Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  B-17E  Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2437  
USAAF
5th AF
19th BG
28th BS

Former Assignments
11th BG
98th BS

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
The Battle of Midway
June 4, 1942

Click For Enlargement
USAAF c1942

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2248. On December 2, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2437 and flown to Sacramento Air Depot (SAD) and later to Hickam Field.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Painted in Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) three color camouflage scheme consisting of dark green, olive drab and tan upper surfaces with standard gray lower surfaces.

During April 1942, ferried across the Pacific with B-17E 41-2630 and B-17E 41-2652 arriving in Australia on April 22, 1942. By late May 1942 flown back to Hickam Field.

On June 4, 1942 at 8:15am took off from Hickam Field with an extra bomb bay fuel tank as one of six B-17s on a flight to Midway Airfield on Eastern Island and participated in the Battle of Midway. Footage of this B-17 landing and taxing appears in The Battle of Midway (1942) by John Ford.

Afterwards, flown across the Pacific to Australia. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 28th Bombardment Squadron (28th BS).

On July 16, 1942 took off from Longreach Airfield piloted by Lt. Hughey with co-pilot 1st Lt. Gilbert E. Erb from on a flight to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On July 17, 1942 flown from 7 Mile Drome on a bombing mission against Rabaul then returned to 7 Mile Drome. Later that same day, returned to Longreach Airfield.

On June 15, 1944 officially written off. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2427

"2437 delivered to Salt Lake SAD Dec 2, 1941; transferred to 11BG 98BS at Hickam Field, HI Oct 25,1942, WO Jun 15, 1944."
The Battle of Midway (1942) by John Ford includes footage of B-17E 41-2437 taking off from Midway Airfield
Gilbert E. Erb Flight Log - July 1942
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 170 (April 22, 1942 arrival in Australia), 384, 418 (footnote 34)
Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) pages 209 (stills from film Midway)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
March 17, 2024

 

Tech Info
B-17

Photos
Photo Archive
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram