B-17G 42-31927 ...

[Mark Allen M]

Something's amiss ...

Boeing B-17G-30-BO Fortress 42-31927 | American Air Museum in Britain : Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Kearney 15/1/44; Assigned 526BS/379BG [LF-F] Kimbolton 8/2/44; Missing in Action Oranienburg 13/8/44 with Bob Felgar, Navigator: Homer Gregory, Bombardier: J.W. Hansen, Radio Operator: Ron Moellering, Ball turret gunner: Harry Swinger, Waist gunner: Carl Weller,Tail gunner: Bob Fox (7 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Henry Benitez, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Chase (2 Killed in Action); flak hit quickly followed by explosion, crashed Lonlay Le Tesson, SE of Flers, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 7905

[quemerford]

Now there's a photo that poses a few questions! Hangar is an RAF T2 type, so definitely taken in the UK. So it obviously saw some action between February and August 1944 and the hasty repairs indicate a belly-landing maybe?

[Archer]

Interesting repair! I recall earlier posts showing photos of a B-17 without an outboard engine... the search isn't cooperating though.

[mike furline]

http://www.crash-aerien.news/forum/ww2-t20465-8850.html

Attachments

640-5241_7d20173aae6e3dfe0ff3acd3b4882415.jpg (43.02 KiB) Viewed 2346 times

[Craig59]

Translation from the same site above states:

A three-engined Boeing B-17. Engine #1 and its nacelle have been dismantled and replaced with sheet metal, as has the "Chin turrett":
The B-17G-30-BO "Fortress" #42-31927 coded LF*F (Some sources indicate LF*E...) of the 379th BG 526th BS, on arrival at the Abbots Rippon base after a ferry flight from its base at Kimbolton, May 15, 1944.

[menards]

Translation from the same site above states:

A three-engined Boeing B-17. Engine #1 and its nacelle have been dismantled and replaced with sheet metal, as has the "Chin turrett":
The B-17G-30-BO "Fortress" #42-31927 coded LF*F (Some sources indicate LF*E...) of the 379th BG 526th BS, on arrival at the Abbots Rippon base after a ferry flight from its base at Kimbolton, May 15, 1944.

Was the NMF around where the #1 engine nacelle should be the result of a patch...or a result the nacelle and rest of the wing being painted OD? When the nacelle was removed was the NMF of the wing structure exposed?

[tom roberts]

What does NMF stand for ?

[bdk]

What does NMF stand for ?

Natural Metal Finish, i.e. unpainted bare aluminum.

[Mark Allen M]

Could this B-17 have flown with this three engine configuration? Or should the question be, would or did this B-17 fly in this configuration?

[DH82EH]

A B-17 could fly on 3 engines. No problem. Probably be even easier without the weight and drag of an engine that's not working.

[RAMC181]

Previously discussed and explained here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=47959