Inside Planes of Fame Air Museum's B-17G under restoration. This aircraft was delivered as 44-83684 on 7 May 1945, too late to see action in WW2. It went into storage in Texas and was converted to a DB-17G drone director aircraft to control radio-operated QB-17 target aircraft. In this role it participated in the 1951 Op Greenhouse nuclear tests and flew the last operational mission for the USAF on 6 Aug 1959. The staggered waist gun positions can be seen with the starboard gun moved forward by three fuselage frames. The seated Plexiglas windows afforded more comfort at combat altitude.

Delivered to the USAAF as B-17G 44-83872 then transferred to the US Navy as PB-1W 77235 in 1945. Sold as N7227C in 1967. Registered as a B-17G. To the Confederate Air Force in 1967 who became the Commemorative Air Force in 2002. Destroyed in a fatal mid-air collision with P-63F N6763 at an airshow at Dallis-Executive in 2022.

Delivered to the USAAF as 44-83563 in 1945. Sold in 1959 and registered as N8563Z in 1960. Featured in the film The War Lover in 1961. Converted to a firebomber in 1963. Featured in the film Tora Tora Tora in 1969. Sold a few days after this photo was taken and reconfigured as a warbird.

In temporary markings for a Bomb Group reunion.

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

Constructed as B-17G 44-83884 for USAAF, then to USN as PB-1W 77244. Photo by Steve Kraus.

Ex N3713G, USAAF 44-83684. On static display at Chino since 1971.

Ex USAAF 44-83563. One of three B-17s which passed through Gatwick en-route to Bovingdon for the filming of the movie The War Lover. Once at Bovingdon all three were painted in the USAAF camouflage of the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group, N9563Z wearing the serial 41-27742/DF-T. After filming she returned to the US to join Aviation Specialties of Mesa as a fire tanker and in 1969 was involved in the film Tora Tora Tora. Sold to the National Warplane Museum at Geneseo NY. in 1985 flying as '297400' 'Fuddy Duddy' and current with the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana CA. at time of upload.

On display at RAF Museum Hendon. Built in July 1945, this USAAF B-17G was transferred to the USN as BuNo. 77233 to serve as a land-based AEW aircraft. It was equipped with an AN/APS-20 search radar and flew as a PB-1W with VPW-1 in support of the Pacific Fleet and with VW-2 in the Atlantic Fleet. Struck off charge in 1956, it was converted to a firefighting tanker in the 1960s. It was restored to military configuration and ferried from California to the UK via Lajes in 1983. The aircraft wears the markings of 332nd BS, 94th BG(H) based at Bury St. Edmunds.

The aircraft was built in July 1945 by Douglas Aircraft Corporation, Long Beach, California. Displayed at Hendon from December 1983.

Ex N3713G. On static display at Chino since 1971.

Caught of fire for unknown reasons when returning from a mission over Austria. Landed safely and crew escaped unharmed. Aircraft too damaged to be repaired. Note the unusual application of the full serial on the fin. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

41-28678 crashed in the Netherlands on March 22, 1944, with engine problems while returning from a raid on the BMW factory in Berlin. Some sources say this photo shows the aircraft returning from 458th BG's 200th mission. However that did not take place until February 26, 1945. The last possible mission that this aircraft could have completed was the 17th mission on March 15, 1944. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

12 Jul '45: TOS USAAF as B-17G 44-83872. 16 Jul '45: TOS USN as PB-1 77235 at Naval Aircraft Modification Center, Johnsville, PA. 12/46: Converted for AEW tests as a PB-1W. Served with VX-4, FASRON 103, VW-2 and VW-1. 1/55: NAS Litchfield Park, AZ for storage. 10 Jul '56: SOC. 10/57: Aero Service Corp., Philadelphia, PA with c/r N7227C. Converted for aerial surveying. 12/61: ACS Incorporated; used for aerial photography, including photographing a solar eclipse from 31,500 feet for the University of Alaska. 9/67: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX.

12 Jul '45: TOS USAAF as B-17G 44-83872. 16 Jul '45: TOS USN as PB-1 77235 at Naval Aircraft Modification Center, Johnsville, PA. 12/46: Converted for AEW tests as a PB-1W. Served with VX-4, FASRON 103, VW-2 and VW-1. 1/55: NAS Litchfield Park, AZ for storage. 10 Jul '56: SOC. 10/57: Aero Service Corp., Philadelphia, PA with c/r N7227C. Converted for aerial surveying. 12/61: ACS Incorporated; used for aerial photography, including photographing a solar eclipse from 31,500 feet for the University of Alaska. 9/67: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX. Note lack of dorsal turret, sparse nose art.