Early "Hawaiian Depot" B-17E ...

[Mark Allen M]

That has no Serial Numbers showing. Any ideas which B-17E this is?
Steve Birdsall I'm sure will know which B-17E this one is and where this photo was taken.

Boeing B-17E with a SPERRY remote controlled turret.

[lucky52]

When did the Army paint over the red on the national insignia or was that something they just did as they got around to it?

[junkman9096]

When did the Army paint over the red on the national insignia or was that something they just did as they got around to it?

Officially May 15, 1942 (Wikipedia) but you know how that goes. Battle of Coral Sea it was on, Battle of Midway it was off.

[Steve Birdsall]

Hi Mark - afraid I'm going to let you down on this one.

The photo was taken at Nandi/Nadi, Fiji, and I'm pretty sure it's 41-2429. I know 41-2429 was there on at least two occasions - in January 1942 and then again in February enroute to Australia, but at those times it should have still had red and white rudder stripes.

The lack of a radio call number of any kind is also a problem - was it yet to be applied, or has it been skilfully airbrushed out by the censor? (41-2429 was displaying a bespoke radio call - and no red centers in the cocardes - when photographed on 24 April 1942.)

I really am stumped by this one.

[gemmer]

Could it be that the stripes weren't painted on yet? In a black and white photo it's hard to determine if they've been painted out. Most of the ones I've seen with painted out stripes show a dark color that is in contrast to the color(s) on the vertical stabilizer.

[sandiego89]

Well now I had to go research the Sperry remote turret, as I was not familiar with this turret, and it seems way overshadowed by the ball turret. This source indicates it was controlled by a gunner laying prone and using a periscopic sight and several small windows. https://www.aerovintage.com/2022/01/21/ ... or-sperry/

It seems Swamp Ghost is the only survivor that had this type of turret.

Anyone have pictures of the gunners sight or position?

[lucky52]

You can see the bottom turret sighting blister just forward of the gun barrels.

[gemmer]

A number of those early E models with the remote turret were retro fitted with the ball turret.

[Duggy009]

"Anyone have pictures of the gunners sight or position?"
LINK -- https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2018/ ... al-turret/