B-17 Flying Fortress with serial number 118MD

[Duggy009]

B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 118MD) of the Royal Canadian Air Force fitted with a powered turret at Rockcliff, Canada, 22 November 1941.

Anyone got more info on this aircraft?
Or is it photoshopped.

[quemerford]

I think 118 and MD is a squadron code number and base letters rather than a serial number.

[Cvairwerks]

Think the Canadians only had a half dozen B-17's, and they were E's and F's. Scott T. would know for sure.

[junkman9096]

The "MD" stood for the USAAC Material Division which controlled the type and planes procured by the (then) Army Air Corps. That included experiments and modifications. The 118 was likely the "plane in group" marking. What I think the photo shows is one of the first experimental installations of powered gun turrets on the B-17.

[martin_sam_2000]

This has to be B-17C 40-2042. Used by GE to test turbo-superchargers dec 40-aug-41. Used to test high altitude flight with the aero medical laboratory at Dayton. Modified with sperry upper turret as development for B-17E. Seconded to stateside training. Crashed northwest of New Albany OH jan 25 1943.

Last edited by martin_sam_2000 on Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[quemerford]

40-2043 record card shows it as an RB-17C to Britain per Budget Report of 11 August 1942 "Defense Aid to Britain". Prior to that with Sacramento Air Depot and Boeing, with no mention of Wright AAF.

RB-17C 40-2042 shows as condemned Continental US 29 January 1943, transferred from Boeing to Sebring 21 August 1942 and then to Lockbourne 15 January 1943. The record card indicates a Wright AAF assignment but appears to have been crossed out.

[martin_sam_2000]

40-2043 record card shows it as an RB-17C to Britain per Budget Report of 11 August 1942 "Defense Aid to Britain". Prior to that with Sacramento Air Depot and Boeing, with no mention of Wright AAF.

RB-17C 40-2042 shows as condemned Continental US 29 January 1943, transferred from Boeing to Sebring 21 August 1942 and then to Lockbourne 15 January 1943. The record card indicates a Wright AAF assignment but appears to have been crossed out.

You are correct and my post has been edited. 40-2042 is SN2043, just to be confusing. I got the data from Baughers site:

2042 (MSN 2043) Accepted by USAAC at Boeing Field, Seattle, WA 21Jul40. Wright Field, Dayton, OH 5Aug40.
Bailed to Boeing, Seattle, WA. Boeing Flight Test Laboratory, Muroc Field, CA 1941-1942. Used in
co-operation with General Electric for testing of turbo superchargers installed in no.4 nacelle
Dec40-Aug41. Used for the testing of high altitude flight to and above 35,000ft by Boeing in
collaboration with the Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. Modified for
installation of a Sperry upper turret in development for the B-17E. Combat Crew Training School,
Hendricks Field, Sebring, FL 21Aug42. Designated RB-17C 22Oct42. Pilot School (Specialized, Four
Engine), Lockbourne AAB, Columbus, OH 15Jan43. Crashed on a farm northwest of New Albany, OH 25Jan43
(11 KIS: 1 DOI). It was an administrative flight returning from Hendricks Field, Sebring, Florida
when it exploded about 150 feet above the ground, crashed on fire at high speed, destroying the
aircraft and scattering wreckage over a wide area. Condemned 29Jan43.

[rcaf_100]

Think the Canadians only had a half dozen B-17's, and they were E's and F's. Scott T. would know for sure.

Correct, there were only three E's and three F's used by the RCAF, which were with 168 Squadron for overseas mail delivery.
RCAF 9202 - B-17F 42-3160
RCAF 9203 - B-17F 42-6101
RCAF 9304 - B-17F 42-3369
RCAF 9205 - B-17E 41-9142
RCAF 9206 - B-17E 41-2438
RCAF 9207 - B-17E 41-2581

Only 9205 and 9206 survived the war, going to Argentina as LC-RTP and LC-RTO, respectively. The other four were lost in accidents.

[mike furline]

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archi ... ft/40-2042

This shows 40-2047, presumably a typo.
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archi ... /upl-60540