Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2472. Delivered to the U. S. Army. On December 24, 1941 took off from Boeing Field on a ferry flight to McChord Airfield.

Wartime History
Ferried overseas via the African route, piloted by F. M. Key. Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group in Java on January 15, 1942.

Afterwards, assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 28th Bombardment Squadron. Next, assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group, 30th Bombardment Squadron and later the 63rd Bombardment Squadron and operated from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Nicknamed "Stingaree II”, likely after the Hollywood movie Stingaree (1934). Later, nicknamed "Guinea Pig".

Between January 22, 1942 until October 5, 1943 this B-17 flew combat missions over New Guinea. During 1943 this B-17 had extensive markings panted on the left side of the nose, including: 22 aircraft, 3 ships and 212 bomb markings indicating bombing missions flown.

Steve Birdsall adds:
"The aircraft was around for a long time, but certainly never flew the 200+ missions some claim."

During October 1944, this B-17 was scrapped at Brisbane.

References
IMDB - Stingaree (1934)
1st Lt. Walter E. Buchanan, Jr. crew photo pose notes this bomber was B-17E "Stingaree II".
Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Edward Rogers for additional information
Other sources claim this B-17 also served with the 7th Bombardment Group

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Last Updated
January 31, 2018