I saw this bird (44-83868) when it passed through Barksdale AFB, LA on it's way to Hendon. We towed out our 8AF Museum B-17G (non flyable) to pose alongside her for some pics on the B-Dale ramp, along with a
B-52G - - three Boeing Gs - - get it?!
Also . . . three Boeing
antiques!
The 'real' neat thing is that the 8AFM's B-17G (44-83884) is also a Douglas-built B-17G-95-DL. "Texas Raiders", the CAF's well-known bird, is a close relative as well - her serial is 44-83872. It's possible that these birds were within sight of each other back in mid-1945, when all three were built.
Our bird (884) was the second to the last Douglas-built B-17G, and was used for the "last one" rollout pictures fully armed and ready for delivery because the actual LAST Douglas-built B-17G was quickly shipped off. 884 lingered at the Douglas plant for a bit because after rollout she (and 872) both became Navy PB-1Ws - not sure about Hendon's 868 (too lazy to check my Fortress Survivors book).
Fun stuff.
Wade