B-17 Questions and looking for photo’s now found

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

        Hello Everyone … I know this a real long-shot but here goes. I was talking to a friend and fellow modeler recently about B-17’s. The subject came up as to which ones we would like to build. Outside of the obvious B-17G’s I know there are at least 3+ B-17F’s and a B-17D & E I’d like to do someday. Unfortunately here is where my problem comes in. When I upgraded my phone last year. I lost 30,000 photo’s in my storage files. I lost the photo’s of the specific B-17F I really want to do. My only hope is to describe it and hope that somebody here has a lucky shot of finding the info/photo’s. 

 

Im pretty certain it was 8th AF, but freely admit I could be wrong.

 

Any other info regards serial # and codes, squadron, and location would be most gratefully received. 
 

Dennis

Edited April 24, 2024 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

   I have a second question, a friend sent me a video about a B-17G “Wampus Cat”. 

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2atrowq5M

 

In the video I took a still screen shot of the port waist gun position. There are two objects riveted to the fuselage just fore/aft of the waist gun. 
 

 

My guess is these are so the gunner cant shoot the wing or the tail plane. Please let me know if I’m correct or off on my guess ? 
 

 

Dennis

[Work In Progress]

Correct

[72modeler]

Dennis,

 

I seem to recall seeing a photo of your B-17; IIRC, it had the nsme "The Spook" along with a caricature of a Skull wearing a top hat, and I think holding a cane and white gloves, but for the life of me, I don't remember in what book I saw it. I found some data on what might be the same  B-17F; the codes were ET-J., serial was 42-29704. Here is what I have found so far; in the photo with the crew, you can see the name and I think behind it  and covered by the prop hub, is the nose art. Best I can do right now, but maybe this info will jog somebody's memory. I will dig into my B-17 reference books to see what I can find, Is this a great hobby, or what?

Mike

 

Delivered Cheyenne 6/2/43; Rapid City 20/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Alconbury 29/3/43; Framlingham 12/5/43; 2m, battle damaged ...

https://95thbgdb.com/aircraft/29

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205360906

 

Evidently there were several B-17's with the same name! (I am really confused, now!)

https://books.google.com/books?id=Zq231WMxUXYC&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=B+17f+42+29704+the+spook+crash&source=bl&ots=miLORliLiX&sig=ACfU3U0-PBmXxz1SL1z_luNQ0ZhgLC9XjQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb6qzqk9uFAxUTnokEHab8BTI4ChDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=B 17f 42 29704 the spook crash&f=false

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

8 hours ago, Work In Progress said:

Correct

 Thanks for confirmation.

 

3 hours ago, 72modeler said:

Dennis,

 

I seem to recall seeing a photo of your B-17; IIRC, it had the nsme "The Spook" along with a caricature of a Skull wearing a top hat, and I think holding a cane and white gloves, but for the life of me, I don't remember in what book I saw it. I found some data on what might be the same  B-17F; the codes were ET-J., serial was 42-29704. Here is what I have found so far; in the photo with the crew, you can see the name and I think behind it  and covered by the prop hub, is the nose art. Best I can do right now, but maybe this info will jog somebody's memory. I will dig into my B-17 reference books to see what I can find, Is this a great hobby, or what?

Mike

 

Delivered Cheyenne 6/2/43; Rapid City 20/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Alconbury 29/3/43; Framlingham 12/5/43; 2m, battle damaged ...

https://95thbgdb.com/aircraft/29

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205360906

 

Evidently there were several B-17's with the same name! (I am really confused, now!)

https://books.google.com/books?id=Zq231WMxUXYC&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=B+17f+42+29704+the+spook+crash&source=bl&ots=miLORliLiX&sig=ACfU3U0-PBmXxz1SL1z_luNQ0ZhgLC9XjQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb6qzqk9uFAxUTnokEHab8BTI4ChDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=B 17f 42 29704 the spook crash&f=false

Hello Mike sadly way too many shared nose-art/names. I believe this is why its nigh impossible too find my specific aircraft. I remember or think I remember that I was searching B-17F nose gun variations when I originally found the photos. Sadly before posting here I tried every conceivable variation of “B-17 nose gun modifications” I could and no luck to date. 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

@72modeler Mike … I struck gold today. I found the B-17, turns out I was wrong it was a “G” model. It’s a plane that was photographed in a boneyard after the war. The plane is called “Duke ☠️Spook”. As I dont have rights I leave it as a Link. 

