B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces: Difference between revisions
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===Sixth Air Force=== |
===Sixth Air Force=== |
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About thirty B-17s (B/D/E/F) served in the [[Caribbean]] and [[Antilles Air Command]]s during World War II, the first (B-17D 40-3058) arriving in [[Panama Canal Zone]] during March 1941. However, |
About thirty B-17s (B/D/E/F) served in the [[Caribbean]] and [[Antilles Air Command]]s during World War II, the first (B-17D 40-3058) arriving in [[Panama Canal Zone]] during March 1941. However, usually less ten were operational at any one time. They were mostly R- (Restricted from combat) RB-17Bs and Ds stationed at [[Río Hato Field]], but some were at [[Albrook Field]]. Later E and F models no longer suitable for training were obtained as replacement aircraft. Some were based at [[Waller Field]], [[Trinidad]]. They were used for long-range antisubmarine patrols over the Caribbean, South Atlantic and Eastern Pacific approaches to the [[Panama Canal]]. Were also used for long-distance flights to [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[British Guiana]] and [[Brazil]] as transports. In addition to the Sixth Air Force B-17s, F-9 photo-mapping Fortresses of the [[1st Photographic Group]] were frequently in the command's AOR, as well as in South America on aerial survey and mapping missions. |
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: 1941-May 1942 |
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: [[3d Bombardment Squadron]] |
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: [[Río Hato Field]], [[Panama]] |
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: Reassigned to [[Galapagos Islands]], May 1942 |
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* [[9th Bombardment Group]] |
* [[9th Bombardment Group]] |
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: 1941-May 1942 |
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: [[430th Bombardment Squadron]] |
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: [[Waller Field]], [[Trinidad]] |
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: Reassigned to [[Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics]], May 1942 |
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* [[40th Bombardment Group]] |
* [[40th Bombardment Group]] |
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: 1941-Jul 1943 |
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: [[44th Bombardment Squadron]] |
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In addition to the Sixth Air Force B-17s, F-9 photo-mapping Fortresses of the [[1st Photographic Group]] were frequently in the command's AOR, as well as in South America on aerial survey missions. |
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: [[Albrook Field]], [[Canal Zone]] |
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: Reassigned for B-29 Transition Training, Jul 1943 |
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===Seventh/Thirteenth Air Force=== |
===Seventh/Thirteenth Air Force=== |
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Revision as of 04:47, 18 September 2010
This is a list of United States Army Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces including variants and other historical information. Heavy bomber training organizations primarily under II Bomber Command in the United States and non-combat units are not included.
The B-17 Flying Fortress was perhaps the most well-known American heavy bomber of the Second World War. It achieved a fame far beyond that of its more-numerous contemporary, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The first pre-production Y1B-17 Fortress was delivered to the 2d Bombardment Group, Langley Field, Virginia on 11 January 1936; the first production B-17B was delivered on 29 March 1939 also to the 2d Bombardment Group. A total of 12,677 production Fortresses was built before production came to an end. In August 1944, the B-17 equipped no less than 33 overseas combat groups.
Following the end of World War II, the Flying Fortress was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the B-29 Superfortress. Literally thousands of Fortresses were flown to various disposal units where they were cut up for scrap. Some served in the postwar United States Air Force with the Air Rescue Service as SB-17 rescue variants; some were used as QB-17 target drones or DB-17P drone controllers, and a few were converted to VB-17 executive transports.
The last operational USAF B-17 mission was on 6 August 1959, when DB-17P 44-83684 (Originally a Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-90-DL) directed QB-17G 44-83717 which was expended as a target for a AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missile fired from an F-101 Voodoo, near Holloman AFB, New Mexico. 44-83684 arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB for storage a few days later. The few DB-17P remaining operational drone controllers remaining on Air Force rolls afterward were transferred to various museums in 1960.
Combat Organizations
Fifth Air Force
Prior to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the 19th Bombardment Group had 35 B-17s in the Philippines. By 14 December only 14 remained. Beginning on December 17, the surviving B-17s based there began to be evacuated to Australia. On 14 January they were joined there by the 7th BG. Both units would remain on Java until March 1942, taking part in the brave but ultimately futile attempts to defend the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. The B-17s were never present in large enough numbers to make any real difference to the course of the campaign. The 7th BG was then transferred to India, while the 19th BG returned to Australia. There they were joined by the 43rd Bombardment Group. The two units took part in the campaign on Papua New Guinea, before the 19th BG was moved back to the United States at the end of 1942. The 43rd BG kept its B-17s into 1943 when they were replaced by B-24s.
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Sixth Air Force
About thirty B-17s (B/D/E/F) served in the Caribbean and Antilles Air Commands during World War II, the first (B-17D 40-3058) arriving in Panama Canal Zone during March 1941. However, usually less ten were operational at any one time. They were mostly R- (Restricted from combat) RB-17Bs and Ds stationed at Río Hato Field, but some were at Albrook Field. Later E and F models no longer suitable for training were obtained as replacement aircraft. Some were based at Waller Field, Trinidad. They were used for long-range antisubmarine patrols over the Caribbean, South Atlantic and Eastern Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. Were also used for long-distance flights to Ecuador, Peru, British Guiana and Brazil as transports. In addition to the Sixth Air Force B-17s, F-9 photo-mapping Fortresses of the 1st Photographic Group were frequently in the command's AOR, as well as in South America on aerial survey and mapping missions.
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Seventh/Thirteenth Air Force
The B-17 was to achieve its first taste of combat during the Pearl Harbor Attack, when the 5th Bombardment Group based at Hickam Field, Hawaii had 12 B-17Ds parked on the ramp. Five of these B-17s were destroyed, and eight were damaged in the attack. On December 7, The 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group, with four B-17Cs and two new B-17Es was inbound from Hamilton Field, California to Pearl Harbor on their way to the Philippines to reinforce the American forces there. They arrived at Pearl Harbor at the height of the attack. One was destroyed, three others badly damaged. In June 1942, B-17s from the 5th and 11th Bomb Groups were were used in the Battle of Midway.
Both the 5th and 11th Bombardment Groups joined the Thirteenth Air Force during 1942 and took part in the American campaign in the south west Pacific, fighting during the campaigns in the Solomon Islands (including the battle for Guadalcanal) and the return to the Philippines. By the middle of 1943 both units had replaced their B-17s with B-24 Liberators
Tenth Air Force
Received some Philippines survivors and Fortresses sent to Australia which were used during the defense of the Netherlands East Indies when the 7th Bombardment Group was sent to India to join the Tenth Air Force in May 1942. It continued to operate its B-17s for most of the rest of the year, operating against the Japanese in Burma. Replaced by B-24s.
Eighth Air Force
Was strategic heavy bombardment Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II, stationed in England. B-17s were the dominant heavy bomber of the VIII Bomber Command (later Eighth Air Force), engaged in long-range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, August 1942-May 1945 attacking enemy military, transportation and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany.
Twelfth/Fifteenth Air Force
Initially deployed to Morocco and Algeria from Eighth Air Force in England during November 1942, later formed into XII Bomber Command. Used for strategic bombardment of enemy targets in North Africa and in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). Transferred to Fifteenth Air Force in October 1943 and operated from airfields in Southern Italy. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, transportation and industrial targets in the Balkans, Italy, Austria, France and southern Germany as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany.
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References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, AL: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN: 0892010975