Pearl Harbor B-17Es

[Steve Birdsall]

I’ve got an article about the eight B-17Es that arrived over Hawaii during the 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks.in the next issue of Aviation History that I hope might be of interest to people here.



All eight were quickly reassigned to Hawaiian Air Force squadrons and over-painted with the unique multi-colored camouflage scheme to protect them on the ground.

Initially used for patrol work and training, they ultimately ranged far and wide, serving in the 5th, 7th and 13th Air Forces in the South and Southwest Pacific theaters.

[Pat Carry]

That looks most interesting!

[Nathan]

Small correction,

there were 4 B-17C's and 8 B-17Es

[Steve Birdsall]

I know, and the B-17Cs are mentioned in passing, but this is the story of the B-17Es.

[ALOHADAVE]

Now that we know what happened to the B-17Es
OK, what happened to the four B-17C's?

Does anyone have details on each?

[Steve Birdsall]

Now that we know what happened to the B-17Es
OK, what happened to the four B-17C's?

Does anyone have details on each?

Two - 40-2049 and 40-2074 - were lost on 7 December, 40-2054 was in the 98th Bomb Squadron and ditched off Hawaii by 303rd Bomb Group pilot William S. Raper on 15 June 1942, and 40-2063 was returned to the U.S. but was lost in an accident in May 1943.

[Chris Brame]

2049 was the one that cracked up when it ran out of runway at Bellows Field:




2074 was the one in this famous photo; a lucky shot by a Zero set fire to some flares and the aft fuselage burned off as it was landing:

[Warbird Kid]

Are their any shots of the B-17 that made it into Haleiwa?

[res6kgcr]

Gooday all

Here is 40-2063 picture at March Field in a safety training film in its HAD camouflage



Best to you all

Tom