B-17E's "Hawaiian Air Depot" Camouflage Scheme ...

[Mark Allen M]

Here's a few (rare) photos. Perhaps Steve Birdsall will stop by and educate us.
Source: Museum of Flight Archives

Below USAC B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2442 in flight over water, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1942.
Per J Baugher: 41-2442 (11th BG, 42nd BS, "Yokohama Express") crashed Shortland Bay, Bougainville during combat patrol Feb 2, 1943 in night and in rain. MACR 16269. 9 KIA.
Per Pacific Wrecks: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2442.html

[Steve Birdsall]

Happy to help if I can Mark.

Those photos were taken January or maybe February 1942 by Staff Sergeant Lee Embree, the photographer who arrived in Hawaii in 41-2408 during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Yokohama Express (that plane name has never been confirmed photographically, but comes from reliable sources) was one of three 42nd Bomb Squadron B-17Es shot down on a Shortland Harbor mission on 1 February 1943. Pilot was Captain Harold Hensley. No survivors.

I believe the third photo might be flopped and if so it seems to show 41-2442, 41-2397 and 41-2444.

[Marauderman26]

Happy to help if I can Mark.

Those photos were taken January or maybe February 1942 by Staff Sergeant Lee Embree, the photographer who arrived in Hawaii in 41-2408 during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Yokohama Express (that plane name has never been confirmed photographically, but comes from reliable sources) was one of three 42nd Bomb Squadron B-17Es shot down on a Shortland Harbor mission on 1 February 1943. Pilot was Captain Harold Hensley. No survivors.

I believe the third photo might be flopped and if so it seems to show 41-2442, 41-2397 and 41-2444.

Steve,
Do you know if the scheme was applied to any of the Martin B-26 Marauders when they arrived? I've not seen this on any of the 22nd or 77th deployed to the west but perhaps the the aircraft that remained in the Hawaiian area? (torpedo integration trials and later deployed to Midway)
I have seen photos of the rudders striped but those where on several airframes reported to be in Townsville.

[Steve Birdsall]

To my knowledge the multi-colored camouflage was only applied to B-17s and B-18s.

[gemmer]

Happy to help if I can Mark.

Those photos were taken January or maybe February 1942 by Staff Sergeant Lee Embree, the photographer who arrived in Hawaii in 41-2408 during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Yokohama Express (that plane name has never been confirmed photographically, but comes from reliable sources) was one of three 42nd Bomb Squadron B-17Es shot down on a Shortland Harbor mission on 1 February 1943. Pilot was Captain Harold Hensley. No survivors.

I believe the third photo might be flopped and if so it seems to show 41-2442, 41-2397 and 41-2444.

Steve,
Do you know if the scheme was applied to any of the Martin B-26 Marauders when they arrived? I've not seen this on any of the 22nd or 77th deployed to the west but perhaps the the aircraft that remained in the Hawaiian area? (torpedo integration trials and later deployed to Midway)
I have seen photos of the rudders striped but those where on several airframes reported to be in Townsville.

The B-26s had the tail stripes and had insignia added to the upper starboard and lower port wing per Navy policy, which was also the basis for markings on all Army markings in Hawaii.

[lucky52]

Any idea how many B-17s were painted like that?

[Larry Kraus]

I believe that Steve Birdsall is correct about the 3rd picture being flipped. Here is the alternate version

65881797-2A93-4551-BB99-62C7118B5081 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Chris Brame]

The only color footage of HAD-painted B-17s known to exist was taken on Midway Island in early June 1942 by Hollywood filmmaker John Ford.

Not quite - see the B-17C/D at 3:17 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5cqIT6_Cbs