B-17G nose anti-glare panel question

[RAMC181]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if there was any way to narrow down the manufacturer/block of a bare-metal B-17G from the pattern of the anti-glare paint on the nose.
As part of my research into the PFF Forts of the 401st Bomb Group in THIS thread I'm attempting to positively identify a few individual aircraft from a small number of photos.

As to the anti-glare panels, the two main patterns appear to be...

Halfway across the astrodome, as seen here:



Or around the astrodome as seen here:



Any thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,
PB

[Jarink1]

I just looked through about 200 pics that show the antiglare panel and every last one of them fully surrounds the astrodome.
Is it possible the shorter panel was painted in the field?

[Second Air Force]

The different manufacturers antiglare pattern did vary somewhat. I don't have my reference materials with me as I'm on the road right now, but each painted them a little differently--Vega painted it all the way forward of the astrodome (on most of them, at least) while Boeing did the shorter version. I'm not certain about Douglas. The nacelle pattern varied somewhat depending on which subcontractor built them also.

Scott

[RAMC181]

I've gone through a number of 1st Air Division B-17 photos today to check the Vega pattern.

Blocks 25-VE to 40-VE have the "short" panel, cutting through the astrodome.
The "long" panel around the astrodome starts to appear from block 45-VE onwards.

All the best,
PB