WIX Archive: A few familiar B-17's ...

K5DH · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:24 pm

Here's a great vintage shot of some of Hugh Wheelless' aerial spraying fleet in Dothan, AL. If you look closely, you'll see three B-17s. One is Chuckie, another is Aluminum Overcast, and the third was lost in a crash while being operated by Wheelless.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:18 pm

Quality's kinda sucky, but here's a B-17 fuselage on the 20th Century-Fox backlot sometime in the 1960s:

I think this is 44-83316, since the aft fuselage is intact. The image came from a 1990 documentary about Marilyn Monroe's unfinished last film Something's Got to Give.

FlyingFortB17 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:55 pm **Posts:** 217

This is a most excellent thread! :supz:

daviemax · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:07 pm

Here are some views of 41-9210. The first is when the aircraft was serving Kenting Aviation, Toronto, Canada. Striking shot, one of my favorites. Note camera apertures and dual DF antennas.

Parked showing Kenting colors.

As CP-753 in Bolivia.

daviemax · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:12 pm

This is 44-83872 as PB-1W 77235.

And later, in the hands of Aero Service Corporation, participating in the retirement ceremony of General Curtis Lemay, 1 February 1965. Now Texas Raiders.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:59 pm

That's a really cool, historical shot, of General Lemay.

Thanks for that.

Agreed. This is a great thread. B-17s are usually a fairly easy sell to a WIX audience :wink:

Andy

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

Nice stuff fellas :supz:

Boeing B-17G 'Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby' The aircraft carried the name 'Store Bjorn' while in service with Denmark. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Top view of Boeing SB-17G (SN 44-83722) with Stinson L-5 (SN 42-98578). (U.S. Air Force photo)

QB-17 Flying Fortress Drones over New Mexico c 1946

daviemax · **Posted:** Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:58 am

Thanks so much Mark. Those QB's flew nullo to Hawaii en route to Crossroads.

Flat 12x2 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 09, 2014 12:32 pm

Evergreen's 'Shady Lady' 44-83785 in her film role in Thunderball , using the Fulton sky hook to recover James Bond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVwRDtEEEes

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

A couple more to add.

B-17 F-BEE

B-17 F-BGSP

daviemax · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:24 pm

Since I just acquired this shot of 44-85829 when operated as Tanker 34 (now flying as Yankee Lady) its a good excuse to add some more photos to this thread.

This one is yet another of F-BEEA (44-85643) when filming Dr. Strangelove - note film's logo on nose.

And this photo - one of the most dramatic shots of a VB-17G - is thought to be General Carl Spaatz' personal aircraft (44-83259). Note the meticulous appearance, including polished propellers!

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

I have this photo -from the Guatemalan Air Force's archives- that is, unfortunately, of very poor quality.

Of interest, is the fairing on the tail of the airplane, what to mee, could be something like a "MAD" boom.

Location seems to be the military base in Puerto de San Jose, Guatemala, undated.

Any ideas as to the identity of the airplane, mission, etc.?

Saludos,

Tulio

daviemax · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:38 pm

This aircraft appears to be a VB-17G (VIP transport). Several VB aircraft had extended/streamlined tail cones. It would be very helpful if you could provide the serial number on the vertical stabilizer - very likely my records could then confirm the actual identity. Also, there appears to be a "buzz number" on the side of the fuselage, which may be more readable, and that would also be a clue to aircraft identity (it starts with the letters "BA-"). If you can provide these data, or partial data, we can probably identify the aircraft.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:36 pm

I posted these a while back, but here are the future Boeing Bee, Yankee Lady, 909 and Fuddy Duddy

Boeing Bee and Fuddy Duddy

909 and Yankee Lady

Boeing Bee

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Davie,

Thank you for your answer.

You are right, it very likely is a faired tail-gun position; the angle and the poor quality of the image, led me to think that it could be a boom of some kind.

Unfortunately, that is the only image I have, and as you have seen, the quality is indeed, very bad.

Saludos,

Tulio

Warbird Information Exchange

WIX Archive: A few familiar B-17's ...

Who is online