B-17 id

[1930artdeco]

Hi Folks,

I picked up this neg from ebay and was wondering if anyone could tell me which version this is. Is it a Model 299 or a YB-17? Anyone have any idea about the background of this photo?

Mike

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I would venture to guess that its a YB-17, one of thirteen or fourteen built in 1937. The markings are that of the 2nd Bombardment Group.

 

[1930artdeco]

Thank you for the info. The car looks like it has California plates so I am guessing this took place there. Either way it is a neat picture and I would like to blow it up further later this year.

Mike

 

[dhermann1]

So interesting to see this early version of such an iconic plane. The most obvious difference from the planes that flew over Europe is the addition of the big fillet in the tail. But also, you can see the machine gun in the nose, at the top of the bubble, instead of in the chin. What ever could have possessed them to place it there instead of below? Can somebody enumerate the rest of the differences between this and the later versions? Super neat picture.

 

[MissMittens]

It's a YB-17 without a doubt. Hermann, the guns were moved so that they could shoot below the nose of the aircraft through above the nose, as protection against fighters coming up from below or dropping from above

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

On a historical note the 2nd BG was the first unit to be equipped with the B-17. Today, along with the 5th BG, they're the only remaining B-52 equipped bomb wings in the Air Force.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Here's a pic from the 1939 book, "The Army of the United States" which was printed for members of congress, etc. as a sort of overview of the army to give government officials an idea as to our preparedness for war.
Is this the same model? I was struck by the sort of extended "cab" on top, and the gun blisters on the sides instead of the familiar doors.

[/IMG]

 

[Mk Vb]

There were 4 variants built after the 299 on basically the same platform - the YB-17, B-17B, C and D, all relatively similar in terms of gun placement, except that the B,C and D versions did away with the side blisters, using a flatter version of the blister bubble, and all with the skinny tail and various versions of the underneath turret. The E model was the first to have the strengthened tail fillet, tail guns and a more compact lower turret, and the ball turret appeared in the F model, along with the chin turret which was added to all F and G models...which of course made it a much more prickly target to tackle head-on.
The pic in the original post to the thread is a bit hard to identify accurately, but it is definitely one of the earlier versions, YB through to B or C....I think after the C the tailfins no longer used the distinctive stripe marking, carrying generally the aircraft's individual tail number.

 

[TomS]

I couldnt say for sure that the registration plates are from California, but I'm certain they are plates from the 30's, and certainly the U.S.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Can somebody enumerate the rest of the differences between this and the later versions? Super neat picture.

Just about everything...The wings design stayed the same with modifications, the fusealage length changed, the flight deck changed, the empennage design, the nose, all the gun turrets, radios, avionics, fuel cells, not sure about the landing gear. I thought they use P&W first then switched to the Wright????
Nice early picture, maybe one of the show boat tours....

 

[Phantomfixer]

click here for some awesome pics from Life

http://www.warbirdinformationexchan...&t=46408&sid=048b031004a8dfa1665a1fb7762c84fd

 

[MissMittens]

Great shots. In one post someone notices they're turning the props backwards.......this was done for lubrication and was quite normal

 

[Phantomfixer]

had the chance to get a spinner from a Wright engine shoulda grabbed it. There were dozens of em in a field at Port au Prince...

 

[MissMittens]

had the chance to get a spinner from a Wright engine shoulda grabbed it. There were dozens of em in a field at Port au Prince...

Damn......should have.....if I had the opportunity, I'd grab one in a New York minute