Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
That certainly is an Assembly Plane as described by Gary.
That particular plane was a B-17F, SN: 42-3441 called "Spotted Cow" and belonged to 384th Bomb Group. She flew 61 combat missions as "Patches II" before being used as an Assy. Aircraft.
Here is a website with more pictures of the aircraft:
384th BG: B-17F-60-DL, 42-3441
and
B-17F 42-3441
Thanks DerAdlerIstGelandet
I had a feeling someone here would know the answer. Now maybe someone can find other photos of these type of aircraft.
The assembly ships were known as "Judas goats". They did not continue on missions but returned to base once their job was done.
There is a black humour in the name as Judas goats were originally trained animals that lead the rest of a herd to slaughter.
Steve
I just noticed the polka dots are referred to as "sky blue". A friend researched this very aircraft for a model and his dots were the same blue as the national markings.
Spotted Cow was one of the nicknames for PatchesII. She flew 61 missions before becoming an Assembly Ship
I don't know about you guys but I'm stoked to make one of thses my next project.
Dirkpitt some of those look like the skins JaRink did for IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 ?I found a website where someone used a computer to show what these birds looked like in color. Its AMAZING!
Spotted Cow was one of the nicknames for PatchesII. She flew 61 missions before becoming an Assembly Ship
I don't know about you guys but I'm stoked to make one of thses my next project.