Picture of the day.

[michaelmaltby]

WORLD WAR PHOTOS
m36_35th_infantry_division_654th_td_bn_in_oberbrauch_germany_1945-jpg.611222

 

[syscom3]

B-17G Flying Fortress With Shattered Nose 42-97966

This B-17 was delivered Denver 17/4/44; 1SAG Langley 30/5/44; Dow Fd 28/6/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-S] Snetterton 29/6/44; RetUS, Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 4/1/46.

 

[nuuumannn]

1942 WW2 article KIDS RIDE WAR SCOOTERS ON THE PLAYGROUND PT Boats Tanks..013121 | eBay

And bringing up the rear, the epic War Giraffe, simulating that famous battle in the North African campaign...

View attachment 611108View attachment 611109View attachment 611110View attachment 611111View attachment 611112View attachment 611113


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

Terrific post, mate, never heard of this before - very interesting.

 

[michaelmaltby]

WPRLD WAR PHOYOS
m36_703rd_tdb_werbomont_20dec44-jpg.611383

 

[syscom3]

Delivered Tulsa 14/5/44; Kearney 26/5/44; Dow Fd 1/6/44; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-U] Grafton Underwood 12/6/44; Missing in Action Koblenz 11/10/44 4 Killed in Action; 5 Prisoner of War; flak, crashed Mayen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9478. HOT AFTER IT.

 

[Snautzer01]

Delivered Tulsa 14/5/44; Kearney 26/5/44; Dow Fd 1/6/44; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-U] Grafton Underwood 12/6/44; Missing in Action Koblenz 11/10/44 4 Killed in Action; 5 Prisoner of War; flak, crashed Mayen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9478. HOT AFTER IT.View attachment 611414

Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-45-DL 44-6149 384th BG, 547th BS, *Hot After It*) MIA Oct 11, 1944 on mission to Wesseling, Germany. This aircraft was credited with 40 combat missions with the 384th

 

[Snautzer01]

WWII Captured German Photo - German Soldiers Inspecting British Horsa Glider | eBay

 

[Snautzer01]

WW2 USAAF RED CROSS DOUGHNUT WAGON A.R.C ORIGINAL PRESS TYPE PHOTO | eBay

 

[Snautzer01]

Female motorcyclist sets off to deliver documents in the UK WW2 photo #178 | eBay

 

[Snautzer01]

soldiers of the 5th light detachment of the Finnish army WW2 photo #333 | eBay

 

[michaelmaltby]

WORLD WAR PHOTOS
Churchill_AVRE_3

 

[syscom3]

B-17 Flying Fortress Crash 490th Bomb Group 8th Air Force December 1944

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

View attachment 611108View attachment 611109View attachment 611110View attachment 611111View attachment 611112View attachment 611113


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

Barely visible between the B-24 is this B-17 with B-24 nose and tail turrets, s/n 41-9112. Originally arrived with 97th BG:

 

[Wurger]

 

[at6]

soldiers of the 5th light detachment of the Finnish army WW2 photo #333 | eBay

View attachment 611596

Up to skull duggery eh?

 

[CATCH 22]

Barely visible between the B-24 is this B-17 with B-24 nose and tail turrets, s/n 41-9112. Originally arrived with 97th BG:

A better copy of the original photo as shown in the above post #18,992:

And a detail with the B-17:

And the same a/c s/n 41-9112 before or maybe during the modifications:

The above photos are from Fold3.

 

[Dana Bell]

Brings back memories! The "278" in the upper left corner of the last image was the book number that the reference print came from - I wrote that in the late 1970s when we were making a copy neg and wanted to get the print refiled later. Great days working at the Air Force Central Still Photo Depository on Fern Street in Alexandria - the building and organization are long gone, but the memories are still great!

Cheers,



Dana

 

[michaelmaltby]

WORLD WAR PHOTOS
churchill_iv_48th_guards_tank_regiment_1943-jpg.611707

 

[Wurger]

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

A most unusual scheme for an assembly ship, B-24D s/n 41-23689 from 392nd BG. Previously had gone to war has "Minerva" in 44th BG.