Paging Jack Cook - photos of 9th AF B-17s

[mtpopejoy]

Everyone...especially Jack,
Would anyone happen to have any images of 9th Air Force B-17s from the MTO (Middle East)?

I am going to attempt to build models of each type of aircraft my grandfather may have touched during his time in the 9th AF (1942-1945) and want to get the correct markings.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Mark Popejoy

[Jack Cook]

You mean like the 12th AF ie 99th BG, 301st BG , 97th BG???
Maybe............

[mtpopejoy]

I was trying to get more along the lines of the HALPRO/1st provisional group markings.

I haven't been able to find anything.

[Jack Cook]

I have some x-HALPRO B-24s

[mtpopejoy]

Thanks, looking for 17s though. I would have to say if you havent seen any they probably dont exist.
I will just have to "wing it"
Regards,
Mark

[Jack Cook]

I'll take a look.
What maybe a plain old boring OD b-17 sitting in the desert maybe
the one you're looking for.

[mtpopejoy]

Yeah that is the thing that I dont know.
I wonder if they were the typical OD or if they repainted into a tan or pink desert scheme.

[Steve Nelson]

I think some may have been OD/Earth camo, but most were just plain OD with a serial on the tail. I have seen one pic (the famous one of the B-17 that survived a mid-air with a 109) that had a yellow surround on the fuselage insignia.

SN

[Second Air Force]

I have one photo of a Halpro airplane being disassembled, but it will take a bit to find the thing. I recall that the airplane was o.d./neutral gray and the serial number was painted out with some form of plane-in-unit number in it's place.

Scott

[mtpopejoy]

Roger that Scott,
I decided to take a look at my Ninth Air Force in WWII by Ken Rust and it has a pretty good description of them in the back.

OD with neutral gray on bottom, 30 inch number, white, centered on tail over the serial number (1-12 depending on squadron)

It sounds like most of the HALPRO heavies did not wear any nose art, not till the 98th B-24s showed up did they start to customize.

Thanks again for anything you all can come up with, I have a lot of work to do on this little tribute to my Grandfather so he can see it before...you know.
Regards,
Mark

[mtpopejoy]

...I have seen one pic (the famous one of the B-17 that survived a mid-air with a 109) that had a yellow surround on the fuselage insignia.

SN

That was one thing the book did not say. It said it had the circle with star insignia on the fuselage and wings but did not mention if it had the yellow surround or if it was on both upper and lower wings on both sides.