fubar57
General
Here is a list of missions for the above aircraft, B-17G 42-31435 SU✪S, "WEST END", with many more photos
B-17G 42-31435
B-17G 42-31435
Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress The Dreamboat nose
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T Bolt
Colonel
Great research George
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Nice!
- Thread starter
- #24
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
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fubar57
General
beauty
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
Nice!
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Good shots!
tbottoms1512
Recruit
- 2
- Jul 12, 2017
Can't remember where I found it but this was said to be a sketch of the 'Dreamboat' nose art.
What?
philmarchese
Recruit
- 6
- Dec 25, 2010
The AAF had a very formal process of control for aircraft modifcation and hadban Aircraft Modification Control Office. The B-24D1 nose turret modification is a very famous example. The B-25 overseas C1/D1 conversions were depot produced and lead to the NAA developed D2 and G-12 programs. The Middletown AAFAC program was another major progam. Several B-17 armament modification programs were conduct by UAL, Cheyenne. All were formal, approved programs. The P-51 tankage and fin strake programs are two more factory designed, approved programs.
- Thread starter
- #33
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?13581
Let's first compare this B-17E to the B-17E/L we have ingame:
B-17E/L B-17E "The Dreamboat"
2 x 1 7.62mm in the nose 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the nose
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the top 2 x 2 12.7mm on the top
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 on the top -
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the bottom 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the bottom
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 in the rear left waist -
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 in the rear right waist -
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the tail 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the tail
Total: 2 x 7.62mm Total: 10 x 12.7mm M2
9 x 12.7mm M2
When Major Reed brought the "Dreamboat" back to England in September 1943, it was well received. The formation flying characteristics were vastly improved, and the folding bomb bay doors and new oxygen system, seemingly minor points, were praised by the crews flying daily combat over Germany. The main complaint was the concentration of all the key crew members in the nose where they could be taken out with a single cannon shell.
The project was not, however, for naught. Many of Major Reed's changes were incorporated in the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Convair B-32 Dominator, which were in their initial test stages and were to replace the B-17.
Text from here - Reed's "Dreamboat" - Kaiserslautern American
Despite the improvements, incorporating the changes into the B-17 production line would have resulted in unacceptable delays for retooling and they were too extensive to be done in England, so Major Reed's "Dreamboat" remained an object of curiosity in various depots for the rest of the war.
Let's first compare this B-17E to the B-17E/L we have ingame:
B-17E/L B-17E "The Dreamboat"
2 x 1 7.62mm in the nose 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the nose
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the top 2 x 2 12.7mm on the top
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 on the top -
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the bottom 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 on the bottom
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 in the rear left waist -
1 x 1 12.7mm M2 in the rear right waist -
1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the tail 1 x 2 12.7mm M2 in the tail
Total: 2 x 7.62mm Total: 10 x 12.7mm M2
9 x 12.7mm M2
When Major Reed brought the "Dreamboat" back to England in September 1943, it was well received. The formation flying characteristics were vastly improved, and the folding bomb bay doors and new oxygen system, seemingly minor points, were praised by the crews flying daily combat over Germany. The main complaint was the concentration of all the key crew members in the nose where they could be taken out with a single cannon shell.
The project was not, however, for naught. Many of Major Reed's changes were incorporated in the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Convair B-32 Dominator, which were in their initial test stages and were to replace the B-17.
Text from here - Reed's "Dreamboat" - Kaiserslautern American
Despite the improvements, incorporating the changes into the B-17 production line would have resulted in unacceptable delays for retooling and they were too extensive to be done in England, so Major Reed's "Dreamboat" remained an object of curiosity in various depots for the rest of the war.
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Good shots!
