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Paul Bellamy
3/24/2008 9:55:21 AM | I've started looking through the few available clear photos of B-17s awaiting disposal at Kingman AFB in 1946-47, hoping to identify any of the 401st's aircraft.
I've only got one so far:
The yellow band and the top of the Triangle S are just visible behind the nose of the plane on the left, but luckily the aircraft letter is visible.
Even more lucky is that it's a U, as there's only one xx-U listed in the aircraft roster so it's likely to be 43-37706 IN-U "Satan's Chillen" of the 613BS:
Date Assigned to 401st BG: 12 Jun 1944
Date Lost: 7 Jun 1945
Nature of Loss: Returned to the USA
RFC Kingman 2 December 1945.
Here's a photo of her in service:
More info as it turns up,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
3/24/2008 10:07:29 AM | Another possible 401st B-17 appears in the lineup at Kingman in the May 1947 issue of Arizona Highways magazine.
I've marked the fin with an arrow, as the scan isn't of a great quality:
There's also a photo of 43-38738 IW-N "Becomin' Back" of the 614th BS out there somewhere which I'm trying to track down.
Incidentally, part of the No4 engine cowling bearing the serial number of 43-38425 IY-K "Net Result" of the 615th BS was discovered at Kingman recently.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Phoenix
3/24/2008 12:31:21 PM | Can't see that at all Paul, you'll need to do better than that to convince me of what you are saying is fact!!!
improvise, adapt, overcome
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Paul Bellamy
3/24/2008 1:53:58 PM | Which one are you querying Dale? 😉
I'm trying to clean up the last photo, but it works better if you squint. 😃
It's more a process of elimination...
B-17 units with yellow fin markings:
8th Air Force
1st Air Division:
306BG: Horizontal band.
379BG: Triangle around group letter.
401BG: Diagonal band.
3rd Air Division:
390BG: Rudder.
452BG: Two horizontal bands.
4th Bomb Wing (94BG, 447BG, 486BG and 487BG): Entire fin and stabilisers.
15th Air Force
463BG: Rudder and elevators.
So taking from that list the only ones with any yellow at an angle gives the 379th and the 401st.
The 379th yellow marking goes around the black group letter triangle, and the photo shows that's not the caseso it removes that option, leaving just the 401st BG.
You do have to squint at the blown up photo, but you can just about make out the upper black line of the diagonal..... I'll try to get a better quality version posted, once it's converted to .JPG format for uploading it loses much of the clarity (or lack of) of the one I'm looking at.
If you go to THIS PAGE and zoom in 200% or 400% it cleans itself up a bit.
TTFN,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
3/24/2008 7:15:26 PM | The photo of 43-38738 IW-N "Becomin' Back" will hopefully be on the way shortly.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
3/25/2008 7:38:23 AM | Probably 43-38758 IN-P, formerly IY-P, in the lineup at Kingman:
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
3/25/2008 7:41:02 AM | 43-38738 IW-N "Be Comin' Back" at Kingman:
Closeup of the nose art and mission tally:
TTFN,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Phoenix
3/25/2008 9:18:56 AM | Can't dispute the last entry Paul also don't have the technology/wit to blow up your first couple of images so I'm still none the clearer on the process of identification! Why you looking up Kingman anyway have you some suspision that they didn't scrap all the planes and we migth get a Gateguard for Deenethorpe 😉
All the best
improvise, adapt, overcome
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donaldbyers
3/25/2008 9:51:11 AM | Great Photos and good insight I have been to Kingman Depot but not while the B-17's were still their. Bummer!!!!!
Don
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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Paul Bellamy
3/25/2008 10:03:19 AM | I wish Dale! 😉
I am hoping the Kingman photos might fill in some of the gaps in the photo archives, especially the nose art.
It's also interesting to see these old warhorses out to pasture.
