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A few new B-17 pictures


renfield
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Some great and awesome photos all! I thought I would post one of mine. Original wartime Kodachrome slides. The tail number is for another B-17 named "shoo shoo baby"

 

 

Mike

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I have been away from the forum for a few months, but have continued to buy some interesting pictures that I will be posting soon. This picture does not look like anything special, but it could be. On the back of the picture it is written THE WOLF, and M. Caiazzo. I thought THE WOLF was the nickname of the man in the picture. I was able to ID the plane from the 3 letter code on the fuselage. The name of the plane is THE WOLF and flew with the 401st BS 91st BG(H). According to the book PLANE NAMES AND FANCY NOSES by Ray Bowden there are no known pictures of the nose art of this plane. This picture may be as close as we will ever know what the nose art was. I am sure it had to be about the same. The "wolf" G.I. giving the nude lady the eye. I was also able to find out the man in the photo is Marvin Caiazzo and was part of the ground crew. This plane was reported MIA on 4 Feb. 1944. S/sgt Cliffard N. Kirkpatrick and T/sgt. Walter E. Getsey were both KIA. That is the history I was able to find on this one picture.

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Thank you Mr. Birdsall. I took some time to re-think my collecting interests. The great thing about these pictures is the fact that no 2 are alike. I never get bored of finding new ones and then trying to find the story behind them. Here are a few new PTO B-17s I have found.

 

This is a press photo, but it is an early one. I think it is a B-17E but I very well could be wrong. I like the Kelly helmet and all the men wearing .45s. Early war kit for men in the Pacific. Also note the grass field.

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Not every artist was a Tony Starcer! This ship is SEXPOT , I thought I had read something about her being a PTO bird. Now I can not find the reference book. It looks like an B-17E with guns added to the nose. A very common field modification it the PTO. No matter what I think it is a nice snap shot.

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This is my picture of CALAMITY JANE of the 98th BS 11th BG(H). There are many pictures of this plane, but I had not seen this one before. I could not pass up the chance to buy it. I do not know much about the combat history of this ship but I know she survived the war and was "reclaimed" on 15 July 1946.

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Steve Birdsall

SEXPOT was from the 394th Bombardment Squadron of the 5th Bomb Group. I'm not yet sure of her serial number but he possibilities are pretty limited.

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This plane flew out of New Guinea and Australia. I should have done more research before posting this picture, but I can add to the post later. I enjoy the sense of humor these young men had.

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Steve Birdsall

CALAMITY JANE was in the 394th Bomb Squadron too - 41-2440. A real survivor . . . got to Hawaii in December 1941, flown to Australia in February 1942 and served with the 19th Bomb Group. Flown back to Hawaii in October 1942 and held there. Freshened up at the Hawaiian Air Depot and reassigned to the 394th Squadron. Still flying missions in July 1943. Finally returned to the U.S. and salvaged in 1946.

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Steve Birdsall

WELL GODDAM is reportedly General Paul Wurtsmith's personal transport. It's 41-24381, which was PANAMA HATTIE in the 43rd Bomb Group.

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You are the expert!!!! The forum is very fortunate to have a person with your knowledge as a member here. I thank you for taking your time to help me with my collection. The more info I have the greater the historical value these pictures have. No longer just random, old pictures, but a snap shot of a historical event. Posting the pictures here, with the back ground, might help someone else with their research. At least I hope so.

 

Now about that sense of humor!!!! This B-17E flew with the 93rdBS 19th BG(H). Again I have no info on the combat history of this plane. I know it survived the war and ended up as scrap.

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Thank you Mr. Birdsall. I took some time to re-think my collecting interests. The great thing about these pictures is the fact that no 2 are alike. I never get bored of finding new ones and then trying to find the story behind them. Here are a few new PTO B-17s I have found.

 

This is a press photo, but it is an early one. I think it is a B-17E but I very well could be wrong. I like the Kelly helmet and all the men wearing .45s. Early war kit for men in the Pacific. Also note the grass field.

I think that's an earlier B-17D. It looks like the observation bubble is there over the cockpit, not a turret. Great photo :)

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Steve Birdsall

Thanks for the kind words Steve. "CROCK O'CRAP" was 41-2632, another of the 19th Bomb Group veterans that went to the 394th Bomb Squadron in 1943.

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These two pictures and some of the others I have posted all came from the same group. They were taken by the group photographer, as such the quality is better than many pictures of the time. Even if they do look a little posed.

 

OKLAHOMA SOONER Only 5 mission marks but 2 ships claimed.

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Steve Birdsall

Again, these are 394th Bomb Squadron planes . . . OKLAHOMA SOONER is 41-2630. YANKEE DOODLE is 41-2463 and is the plane that Lt Gene Roddenberry cracked-up on takeoff on 2 August 1943.

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I am fairly certain that this plan is SUZY-Q 41-2489 but the picture was taken before the name was painted on the ship. She flew with the 93rd BS 19th BG(H). If so I might have a very nice snap shot of a very famous W.W.2 B-17E. The bomber took part in all of the Pacific battles except Midway. At least that is what one book claims. It is reported that her gunners had shot down 26 Japanese aircraft.

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Steve Birdsall

Sorry Steve, not Suzy-Q. That's the 93rd Squadron insignia and it was painted on more than one of the dozen B-17Es that the 19th flew home from Australia in October 1942. This is another one of the 19th Bomb Group veterans that flew with the 394th Bomb Squadron in the South Pacific.

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Another nameless B-17 picture. It still has the older AAC star with the red center. On back of the picture is written Africa Roberts Field, Liberia April 1942. Just 5 months after the war started. I am not sure if the tail number is enough info to ever get an ID on the plane.

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Not just planes had "nose art". This truck was with the 91st BG stationed at Bassingbourn England. The Bronx Belle, I guess the ground crews did not want to be left out.

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This is what happens to a photo album when it is cut up for sale. This picture still has the heavy paper backing from the album page. I have not had the time to look up the history of this plane yet. It is a typical 8th AAF picture, of a pilot and his plane. Wearing his A-2 jacket and crusher cap.

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This picture is an old, possibly wartime, reprint. It is what is left of SAVAGE QUEEN and whatever happened to her took place on 27-11-43. A nice new research project for me.

 

Thanks again for everyone who have shared their pictures and info in this thread. I have made many mistakes but with the help of all the great forum members the facts have been posted.

 

Steve

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