While Doolittle was heading to Japan in April 1942 ...

[Mark Allen M]

These B-17E's were heading to England in April 1942. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images )

[DH82EH]

Mark! those pictures are STUNNING!
Thanks so much for posting my friend.

[quemerford]

I'm not sure these aircraft went to Europe: possibly just a PR caption?

[Ken]

Fascinating how the OD shades change from photo to photo and the vertical fin that was painted separately.

Ken

[Mark Allen M]

I was thinking the same thing. Just doesn’t look like a flight across the pond quite yet. I believe the date is correct though. As for the airfield in the background? Not sure where that could have been. Also notice 41-2508 seems to have quite an oil leak happening on that far outboard engine.

[JohnB]

An easy one...
When in doubt, try the Baugher serial site.

I checked two of the serials (08, 12) and during the Spring of '42 they were assigned to the Combat Crew Training School, Hendricks Field, Sebring, Florida.

That would explain the huge field in scrub land close to water, and the nice looking ocean.
I've flown over the North Atlantic a few times, I've never seen it look like that.

Nice color photos showing a new aircraft, could be PR shots for an article on training (which would have been a huge topic a few months after Pearl Harbor), that makes more sense that shots of an actual unit deployment which would be kept very much under wraps.

A link to the early '41 serials page:
https://www.crouze.com/baugher/usaf_ser ... 41_01.html

[gemmer]

I'm not sure these aircraft went to Europe: possibly just a PR caption?

PR captions, from MacDill field. Note the lack of ball turrets.

[gemmer]

I'm not sure these aircraft went to Europe: possibly just a PR caption?

PR captions. I believe they were based at MacDill field. Note the lack of ball turrets.

[Aeronut]

Someone wanted the identity of the airfield in the photo. Couldn't resist the challenge. My money is on this.