ex Canada Air Force 20292, N2047

Ex N6904, N66004, USAAF 41-8887. Crashed on take-off from Bealeton Va on 7 October 2007 when it struck trees and was destroyed in a post-crash fire. Registration cancelled 12 February 2008, and the remains bought by former owner Ronald White in July 2011.

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.

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.