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  B-17C Flying Fortress Serial Number 40-2063  
USAAF
7th BG
38th RS

Pilot  Larry D. Dennis
Crashed  May 29, 1943
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle as model 299H. Constructors Number 2064. On November 30, 1940 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as B-17C Flying Fortress serial number 40-2063 and flown to McClellan Airfield to the Sacramento Air Depot (SAD).

On May 22, 1941 at Salt Lake City, Utah. On June 14, 1941 at Sunset Field (Geiger Field). On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On November 14, 1941 assigned to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (38th RS) at Albuquerque Field, New Mexico. No known nickname or nose art.

Wartime History
On December 6, 1941 took off from Hamilton Field piloted by 1st Lt Bruce G. Allen on a ferry flight bound for Hickam Field on Oahu. This bomber had the .50 caliber machine guns installed but carried no ammunition. Aboard was "Crew No. 4" including co-pilot 2nd Lt Charles N. McArthur, Jr., Aviation Cadet Leo M. Eminger, Avn Cdt Walter B. Decker, MSgt Horace K. Hunsberger, Sgt Floyd A. Wright, Jr., PFC Raymond E. Fetty, Pvt Richard E. Morris, and Pvt J. W. Childers.

On December 7, 1941 in the morning incoming Japanese aircraft detected on radar were dismissed as the expected flight of B-17s and arrived during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. This B-17 landed safely at Hickam Field.

Afterwards, returned to the United States and used to train air crews at Hendricks Army Airfield near Sebring, Florida.

Mission History
On May 29, 1943 took off from Hendricks Army Airfield piloted by Larry D. Dennis on a training flight and crashed near 36th Street Airport (Miami Airport) with three killed. Officially, written off the same day as the crash.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17C Fortress 40-2063
7 December 1941 - The Air Force Story - Appendix D - B-17s Arriving During the Attack pages 158-159
(Page 158) "B-17C/40-2063 1st Lt Bruce G. Allen Hickam Field In Commission"
(Page 159) "Crew No. 4: 1st Lt Bruce G. Allen, 2d Lt Charles N. McArthur, Jr., Avn Cdt Leo M. Eminger, Avn Cdt Walter B. Decker, MSgt Horace K. Hunsberger, Sgt Floyd A. Wright, Jr., PFC Raymond E. Fetty, Pvt Richard E. Morris, and Pvt J. W. Childers."
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 382
AAIR - May 1943 USAAF Stateside Accident Reports - May 29, 1943 B-17E 40-2063
Thanks to David Tanner for additional information

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Last Updated
February 23, 2024

 

Tech Information
B-17
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