imported back into the US as N8WJ, later N12355

Flying near Tampa. Given date March 1942 and the farthest aircraft, 41-2575, served at MacDill Field from 14 February 1942 until 20 April when it crashed. 41-2540 crashed in Texas in 1943 on a war bond tour, masquerading as Suzy Q although it never saw combat. Photo by: Frank Scherschel / Life

The RCAF acquired several war-weary B-17s for use as trans-Atlantic mail planes. Despite being described as dilapidated when delivered and suffering several accidents including a midair collision between Prestwick and Gibraltar, 9205 continued in service until December 1946. It was sold in Argentina as LV-RTP and finally scrapped in 1964. Photo from: Library and Archives Canada

41-2627 crashed after take off from 14 Mile Drome at Port Moresby on December 26, 1943. On board was a media party, two of whom were to die from their injuries. Two crew were also killed including the co-pilot. The mission objective was to film the amphibious landings at Cape Gloucester. The photo location is one of the airfields in the Port Moresby area. Photo from: State Library of New South Wales

41-9141 wears RAF camouflage and fin flash but was diverted to the USAAF. 41-9131 in olive drab is flying in the background. These two airframes spent the war with different training units. The photo was most probably taken before they were delivered in April 1942. Removal of the red dot from the US roundel was ordered on 6 May 1942. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

On 27 June 1942 this B-17E made a forced landing on the Greenland Ice Cap. The crew was rescued, but the a/c wasn't recovered until 1995. Now restored, it has been on display in the aircraft gallery area of the museum since 2012.

picture taken shortly after arrival from Bolivia, where it had flown cargo as CP-753

Also known as "Swamp Ghost" this bomber crash landed in a New Guinea swamp in 1942. There it remained until its recovery in 2006. Eventually it would go to the Planes of Fame Museum in California and finally it has ended up on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum in Hawaii. 64 years in 5 feet of water has left its mark on the bomber.

41-2446 force landed in the the Agaiambo Swamp, Papua New Guinea, in 1942. It was given the nickname Swamp Ghost by passing pilots. In 2006 it was recovered by helicopter and shipped to the US in 2010.