More recce B-17s

[Dan Johnson]

Came across these not listed as 17s so they slipped under the radar. We've seen the camera's in the tail. These are in the nose. I'm assuming one of them is an F based on the nose glass and the other two G models. Thought the experts here might have more to tell about these particular 17s and their modifications.

First up. 17F nose glass anyway


Close up of the nose camera mods.


Another OD bird. Too fuzzy to make much out but an indication of where they may have been based.

[Dan Johnson]

And a silver bird. I was hoping this photo would have been sharper but so it goes.



Nose


Radome


Tail. Stinger tail not Cheyenne

[Steve Birdsall]

Another very interesting find Dan.

I believe they are both Vega B-17Fs.

According to Freeman/Osborne, 42-6185 and 42-6201 were assigned to the "16 Photo Gp" at MacDill in 1946. I think that's an error and they mean the 16th Photographic Squadron.

I have to confess that I know nothing about that unit or these planes.

[hang the expense]

Neat stuff.

[hang the expense]

It does appear to me anyway to have the long cheek window common on vega built birds

[Dan Johnson]

It's possible the photos were taken while they were operating in Egypt as part of mapping mission in 1944 called the Min Map Asia project.. The link below is a report on the forced landing of one of the 17s and based on the nose configuration I'd say it's the first one with the F-nose glass.

https://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/cr ... eihat-1944

42-6135 is mentioned, as is one other F9B. There is another photo with these that shows 3 F-9B lined up so I'm guessing it's the three of them prior to the accident.

It's ID'd as 42-6129. The third one, which I'd guess is the one in the fuzzy image is 42-6185

[Dan Johnson]

Got the photo of the three F-9B Forts lined up.

No doubt that it's the three from the mapping mission in Egypt.

Left to right: 42-6129, 42-6135, 42-6185

Just a little Fort trivia, but interesting to me anyway

[Dan Johnson]

Last image of these birds. Blown up and cropped from a larger photo. The two OD birds.