I've enhanced the first photo slightly to highlight the small portion of the fin marking visible, undoing what a couple of years in the Arizona sun did to fade and flake the paint. Hope it's a bit clearer when you compare it to the original, although offset top of the S could be due to it being obscured by the astrodome of the Fort in front.
There were no other groups with a yellow diagonal and a black triangle though. 😉
As for the lineup photo, if you are using the current version of Internet Explorer there is a zoom tool in the bottom right-hand corner.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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EDanaII
3/25/2008 11:06:23 AM | Hey! I know those mountains! But, then, that's what I get for living in "The Zone." 😃
Nice finds, Paul. 🙂
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DYoung
7/13/2009 6:53:13 PM | Hi Paul,
This is a reply to an old message string, but something you wrote caught my eye.
"Incidentally, part of the No4 engine cowling bearing the serial number of 43-38425 IY-K "Net Result" of the 615th BS was discovered at Kingman recently."
My dad is Jack Young and he his crew's plane was the Net Results. It's a thrill to think that part of the plane still exist. Can you tell me anymore about it...I know it's been a while, but I'd love to go see it, or better yet, have it to show my Dad who is not doing well right now. I've never been to Kingman, but what a treat it would be to be able to visit AND see part of the plane he flew.
Any contacts or information you might have on this cowling part from the Net Results?
Thanks,
Doug Young
Albany, Oregon
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donaldbyers
7/13/2009 9:01:50 PM | When we had our reunion in AZ a lot of us took the tour to the "Bone Yard" B-52s were the mail aircraft their now. -No B-17s sorry to say but if their had been we would have taken over the bus and demanded to get off.
If you have checked this URL http://edwardgdanaii.info:8000/401st/New/history/crew.asp?cid=13521 before can you fill in any of the missing information. Plane flown first 13 missions SSN# alike,
Don Byers
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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DYoung
7/13/2009 11:02:35 PM | Hi Paul,
I can research that, but I know from John Udy's notes (Net Results Pilot) that the plane they flew on for "most" of those first 13 missions missions was Pakawalup II. What I don't know is exactly which missions they flew Pakawalup II and what plane(s) they flew on the other missions. They picked up Net Results new after Pakawalup II was shot down on 9/30. I'll see if I can contact John to see if he has more detailed notes on that as my dad does not. I always got a kick out of that plane in that it flew Marlene Deitrich to do a show at Deenethorpe, and felt lucky that it was flown by someone else the next day on Sept. 30, '44. Not good at all for that crew that flew it that day though.
Anything you can add on the Net Results #4 engine cowling part that was found in Kingman?
Thanks and I'll reply to this message stream when and if I find out more on those missions.
Take care...........Doug Young
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Cody Dailey
9/22/2009 3:27:43 PM | By any chance have you run across any shots at Kingman of "Morning Star"?
Cody Dailey
Son of S/Sgt. JB Dailey
Tail Gunner on board Tail-End Charlie/Morning Star, aircraft number: 42-31730, piloted by George Sombart (August 1944-January 1945)
615th Squadron, 401st BG
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Paul Bellamy
9/22/2009 4:53:22 PM | Hi Cody!
Long time no see. Hope you're well.
Sadly, the range of the currently known Kingman photo's is limited, but new ones do surface occasionally.
I'll put the word out to the people who turn these things up to keep an eye out and see what happens.
Best wishes,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
7/14/2010 2:51:36 PM | A photo of the recovered panel from Net Results has turned up online:
From the size and shape, this was the large turbocharger and oil tank access panel on top of the no.4 engine nacelle.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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DYoung
7/15/2010 10:37:00 AM | Hey Paul, that is awesome. I'm impressed that you were able to locate a picture of this part. Not sure where you found it, but it is amazing that it is still around. I sent the picture out to my Mother, siblings and the pilot of Net Results, John Udy to let them see it. I'm sure they will be impressed that anything like that is still around after all these years.
Really nice work Paul and thanks. I appreciate you finding and sharing that so much.
Doug
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