Need your help!

Matt_in_NC · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:39 pm

Hello all,

I spent an amazing first day yesterday working on the B-17G "City of Savannah." The people were all fantastic, and the project has really progressed since the plane's arrival 2 years ago. I spent most of the day cleaning access panels under the left wing. The panels were all opened up so that some of the guys could spray an anti-corrosion treatment to the interior wing structure. I plan on starting a dedicated thread here soon with pictures and regular updates, but in the mean time, I thought I would ask you guys for some help. I know the original plane was 43-39049 and that it was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group. Does anyone know what squadron the plane flew with? The crew of "City of Savannah" was shot down in a B-17F (42-97642) on their 13th mission. 43-39049 survived the war and was eventually scrapped. As most of you know, the plane we have is Douglas-built B-17G 44-83814, on permanent loan from NASM. The aircraft spent its civilian time as a firebomber and camera ship. She was last flown in 1984 when delivered to Dulles. It is the restoration team's mission to return the aircraft to original military configuration, and there has been significant progress towards that goal, but we have a long way to go. I am interested in getting as much information as possible about the original "City of Savannah" and its crew, and I would also like to help the staff with the hunt for original components for the plane. For example, I know right now they are trying to fabricate most of a Cheyenne tail turret from scratch! If anyone here has information about the history of the aircraft and/or any leads as far as the acquisition of parts, please give me a shout! I will go into more detail after I get permission from the restoration staff and as I learn more about the restoration effort. Thank you all in advance for your help and interest. This is my first opportunity to work on a restoration, and I am thrilled not only to be a part of it, but to keep you all posted about the progress!

Matt

Here are some pictures from yesterday showing the plane...and the SMALL part of it I was working on!!! I apologize for the low-quality cell phone pictures...will bring a better camera on Saturday

Before...

After!

I stumbled upon this data plate while cleaning. Pretty cool stuff!

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

I'm not sure your numbers are matching up.

43-39049 487th BG,
http://www.487thbg.org/roster/487thD.htm

839th B.S.
http://www.487thbg.org/Photos/AllensworthCrew.shtml

http://savannahb17.org/TwoCities.html

B-17G 42-97642 was with the 301st B.G.
http://www.301bg.com/B-17_42-97642.cfm
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/ ... Submit4=Go

Matt_in_NC · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:53 pm

Wow! That sure was quick. Haha. Thanks for the reply. I need to do some more digging, but great start!

TAdan · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:46 pm

I think her original tail turret is in the Smithsonian American History Museum.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:47 pm

The original 42-97542 City of Savannah, with an H2X radome underneath and in NMF so most likely shortly after her arrival in the UK and just after she was modified as a Pathfinder aircraft with the 482nd Bomb Group at Alconbury.

It does mean that a Cheyenne tail isn't required, but instead the previous "stinger" would be correct to replicate '542.

The 388BG records show she was still equipped as a PFF ship to November 1944, then seems to have been converted back to a standard B-17G with a ball turret by January 1945.

All the best,
PB

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm

Thanks for the City of Savannah update. Does anyone there have a list of what parts are needed for the restoration.

Matt_in_NC · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:34 pm

I will keep you all posted regarding the restoration needs, etc, but I want to get permission first and make sure I'm not covering things they've already got covered...a little more info. As far as I've seen 42-97542 was an 'F' model, and the aircraft the "City of "Savannah" crew were flying the day they got shot down. So, as far as I know, the original "City of Savannah" airplane survived the war to get scrapped. "City of Savannah" was 43-39049, unless there were 2 of them??? This is the aircraft that the restoration staff have chosen to depict. If that is the original tail turret at the Smithsonian, it sure would be nice if it could get re-united with the rest of the plane...wishful thinking, methinks. Thanks for all the replies, guys.

Matt

Matt_in_NC · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:41 pm

Ok, 1 mystery solved...I'd seen the serial # for the F model the crew were flying the day they got shot down as being both 42-97642 and 42-97542. Turns out the latter is correct. 42-97642 was actually a B-17G.

Matt

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:26 pm

We're getting there slowly Matt...

Back when the restoration project was first mooted the info given out was that the original City of Savannah was B-17G-20-VE 42-97542, so most of the research has been done on that serial.

Now B-17G-110-BO 43-39049 has been identified as the right one, the wartime nose art photos make a lot more sense.
(Short nose glazing, Stateside-fit cheek guns, Stateside-fit ILS antenna, etc.)

PB

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