IGN Flying Fortress

Looking at the B-17s that were used by the IGN, one of the Forts that didn’t escape the cutter’s torch caught my eye.

B-17F 230177. A combat veteran with the 388th BG, survived the war, was purchased by IGN, but used as a spares ship to keep the other Forts flying.

I have read on several websites that the remains were cut up as late as 1973. What surprised me was that a lot of trouble had gone in to recovering another combat veteran Fort (Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby) from France two years earlier in 1971. Always wondered why the B-17F wasn’t saved as well, as both a combat veteran and rare ‘F’ model. Or was it because by this time there wasn’t much of it left?

Such a shame, if it had survived a few more years maybe it could have ended up at Duxford.