Great shot, but it was taken after the atomic bomb missions. The depot spearhead tail markings weren't applied until after the bombs were "delivered."
Cheers,
Dana
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View attachment 610889
Big Stink, The Great Artiste, and Enola Gay shortly before leaving for Hiroshima, August 1945. No photo credit available.
Great shot, but it was taken after the atomic bomb missions. The depot spearhead tail markings weren't applied until after the bombs were "delivered."
Cheers,
Dana
I want one! The PT boat, please.
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Once a standard B-17E, The Dreamboat received extensive modifications to its defensive armament under the supervision of Maj. Robert J. Reed. The nose and tail turrets were replaced with units from the B-24, the bombardier's station extensively modified, and both waist gun positions removed in exchange for a powered twin .50cal position in the old radio room.
As a result of the modifications, the aircraft's CG moved forward slightly, correcting an issue with the standard B-17E where the CG was aft of the center of lift; crew was reduced from 10 to 8 with the elimination of the navigator and a gunner; the bomb-bay doors were streamlined; the bombardier was moved into a gondola similar to the original Boeing Model 299; the oxygen system was strengthened with a redundant supply; and the fields of fire on the defensive armament, especially the nose and tail, were greatly improved. While test crews responded positively to the changes, they were too great to be performed at the depot level and were not approved for service as it would slow production too much.
Source: usaac-official