Open Cockpit B-17

I think the page spacing/numbering may differ as my 1996 copy is bound together with David Anderton’s “B29 Superfortress”.

My edition of Roger Freeman’s “The B-17 Flying Fortress Story” was published in 1999 and is different from what you describe. Page 79 shows “B-17E #41-9122 named “Eager Beavers”, taxiing in at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, while serving with the 11th Bomb Group. It had an improvised mount for a .50 gun in the upper nosepiece. (USAAF)”
No Aphrodite connection listed. Written off 15/6/44.

Freeman lists B-17F “The Careful Virgin” #41-24639 as transferred for Aphrodite operations, lost Mimoyecques 4/8/44. No mention of modifications.

B-17F #42-30565 was not “Gremlin Gus II” but “Careful Virgin” and is listed as recycle completed 9/2/45. No Aphrodite connection listed.

B-17F #42-30595 is listed as “Gremlin Gus II” and mentions the “fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open cockpit. Salvaged 24/6/46.”

The plane/background at 29:25 is exactly the same as the one on page 79 of Roger Freemans “B17 Fortress” and that is labelled as Gremlin Gus II.
However the 323nd Bomb Squadron website states Carful Virgin was converted.

Bazza

According to Roger Freeman in the ‘The Mighty Eighth’ B-17F Careful Virgin 41-24639 was modified with the open cockpit and was used on an Aphrodite attack on the 4th of August 1944, its pictured on page 173 but the registration is not visible. Richard

Thank you for this, I will have a look at it.
So it looks like there may have been two aircraft modified this way, but I’m not convinced it was an automatic ‘accross the board’ project modification.

I think you will find that only one aircraft, Gremlin Gus, was ever given this treatment.
I have never seen any other reference to any others having been modified in this way.
I am of course willing to be shown otherwise.

According to Roger Freeman in the ‘The Mighty Eighth’ B-17F Careful Virgin 41-24639 was modified with the open cockpit and was used on an Aphrodite attack on the 4th of August 1944, its pictured on page 173 but the registration is not visible.

Richard

The Aphrodite project B-17s were open cockpit.

I think you will find that only one aircraft, Gremlin Gus, was ever given this treatment.
I have never seen any other reference to any others having been modified in this way.
I am of course willing to be shown otherwise.

The Aphrodite project B-17s were open cockpit.

“Gremlin Gus II” 42-30565???

Bazza