Warbird Information Exchange

At aerovintage.com, I just added a 'deep dive' on the B-17F that Paul Mantz flew out of Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1946 and owned until mid-1950. It appeared in two films...Command Decision and Chain Lightning, before Mantz sold it. It went to California-Atlantic Airways and Owen F. Williams in July 1950, then to Lloyd Aereo Boliviano in October 1950. It flew cargo operations until September 1955 when it crashed and was written off.

https://www.aerovintage.com/tallmantz-aviation/b-17f-n67974/

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017

Look at the tail - was the stinger cut off aft of the gunner's enclosure?
ETA: Did some newspaper searches for California-Atlantic Airways and found a couple goodies.

This must be B-17F 42-3470 going by the Rutas Aereas del Peru paint scheme:


And a very good article on B-17G 42-102542 at Sioux City:

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Chris, yes that tail is interesting. No indications in the FAA file of any mods or maintenance records so we'll have to wait for the next photo to appear...

As for the photo of 42-3470...thanks. i had not seen that one. That airplane has a long and interesting history...I'm working on a post on that for the Owen Williams series.

Scott

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017