Boeing B-17E 41-2609 63rd BS, 43rd BG "Loose Goose" ...

[Mark Allen M]

Quite an amazing plane and a fascinating video on early B-17 operations well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRwdir ... e=youtu.be

5th AAF CCU "Mission To Rabaul New Britain" January 5, 1943
NARA Identifier: 24237 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24237

Boeing B-17E 41-2609 "Loose Goose" Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group, 63rd Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Loose Goose". This B-17 operated from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby.

Severe battle damaged on reconnaissance mission to Bismark Arch. 17/5/43 piloted by Capt William Crawford Jr. Her last mission was on September 20, 1943, piloted by Flight Officer Herbert V. Miller and one of the 63rd Bombardment Squadron's new B-24 crews assigned a month before.

Afterwards, flown back via Hawaii to the United States. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.
From Steve Birdsall via Pacific Wrecks

[Mark Allen M]

A great website with lots of info and photos on the 43rd Bomb Group.

https://www.kensmen.com/index.html

[Chris Brame]

Dave Osborne gives its last location as arriving at Tinker on September 14, 1944; reclamation completed February 9, 1945. Broken up at Tinker, maybe?

[Adam Kline]

Thanks for posting