Does anyone know which B-17s appeared in this film?

Daz,

Have a look on the aero vintage site or the Scott Thompson “Final Cut” book – I’m pretty sure one or two aircraft are mentioned specifically but I don’t remember which. Also I think there was a thread here with a couple of pictures not very long ago.

Rob / Kansan

taken today. i asked about its re-build and was told that due to other comittments the RAF can’t spare anyone, so the Valiant is on hold for now.

You’re very kind, M101!!
I can appreciate that co-ordinating the moves and swaps (and the new building) must be a logistical nightmare, but even so, I’m a little surprised to see a large chunk of it just sitting there in the open apparently without so much as a bit of cling-film to cover the exposed bits. At least the cockpit hasn’t been left in your car-park! And this is the last complete Valiant and as such a historically significant airframe? Gawd help the insignificant ones.

Rob / Kansan

Sorry Kansan,
I overlooked the date. Lancaster Mk.X started flying on Operations in May, 1944.

Ken.

Hi Ken,

Wow. I wouldn’t have guessed they entered service so soon. Thanks for that.

Rob / Kansan

Still, you have to say the quality of workmanship looks very good….if nothing else 😀

For a $70,000 paint job they might at least have got the correct USAF cockarde/star-and-bar.

So the Autralian Government didn’t prohibit its export? Is this a new (laborious) way of smuggling historically sginificant Merlins out of Oz? 🙂

Why a 55? Couldn’t they make it fit in a Camaro? 🙂

Rob / Kansan

The Victory Aircraft produced Lancaster Mk.X replaced the Frasher Nash mid-upper turret with the Martin 250 turret on the production line from serial number KB 853 on. A good many of these airframes did see combat with the 419,428,431 and 434 Squadrons.

I beleive some of No.6 Group Halifax Mk.III and Lancaster Mk.II had a single .50 cal MG in the Mid-Under position.

Ken.

Ken,

I don’t think it would have been a Mark X Lanc in March 1944, would it?

Rob / Kansan

yeh i know the feeling Rob! i work next door on the UAS. The Valiant is still occupying ‘our’ car park, dought if it’ll be done for some time. just hope the weather does’nt effect it being outside for so long!

I do hope they’ve at least put a tarpaulin over it! 🙂
Do us a favour – nip outside and take a pic of the Valiant bits on your lunchbreak tomorrow. 😀

Hey you Guys,

I tried to draw this picture of a P-47N of the 1st FS of the 413th FG when it was based in Japan in 1945. I don’t know if it is correct. Is there anybody out there who has information on the 1st FS and their P-47s

Thanks.

Hey vprinsen, I confess I know absolutely nothing about the paint scheme, but it looks convincing!

You may want to find a copy of Roger Freeman’s “Thunderbolt” which has some pix of 413th and 414th FG P-47Ns **but** they were photographed on Iwo Jima – right before the period you’re covering. Also – have you tried ArmyAirForces.com? [Edit – I just went there and there isn’t much at all]

There is some information at http://www.yellowairplane.com/413th/ but nothing which covers the period you want – it’s a pictorial survey of the group before they shipped out, by the look of it.

I have (somewhere) a model of a 414th FG P-47N representing the Iwo period which has a yellow tail, and a large numeral where you have your “AH” code letters. They also painted round, not over the serial number – but this doesn’t help you much.

Rob / Kansan