History of B-17G 44-83439 that later flew as N131P

[aerovin]

I just added a post that provides a detailed history of B-17G 44-83439, which was used by the Bell Aircraft Co. between 1946 and 1957 to help develop the RASCAL air-to-surface missile, and then went on to be sold surplus to be used as a tropical fish transport for Paramount Aquarium as N131P. It crashed in Colombia in December 1962; the wreckage is largely undisturbed some five decades later.

https://www.aerovintage.com/2024/07/01/something-fishy-about-this-b-17/

[quemerford]

I looked at the AWFC History for this period (Reel B2118) for the period and annoyingly there is mention of the FIDO experiments at Arcata, B-17s with AWFC etc, but no link-up between the two. There is also mention of the loan of three B-17s from Pinecastle AAF for a week to act as 'traffic'.