Warbird Information Exchange

I am hoping someone may be of some assistance to me in finding out more information on these two B-17s. These photos were included in a couple of 6 Group RCAF photo collections I had purchased.

Both aircraft appeared to have diverted to RCAF airfields.
I was able to determine the first B-17 served with the 385 Bomb Group and the serial number 238778

The second aircraft is more of a mystery to me. I know it is from the 100 Bomb Group and that is it. The nose art appears to be “Mandys Dandys” or something like that.

My aviation interest has mostly to do with the RCAF, so my own USAAF reference material is very limited. Any help Identifying these two aircraft will be appreciated.

Ken.


385 Bomb Group, B-17 s/n 238778 - War Cry




100 Bomb Group, B-17


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Kzee, you were close..."Andys Dandys", 42-97071, LD-P 418thsqdn 100bg
The image to the right of the script is a "tophat and cane". She went down
7 April 1945.

Did RCAF have any airfields in Brussels in early 1945?

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DBF

Thanks for the quick reply Airnutz,

The RCAF did have fighter Squadrons based in Belgium as part of the RAF's 2nd TAF. I will have to do some digging to fing out if any were based in the Brussels area. Hopefully someone out there who intrest lies with the 2nd TAF will be able to answer your question quicker than me.

The photo of "War Cry" was amongst a collection of 432 Squadron (RCAF) Halifax photos which I purchased. The photo appears to be taken at Skipton-on-Swale.

The photo of Andy's Dandys is from a collection of 424 Squadron (RCAF) Halifax/Lancaster photos they were taken when the Squadron was based at Leeming.

Andy's Dandys was my dad's plane flying his 25 missions out of England. The nose art detailed a top hat, white gloves and a cane. My father was then Capt Andrew J. Gorski, his co-pilot was named Ken Houghton. My father retired from the US Air Force, formerly the Army Air Corp, in 1981 as a Lt. Col, and he died at the age of 77 in 1996. You can contact me if have specific questions and I will do my best to answer them. I am his youngest daughter, Susan.

Welcome aboard the whirlygig express minima! We're only about half as crazy and perpetually P.O.'d as we seem towards each other, jump in and get ashless dispersant all over yourself!

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