Warbird Information Exchange

25/12/41 Flown on a bombing mission from Batchelor Field, NT, Australia to refuel and re-arm at Del Monte Philippines armed with 7 x 300lbs bombs to Japanese held Davao, Philippines.
She was accompanied on this mission with B-17D 40-3062. A third B-17, B-17D 40-3079 blew a tire on taxing and aborted. Over the target, ten Japanese fighters took off from Davao airfield to intercept them.
Both climbed to 28,000ft but were intercepted. B-17D 40-3062 was hit in the engine, causing it to slow down and 40-2072 also slowed to maintain formation and provide mutual fire support. In doing so she was hit too by machine gun and cannon fire. 40-2072, in trail of 40-3062 also was hit by AAA twice.
Aboard, two were injured before the fighters broke off their attack. The B-17s eventually evaded and continued the very long flight home to Batchelor Field, NT, Australia. More than one hundred holes were noted. She then was ferried all the way down to 1AD Laverton Victoria. After repair, she was repainted, with feathered sky under. Named "Pamela"....Sadly this a/c was also lost in 1944 at Bakers Creek outside of Mackay.

The C's and D's were great looking ships.
In prewar NMF, a nice example of Streamline Moderne design (with the exception of the "dustbin" gun placement on the bottom. )

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.