B-17 photos *Now with Pictures and VIDEO*

[mustangdriver]

Tonight I was given a bunch of pictures of my friend'd grandfather who was a B-17 ball turret gunner. I am going to scan these pics when I get home, but my friend's grandfather passed away. He wants to know everything he can about him. The photos, are late model G's with the triangle S on the tail and a diagnal stripe. The photos are amazing in detail and clearity. many pictures of bomb runs, and even close flack. The planes are all coded IN-then the individual letter. His plane was IN-P and serial number 338758. He was a ball turret gunner but sometimes flew in the waist as well. THe pictures are amazing. There is one shot that looks like a state side training shot infornt of a well worn F model with the numbers 3371 real big on the front. Any help would be appreciated.

Last edited by mustangdriver on Mon May 04, 2009 9:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Holedigger]

1st Bombardment Wing/1st Air Division, 401st Bombardment Group, 613th Squadron, here is a link to their Squadron Insignia
http://www.401bg.com/pages_401bg/units_613.htm#menu

History of the BG
http://www.401bg.com/history/chronology.htm

I did a Profile on a 401st B-17, for the Uncle of a friend. He sent me a 401st BG book (Turner Publishing Co) as thanks, with his uncle's name and pick highlighted throughout. Different squadron than your friend's grandfather though. Any sort of detail you would like pulled from the book?

Last edited by Holedigger on Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bobbrunn]

Tonight I was given a bunch of pictures of my friend'd grandfather who was a B-17 ball turret gunner. I am going to scan these pics when I get home, but my friend's grandfather passed away. He wants to know everything he can about him. The photos, are late model G's with the triangle S on the tail and a diagnal stripe. The photos are amazing in detail and clearity. many pictures of bomb runs, and even close flack. The planes are all coded IN-then the individual letter. His plane was IN-P and serial number 338758. He was a ball turret gunner but sometimes flew in the waist as well. THe pictures are amazing. There is one shot that looks like a state side training shot infornt of a well worn F model with the numbers 3371 real big on the front. Any help would be appreciated.

Give a call to the Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum at 912-748-8888 and ask for the research library. They should be able to give your friend what info they have about his grandfather . They regularly look up basic info for family members .

[mustangdriver]

O.K. here is what I found on his aircraft. Anyone think they can find a picture.


http://www.401bg.com/history/aircraft.asp?acid=6588

[jet1]

O.K. here is what I found on his aircraft. Anyone think they can find a picture.


http://www.401bg.com/history/aircraft.asp?acid=6588

"Date Lost: 6 Jun 1945
Nature of Loss: Returned to the USA"

really would like to see those photos....my dad flew the 17

[mustangdriver]

I am at work on the night shift, but I will see what I can do. They are amazing!!

[Matt Gunsch]

the history you had the link for, is not the same plane you listed at first, you listed 338758 which is 43-38758
http://www.401bg.com/history/aircraft.asp?acid=38758

but the history you had the link for is 44-6588
http://www.401bg.com/history/aircraft.asp?acid=6588

[mustangdriver]

He is in the plane in your second link. The one I thought was his was not.

[mustangdriver]

http://www.401bg.com/history/aircraft.asp?acid=6588

Just to put everyone on the same page, this was his b-17, the one I am looking for pictured of.

[Holedigger]

A bit of info on the 44-6588 AC, named Carrie B IV.

[the330thbg]

So the initial B-17's in Europe were painted OD why?

For camouflage on the ground?

They then went BMF to save weight?

Were there B-17/B-24/B-26 and B-25 units that stripped their aircraft back to BMF to save weight?

Just curious, because the initial B-29's were painted OD as well.

Thanks

[Matt Gunsch]

early in the war it was for camouflage, later in the war, we had air supremecy and did not need to hide.

[the330thbg]

so they stripped down ships already painted?

[Steve Nelson]

Some painted aircraft were stripped, but for the most part they didn't last long enough in service to bother. Aircraft generally only lasted at most a few months in combat before being shot down, damaged beyond repair, or simply worn out.

SN

[the330thbg]

ok, so just by natural attrition (natural for a war being, destroyed or shotdown) they were replaced with BMF aircraft.

Thanks!