 

https://i.imgur.com/cjPqPBr.jpg

 

B-17 43-38972 / Lucie aka

Duke Spook

Edited April 24, 2024 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[72modeler]

Is this your Fort?

 

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/43-38972-lucie-aka-duke-spook/

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6333255711633529/visual-search/?x=16&y=16&w=532&h=532&cropSource=6&surfaceType=flashlight

 

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/43-38972

 

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

8 minutes ago, 72modeler said:

Is this your Fort?

 

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/43-38972-lucie-aka-duke-spook/

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6333255711633529/visual-search/?x=16&y=16&w=532&h=532&cropSource=6&surfaceType=flashlight

 

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/43-38972

 

 

Yeah thats the one… Now I need to have decals made. 

[dad's lad]

Interesting that all links refer to the name as Duke Spook yet I think I see a small "the" just above the top hat which means it should be Duke the Spook.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

5 minutes ago, dad's lad said:

Interesting that all links refer to the name as Duke Spook yet I think I see a small "the" just above the top hat which means it should be Duke the Spook.

Why yes you do. I found a B-24 with the same name so wonder if it’s a common character in a song or movie of the era ? 
 

https://i.imgur.com/I7JZr0G.jpg

Edited April 27, 2024 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[MilneBay]

2 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Why yes you do. I found a B-24 with the same name so wonder if it’s a common character in a song or movie of the era ? 
 

https://i.imgur.com/I7JZr0G.jpg

 There was a song in the 30s or 40s.

 

https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/AirForceSongHistory/DukeTheSpook.pdf

Edited April 27, 2024 by MilneBay

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

10 hours ago, MilneBay said:

 There was a song in the 30s or 40s.

 

https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/AirForceSongHistory/DukeTheSpook.pdf

I just looked it up but cannot actually find a recording of it outside of a private music website. I don't want to make a membership to hear the full song. As it sat I could only hear the first 10-15 seconds on a preview ? 

[MilneBay]

4 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

I just looked it up but cannot actually find a recording of it outside of a private music website. I don't want to make a membership to hear the full song. As it sat I could only hear the first 10-15 seconds on a preview ? 

 

I suspect it's probably a very rare recording - I'd never heard of it until I searched. 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

30 minutes ago, MilneBay said:

 

I suspect it's probably a very rare recording - I'd never heard of it until I searched. 

According to the one private music site I searched earlier it was released on this cd.
 

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Rare-3-Bing-Crosby/dp/B0197OIH1S 

[dad's lad]

This is on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pxXSZ4EHvE

 

Edited April 28, 2024 by dad's lad

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

14 hours ago, dad's lad said:

This is on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pxXSZ4EHvE

 

Thanks for the looking but apparently not available ? 
 

 

I figure I’ll find it yet but may take sometime. I will attempt my local library and used CD stores. 

[72modeler]

Evidently Bing Crosby recorded the song. See the lyrics and music: (It appears the song and the airplane was titled 'Duke the Spook'

Mike

https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/AirForceSongHistory/DukeTheSpook.pdf

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/463167142907877937/

 

https://valortovictory.tripod.com/photo17/43-38972ph.htm

 

Here's her combat record:

https://valortovictory.tripod.com/b17s/43-38972.htm

Edited April 29, 2024 by 72modeler
added text and link

[dad's lad]

17 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Thanks for the looking but apparently not available ? 
 

 

I figure I’ll find it yet but may take sometime. I will attempt my local library and used CD stores. 

Weird it works for me even if I click on my own link. It's strange to hear Bing singing about B-24's!

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

1 hour ago, dad's lad said:

Weird it works for me even if I click on my own link. It's strange to hear Bing singing about B-24's!

 

Its possible I may need a youtube account to access it in the U.S..