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.

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.

Ordered by the USAAF as 44-77013 and delivered to the US Navy as R4D-7 99854 in 1945. To the CAA as N7074C then N32 in 1957. Renamed to FAA in 1958. Redesignated as a TC-47J in 1962. Reregistered as N32A then to the US Department of Agriculture as N227GB in 1976. To the Confederate Air Force in 1981 and painted as 315033. Renamed to the Commemorative Air Force in 2002. To Basler Turbo Conversions in 2015 and stored at Oshkosh, WI.

March 13 194545: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83514. Assigned to the PTO. Ca.9/47: Clark Field, Philippines; converted to RB-17G. 1950: Eglin Field, FL and converted to DB-17G. 3/51: 3215th Drone Squadron, Patrick AFB, FL, and converted to DB-17P. 1/59: SOC. 7/59: Converted to a fire tanker; for the next 16+ years it fought forest fires. 1977: Converted back to military configuration. From 1981 to 1985, with the help of Boeing, it was brought back to full WWII factory military standards.

3/13/45: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83514. Assigned to the PTO. Ca.9/47: Clark Field, Philippines; converted to RB-17G. 1950: Eglin Field, FL and converted to DB-17G. 3/51: 3215th Drone Squadron, Patrick AFB, FL, and converted to DB-17P. 1/59: SOC. 7/59: Converted to a fire tanker; for the next 16+ years it fought forest fires. 1977: Converted back to military configuration. From 1981 to 1985, with the help of Boeing, it was brought back to full WWII factory military standards.

13/March/45: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83514. Assigned to the PTO. Ca.9/47: Clark Field, Philippines; converted to RB-17G. 1950: Eglin Field, FL and converted to DB-17G. 3/51: 3215th Drone Squadron, Patrick AFB, FL, and converted to DB-17P. 1/59: SOC. 7/59: Converted to a fire tanker; for the next 16+ years it fought forest fires. 1977: Converted back to military configuration. From 1981 to 1985, with the help of Boeing, it was brought back to full WWII factory military standards.

The only flying Helldiver looks as splendid as it did 20 years ago, as I first saw it at an airshow at Hamilton airport, Ontario, Canada.

K25 slide scan. Built 1944 as 44-29869 for USAAF. Remained in mainland US until retired 1957 and declared surplus 1958. Sold as N3160G same year. Acquired by Confederate Air Force 1978 and moved to Fleming Field for restoration. Painted to represent 327493 operating in the Mediterranean 1944/45. Reregistered N27493 1991, first flown after restoration 18 April 1992, the 50th anniversary of the Doolittle raid. Has since joined the Air Show Circuit.

This is actually B-17G 44-83872. After construction, it was transferred new to the US Navy which modified it to a PB-1W airborne early warning a/c with BuNo 77235. Retired from the USN in 1955 and sold to the civilian market where it was used as an aerial survey a/c. Sold to the CAF in 1967 and initially marked as a B-17 from the 305th BG, as seen here.

ex USAAF 42-19597

ex USAAF 42-19597

ex USAAF 41-21178

"Victory Field" on the tail. Ex 42-65516.

"Victory Field" on the tail. Ex 42-65516.

Army Air Force P-63F 43-11719 was bought surplus after WWII by Harold Pemberton and flown in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race registered NX1719. Registered N1719, N443 and N447AG over the years, it raced at Reno registered N6763 in the late 70s. The fighter was acquired by the Confederate Air Force (later the Commemorative Air Force) circa 1980. It was the last surviving of two P-63Fs built. Sadly she was destroyed in a midair collision with B-17 N7227C on 12 November 2022.

After almost eight years of restoration work by the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing 'Texas Raiders' is making its first public appearance at Wings over Houston 2009. 'Texas Raiders' is illuminated by the very last sunrays on the Friday evening before the show.