Strange B-17 with only 2 engines. Very old thread

I also thought there were two sets of props showing on the far side, but after review I’ve changed my mind. What looks like the second prop isn’t the right size, shape or color.

my thinking is that it’s the starboard wing. T he shape of the shadow distorted by the ground it’s falling on.

and a quick google images says you are right.

Looks like a Douglas B-23 Dragon.

Can anyne identify this?

I know I am adding to this thread pretty late. I found this photo taken at Lowry AFB, Denver, CO, long since closed, near where I work today. It sure looks like a B-17 fuse, wing, tail but with two engines. Can anyone identify?

thanks,
Dan[ATTACH=CONFIG]233077[/ATTACH]

Just a guess here but could it be a BQ-7 unmanned flying bomb conversion?

Is that flak damage to the port nacelle and forward of the cockpit?

Wonder how its center of gravity made it behave.

Engine is fairly close to CG, and keep the TG guns in place, a few bags of sand, voila!

[QUOTE=P Bellamy;1956469]

“….Weekly Activity Report
Period 22nd March 1944 to 28th March 1944

Maintenance:
Instances occur in which flying aircraft from on-site repair to the depot presents unique problems. One such example occurred last week, in that one outboard engine and nacelle of an aircraft had been shot away, which required an inner wing panel change.
Since such repairs are beyond the capacity of field working parties, the remainder of the nacelle was removed and a regular wing leading edge built over the nacelle root. The aircraft was then successfully flown to the depot on three engines….”

All the best,
PB[/QUOTE]

Seems to fit the bill, well found

I am sure this B17 was patched up to get it home, possibly the damage, perhaps caused by a fire had in some way affected the wing structure making the fitment of a new engine impossible. So a temporary repair was carried out.
The only other record of a similar situation, that I can find, was when G-ADHL the Canopus flying boat was ferried home to Hythe from Mirabella in the Med with #2 engine removed and the nacelle faired off.

Richard

Cannibalised?

No way! have you any idea how many spares the Yanks had during the war?

As is the American way, they had tons of everything.

Anon.

Maybe it was canabalised for bits to repair the rest.;)

I have seen this photo before but can’t remember where. Perhaps in a Squadron Signal publication as I have a few of those from my younger days. Will endeavour to have a look tonight.

Hopefully it was just for the short hop from Kimbolton to Alconbury…

Wonder how its center of gravity made it behave.

2SAD was at Abbots Ripton adjacent to Alconbury, and was responsible to the 1st Air Division, so the photo seems to fit too.

All the best,
PB

And the date is early enough to put effort to do this.

Still made me think of a reverse of the Manchester -> Lancaster evolution. :diablo:

Two-engined B-17

No bomb load, no offensive armament, two tons lighter after removing the two motors and all the gubbins that held them on the wing, probably a third of the fuel.

Add to all that a nice big, lightly loaded wing and it would make a great twin-engine machine. No problem.

It was probably a “what if” dreamed up by imaginative and restless ground crew and engineers and using a war weary old battlewagon, which was probably destined for the scrap heap anyway.

Just a bit of fun – American style – I’d suggest:)

Anon.

While surfing the web i saw this picture.
It looks like a war weary b-17g stripped of all it’s combat equipment.
And 2 engines!
Does anyone know more about this plane??? :confused:

Apologies for the thread necromancy, but while going through some newly-arrived files I may have found the answer:

Headquarters, 2nd Strategic Air Depot

Weekly Activity Report
Period 22nd March 1944 to 28th March 1944

Maintenance:
Instances occur in which flying aircraft from on-site repair to the depot presents unique problems. One such example occurred last week, in that one outboard engine and nacelle of an aircraft had been shot away, which required an inner wing panel change.
Since such repairs are beyond the capacity of field working parties, the remainder of the nacelle was removed and a regular wing leading edge built over the nacelle root. The aircraft was then successfully flown to the depot on three engines.

2SAD was at Abbots Ripton adjacent to Alconbury, and was responsible to the 1st Air Division, so the photo seems to fit too.

All the best,
PB

I am surprised that none of you have noticed the ‘babe’ clearly visible in the left hand seat through the open cockpit slide.

Hmmm I can’t really make out what’s happening there. I do notice though that the perspective in the overlayed photo is different (notice the wheel).

Having studied the pic, I’m sure it’s a twin. See the overlayed picture I’ve made. The two red lines point to the props on the B-17 pic from my collection. On the original picture, there is nothing in this location to suggest a starboard outer.

Also on the comment of flying or more precisely taking off a B-17 on two engines. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the B-17’s was saved by the pilot taking off on two engines and hegde hopping until the attack was over.

Steve