QB-17 photos wanted

[daveT]

I'm looking for pictures of QB-17 (B-17 Drones). Best if they were from Holloman AFB or Whites Sands New Mexico. They were usually painted in red-orange Day-Glo paint with black diagonal stripes for increased visibility. Their serial numbers were prefixed by an O, indicative of their obsolete status. Sources for QB-17 conversions were new B-17s that had went directly to storage upon delivery from the factory. The last operational mission flown by a USAF Fortress was conducted on 6 August 1959, when DB-17P 44-83684 directed QB-17G 44-83717 out of Holloman Air Force Base as a target for a Falcon air-to-air missile fired from an F-101 Voodoo fighter.
Thanks in Advance

 

[Graeme]

Hi Dave,

I can find a number of photos, mostly black and white, but not from the locations you requested.

 

[daveT]

Thanks for the above pictures. Anyone have a color picture of the QB-17 with overall orange paint and black strips? It sure would look pretty. It seems a tragic end to these great planes.

 

[r2800doublewasp]

A good place to look would be this website about china lake. A Photographic History of NAF VX-5 at NOTS China Lake. Type in "QB-17" in the search bar and some good pictures will come up.

 

[r2800doublewasp]

Also on youtube there is a good video of a QB-17 being shot down.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA7LpbkpPps

 

[daviemax]

QB-17 photos with serial numbers visible are difficult to find. Through research I have identified some 43 QB's from various sources - only a few from photographs. This can't possibly be the total actually employed throughout the service life of the aircraft - there should be many more.

Dave Tarrant