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Paul Bellamy
9/1/2009 8:20:23 AM | Another from the NARA files:
Signal Corps Neg No. ETO-HQ-44-3199
Image No. 80009AC
"Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses await test flights prior to joining heavy bomber units somewhere in England, for missions against German aggression in Europe. 13 April 1944."
Of the B-17s with visible serial numbers all bar one was assigned to the 401st within a couple of days of the photo being taken.
Front to back:
42-107151: B-17G-35-DL. IW-B "Cover Girl", assigned 401BG 15 April 44.
42-102518: B-17G-50-BO. Assigned 384BG 15 April 44.
42-106992: B-17G-35-DL. SC-D "Baby Lu" aka "Grin 'n Bare It", assigned 401BG 16 April 44.
42-107084: B-17G-35-DL. IW-G "Betty's Revenge", assigned 401BG 16 April 44.
42-97664: B-17G-25-VE. IY-F, SC-X "Aw Come On", assigned 401BG 17 April 44.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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win-win
9/1/2009 11:37:04 AM | Paul:
What a find.
is there any info on the location of the photo?
Win
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Paul Bellamy
9/1/2009 2:38:23 PM | Ta Win,
It will be one of a handful of depots, I'm working through them to identify the exact one.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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win-win
9/2/2009 11:02:40 AM | Hi Paul:
My interest in the 'where' of the photo relates to our attempts to reconstruct my Uncle's 613Sq 'Nelson' Crew's transit to Deenethorpe.
- - They were one of 60+ 'replacement' Crews arriving at Kearny, Neb., June 21, 1944 (from Rapid City, S.D), and
- - We know they ferried a new B-17 to the UK, and
- - We know they arrived at DP 7/23/1944, but we don't know their 'path' (from Kearny on). We believe, typically, they'd have dropped their new A/C at a distribution center in the UK, go-on to some crew training, and finally their transit (by rail or A/C) to DP.
By the way, your photo, helps clarify for me the state of 'warpaint' on new B-17s that arrive at the UK distribution centers. (I also noticed some A/C in the photo have the old tail-gun type and at least one has the new).
Anyway, we know DP received 2-new A/C 7/23/1944 (DP Tower Logs), are trying to establish if the 'Nelson' Crew flew one of them in. (Even if they did, we're pretty certain this wouldn't have been the same A/C they ferried to the UK, and for sure it wasn't 'their' assigned A/C in the 613Sq. at DP.
44-6310 (Douglas, Long Beach, B-17G-50-DL)
6-29-44 Delivered at Kearney
7-23-44 Arrived, Deenethorope, assigned (615Sq), IY-P 'Rocyk's Lois'
44-6613, (Douglas, Long Beach, B-17G-50-DL,)
6-29-44 Delivered at Kearney
7-23-44 Arrived, Deenethorope, assigned (613Sq), IN-F 'Budd's Dudds'
Any thoughts on resources I could check to further reconstruct this 'trail' or help your depot-search? I actually was surprised to see the photo was U.S. Signal Corps - another new source to me.
Thanks again for this mew info and insight,
Win
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Paul Bellamy
12/4/2009 6:39:14 PM | Current "best educated guess" is that this photo is of the eastern apron at RAF Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland.
This was Base Area Depot No.3, and was run by the Lockheed Overseas Corporation for the USAAF.
TTFN,
PB
Paul Bellamy
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win-win
12/5/2009 1:30:42 PM | Hi Paul:
...once again, the great 'Sherlock' comes through....Amazingly.
BTW, I knew the U.S. Signal Corps took most of the U.S. WWI photos, but I didn't know they 'were busy' like this in WWII. Another great revelation.
Thanks, twice more, Paul.
Win
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