Steve_Birdsall

This is 41-24359, originally with the 301st Bomb Group at Chelveston. The artwork was painted by Sgt Eugene Townsend.

Why is this photo only available for download as a "Premium Document"?

This is B-17F 41-24366, originally "The Puffin' Hussy II" in the 301st Bomb Group. She was declared war weary in March 1944 and then stripped down and reassigned to the 14th Fighter Group as a utility aircraft used to carry mail, supplies and personnel. The old B-17 crashed and exploded coming in for a landing at Aghione, Corsica on August 17, 1944. Twelve of the fifteen people on the plane were killed. ...more

I have an old print of this photo that reveals that the B-17 in the foreground is 42-39761, "Fire Ball II".

The B-17 41-24416 was flown to England by the 92nd Bomb Group, then transferred to the 97th Bomb Group. It was damaged on the October 2, 1942 Meaulte mission. The tail gunner and radio operator were seriously wounded. The B-17 was left in England when the 97th moved to North Africa in November 1942.

Lt Frank Dreisbach and Lt William St John Chubb were re-assigned to the 401st Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. They were shot down in 41-24449 "Short Snorter" after bombing the submarine pens at Lorient, France on December 30, 1942. Head-on attacks set an engine on fire and about five minutes later the plane exploded over the Atlantic. Two parachutes were reported, but there were no survivors. ...more

This is the 427th Bomb Squadron insignia. I believe that the aircraft in the photo is 41-24619, known as "S for Sugar".