Y1B-17

[Left Seat]

The Y1B-17s were assigned to 19th Bombardment Group at March Field in 1940.

Does anyone know the fates of the 12 Y1B-17s and the Y1B-17A after that?

Last edited by Left Seat on Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Line numbers 1973 thru 1987 inclusive (less l/n 1986 a three seat biplane trainer testing different engine types)
s/n's 36-149 thru 3-161 & 37-369 all listed as W/O 37-369 was the Y1B-17A
per ABCD list

[daviemax]

Most YB-17s were written off in 1942; one made it into 1943. My records are not clear on the actual timing of salvage for the Y1B-17A. Last known location was Geiger AAF, Spokane on 7 Feb. 1942.

[Left Seat]

I have complied the following about the 12 Y1B-17s and the 1 Y1B-17A:

USAAF#: 36-149
Construction #: 1973
Designation (cheek or tail number): BB??
Boeing model 299B
71 flights
Initial flight 12/2/36
Nosed over during landed Boeing Field 17/2/36, repaired
To 2nd BG, 49th BS Langley 1/3/37
To 4000 Base Unit Wright Field, 1938
To 19th BG March Field, 10/40
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 2/11/42
Written off 11/Dec./1942

USAAF#: 36-150
Construction #: 1974
Designation: BB60
Boeing model 299B
66 flights
To 2nd BG, 96th BS Langley 11/3/37
To 19th BG March Field
Forced landing due to engine failure 8/10/40
To 19th BG Albuquerque 16/7/42
??
Written off 30/Dec./1942

USAAF#: 36-151
Construction #: 1975
Designation: BB80
Boeing model 299B
64 flights
To 2nd BG, 96th BS Langley 11/3/37 (some sources) or
To 2nd BG, 49th BS Langley 28/3/37 (some sources)
Intercepted the Italian ocean liner REX 12/5/38
Goodwill trip to South America 8/38
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
Survived spin, demonstrating design sturdiness. This allowed static test bed: 37-369 to be made flyable
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 21/11/42
Written off 5/Jan./1943

USAAF#: 36-152
Construction #: 1976
Boeing model 299B
Designation: BB50
65 flights
To 2nd BG, 20th BS 27/3/37
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
To Hendricks Field, Sebring 6/2/42
Forced landing base
??
Written off 13/Apr./1943

USAAF#: 36-153
Construction #: 1977
Designation: BB??
Boeing model 299B
58 flights
To 2nd BG Langley 10/3/37
To March Field 10/40
To Langley 17/12/41
MIS in VA 5/3/42?
Written off 22/Jun./1943

USAAF#: 36-154
Construction #: 1978
Designation: BB81
Boeing model 299B
59 flights
To 2nd BG, 49th BS Langley 16/3/37
Intercepted the Italian ocean liner REX 12/5/38
Goodwill trip to South America 8/38
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
Crash landed base 1/12/40
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 12/11/42
Written off 15/Jan./1943

USAAF#: 36-155
Construction #: 1979
Designation: BB10
Boeing model 299B
56 flights
To 2nd BG Langley 1/6/37
Used by CO Major Bob Olds from 28/5/37
To 9th BG March Field 10/40;
To Langley
Forced landing at Lively Field, VA 1/5/42
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 12/11/42
Written off 29/Jan./1943

USAAF#: 36-156
Construction #: 1980
Designation: BB51
Boeing model 299B
66 flights
To 2nd BG, 20th BS 17/6/37
Goodwill trip to South America 8/38
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
Public relations trip to Grant Union High School, McClellan Field 4/7/43?
??
Written off 2/Apr./1942

USAAF#: 36-157
Construction #: 1981
Designation: BB??
Boeing model 299B
46 flights
To 2nd BG 6/6/37
Crashed east of San Jacinto, CA, 3.5 miles NNW of Idyllwild, CA during a violent thunderstorm. Despite bent wings and losing some rivets, it was basically intact during salvage operation
Accident 18/Dec./1940

USAAF#: 36-158
Construction #: 1982
Designation: BB82?
Boeing model 299B
65 flights
To 2nd BG, 49th BS Langley 30/6/37
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 13/10/42
Written off 18/Dec./1942

USAAF#: 36-159
Construction #: 1983
Designation: BB52
Boeing model 299B
65 flights
To 2nd BG, 20th BS 14/9/37,
To 19th BG 10/40
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 19/11/42
Written off 15/Jan./1943

USAAF#: 36-160
Construction #: 1984
Designation: BB??
Boeing model 299B
64 flights
To 2nd BG Langley 28/7/37
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
Crash landed 8/1040, but repaired
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 19/11/42
Written off 5/Jan./1942

USAAF#: 36-161
Construction #: 1985
Designation: BB89
Boeing model 299B
63 flights
To 2nd BG 49th BS Langley 8/8/37
To 19th BG March Field 10/40
To Wright Field for test purposes 16/9/41
To Langley
Forced landing 19/4/42
To Class-26 Amarillo (Technical School) 9/10/42
Written off 18/Dec./1942

USAAF#: 37-369
Construction #: 1987
Designation: May not have had a BB number
Y1B-17A (aka B-17A)
Boeing model 299F
Originally a static test bed for destructive testing, made flyable to test turbo-supercharged engines.
First flight 29 April 1938?
Delivery to USAAC 31 January 1939?
To HGSq/19th BG March Field 3/10/40
“To Geiger (Field, Spokane) 7/2/42” – date incorrect, possibly 39th BG Geiger Field 7/2/41 or wrong plane??
Forced landing 8/3/41 Hatchita, NM
To 13th RS Dow Army Field Bangor AAB, ME
Forced landing. Take off accident due to engine failure. Crashed, burned, destroyed. 19/12/41 Dow Army Field
Written off

Goodwill trip to South America August 1938:
BB51, 36-156
BB62,
BB80, 36-151

Intercepted the Italian ocean liner REX 12/5/38
BB80, 36-151
BB81, 36-154
BB82


Class-26 Technical School was an aircraft mechanics school. Y1B-17s were used as training aids. In my book "written off" means destroyed or scrapped. However, it could also mean "stricken from inventory", non-flyable, or broken into smaller units for spares or demonstration units. Aircraft were possibly scrapped on site after their usefulness was over.

There are some good photographs on Scott's "Aerovintage" website (Amarillo B-17 Mechanic School thread) of Y1B-17s in various states of disassembly being used as teaching aids. I found the engine fire extinguisher demonstration, main landing gear mock-up, and the cutaway wing showing the cold air induction for the intercooler and turbocharger most interesting.

Citations:
http://www.aviacol.net/articulos-de-aviacion/articulos-historicos/historia-del-vuelo-de-buena-voluntad-de-bombarderos-y1b-17-flying-fortress-del-us-army-air-corps-a-colombia-en-1938.html
http://www.b17registryv012014.pdf
http://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=227&start=15
http://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=599
http://www.91stbombardmentgroup.com/Aircraft%20ID/FORTLOG.pdf
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=97300
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbaat.asp?theAT=B-17&offset=475
http://archive.bangordailynews.com/2008/08/06/state-of-maine-military-aircraft-crash-list-1919-1989/
http://39th.org/39th/history/organizational.htm
http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2008/December%202008/1208rex.aspx

Last edited by Left Seat on Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:55 am, edited 14 times in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Nice work.

There are several threads on early B-17's here on WIX.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50976

[The Inspector]

One of the links posted by Left Seat either explains or re-stirs the pot concerning the 'Mary Ann'

Another banner entrance into the WIX community! welcome Left Seat!!!!!