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  B-17E "Typhoon McGoon II / Typhoon McGoon" Serial Number 41-9211  
USAAF
13th AF
11th BG
98th BS

Click For Enlargement
11th BG c1942

Click For Enlargement
11th BG c1943

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2683. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9211. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS). Nicknamed "Typhoon McGoon II" on the right side of the nose after the loss of B-17E "Typhoon McGoon" on September 13, 1942. On the right side of the nose were six aerial victory claims in two columns (4x2) and a single row of twelve bomb markings indicating bombing missions flown.

During late 1942, B-17 operated from Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo flying bombing and reconnaissance missions over Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Later, this B-17 was later equipped with radar.

On November 14, 1942 took off from Bomber 1 piloted Captain James E. Johan on a mission to search for Japanese heavy cruiser force that bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal the night before. Flying to the northwest, this B-17 spotted Japanese vessels and radioed their position and circled. Intercepted by a dozen Zeros, this B-17 claimed six shot down and two damaged but sustained damage to the tail and control surfaces but was able to return to Bomber 1 safely and was repaired by 5am the next day.

During January 1943 at photographed parked at Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield on New Caledonia. Sometime afterwards, the "II" was painted out making the nickname simply "Typhoon McGoon".

During 1945, flown back to the United States. On December 14, 1945 assigned to the 901st Base Unit (901st BU). Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared in early 1946.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Fortress Fortress 41-9211
"9211 delivered to Cheyenne May 22, 1942; assigned to 11th BG, 98th BS at Hickham, Hawaii Jun 11, 1942, named "Typhoon McGoon"; flew a mission over Guadalcanal Jan 1943; RET US at Orlando and assigned to 901st BU Dec 14, 1945. Final fate not in available record, probably sold for scrap in early 1946."
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 292-293, 390

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Last Updated
February 5, 2024

 

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