B-17E 41-2644 Los Lobos

Steve Birdsall · **Posted:** Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:01 pm

Can anyone here provide any information about this fragment?

It’s from the nose of the B-17E Los Lobos, 41-2644, which flew with both the 19th and 5th Bomb Groups before becoming the personal transport of the 13th Air Depot commander on New Caledonia. In the 394th Bomb Squadron its regular pilots were Bill Ripley and Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek.

I’m interested to know when and where the fragment was found. Any help will be very welcome - just finding this image without the ridiculous Photobucket watermark would be a plus!

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7822

Very interesting Steve.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7822

Unrelated but perhaps this photo will interest you as well.

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2635

In comparing both photos,
in the Black & Whitle photo both words of LOS LOBOS are on the same line or plain.
in the Color photo it looks like there is part of a letter that extends down below the plain of the word LOBOS. (Just under the photobucket watermark.)

Adam Kline · **Posted:** Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:38 am

That looks like the part was folded back onto itself and the paint transferred over a little.

ffuries · **Posted:** Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:27 am

Adam Kline wrote:

That looks like the part was folded back onto itself and the paint transferred over a little.

Either that or possible remains of a previous name or artwork bleeding through the faded paint.

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 543

mike furline wrote:

In comparing both photos,
in the Black & Whitle photo both words of LOS LOBOS are on the same line or plain.
in the Color photo it looks like there is part of a letter that extends down below the plain of the word LOBOS. (Just under the photobucket watermark.)

There was additional artwork added after the B&W photo was taken. See the following thread for a later photo of the plane showing (part of) the additional name painted under LOS LOBOS.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=69579

aerovin · **Posted:** Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:06 pm

Beat me to it. Here is that photo...

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2635

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_1.html

41-2644 deliverd to Lowry Mar 7, 1942; transferred to Boise Apr 1942; assigned to 19BG/30BS at Hickam, Hawaii Apr 22, 1942; damaged at Rabual Aug 7, 1942, repaired; RETUS Aug 13, 1944; WO Oct 19, 1944.

gemmer · **Joined:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am **Posts:** 314

mike furline wrote:

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_1.html

41-2644 deliverd to Lowry Mar 7, 1942; transferred to Boise Apr 1942; assigned to 19BG/30BS at Hickam, Hawaii Apr 22, 1942; damaged at Rabual Aug 7, 1942, repaired; RETUS Aug 13, 1944; WO Oct 19, 1944.

Just curious, why would a 19th BG /30th BS ship be assigned at Hickam when the Group was in Australia?

Steve Birdsall · **Posted:** Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:51 pm

That Baugher information is a bit off the mark. 41-2644 flew some early missions with the 30th Bomb Squadron, but by July 1942 was in the 28th Squadron, where it stayed until it left Australia in October 1942. Spruced up and reassigned to the 394th Bomb Squadron in Hawaii. Never returned to the US and was condemned in Hawaii in 1945. Probably salvaged on New Caledonia, but I'd like to confirm that if I can.

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B-17E 41-2644 Los Lobos

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