war, not much need for subterfuge.
The only diplomatic niceties that needed to be observed might be to fly to neutral nations.
Remember the BOAC-marked, civil registered Mosquitos flying to Sweden?
Perhaps flying diplomats or Red Cross officials to visit internees in Switzerland, Spain or Sweden?

Also, I have found mention of the US flying unarmed B-24s to Sweden late in the war. Perhaps an offshoot of that?

[A68-1001]

Might of been one of operation Sonnie aircraft ? There was a British reg b24 , Sonnie story is towards bottom of pages in the link
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/artic ... air-force/

[Randy Haskin]

During the war, not much need for subterfuge.

I'm not sure how to say this without sounding snarky but....active wartime has a need for subterfuge to be attached to *every thing*. Deception, decoying, concealing, camouflaging, etc.

[quemerford]

Might of been one of operation Sonnie aircraft?

Random unrelated query: are you from Bristol, UK? "might *of*" (should *of* etc) seems to be a Bristolian thing. I never came across it til I started working in Brizzle!! (see also "my babber" and the word "set" to indicate that snow is falling and building up). Been here for 15 years and feel like a local.

[Noha307]

Though it's not the exact same situation, there were a series of unusual three letter civil registrations on American aircraft for export to Britain/France that might be sufficiently similar to offer some insight.

[JohnB]

During the war, not much need for subterfuge.

I'm not sure how to say this without sounding snarky but....active wartime has a need for subterfuge to be attached to *every thing*. Deception, decoying, concealing, camouflaging, etc.

Gee, I must have missed that in my 20 years as an officer.
(yes, that was me being snarky. You must think everyone here is dim)

My point was, (and I thought it was rather obvious so I did not elaborate...I thought it was pretty clear we were discussing this particular airframe, not discussing the general "art" of war)...
If one wanted to fly covert missions, it's the wrong airplane.
Why?
In WWII pretty much EVERYONE knew what a B-17 was and who flew them (you get two guesses). Not to mention its rather imposing size.
Not a good aircraft to go sneaking around Europe in or if you are trying for "plausible deniability". For that you'd like an unmarked DC-2/3 or some prewar civil type.
PROBABLY NOT a currently operational long range heavy bomber.

Your suggestion of "...decoying, concealing, camouflaging, etc." isn't going to fool anyone about what it is and who is flying it.