I’m looking for a source for the paint scheme and/or decals for British B-17s used in the early part of WWII. The British called them Fortress I and II. We called them B-17C and D. The only limited info I can find on the web shows a profile with dark green and earth over (probably) medium sea gray with sky or gray colored H-WP as the airplane codes. The actual pattern is a big guess from that particular profile. Searches at several online hobby shops for decals has been fruitless.
I have a Minicraft 1/72 B-17E with Coastal Command colors, except that I have doubts about the upper colors they call out, which are Olive Green FS 34079 and Ocean Grey 36152. My old Harleyford book gives a little information, basically after mid 1942, flat white everywhere except plan view, (what can be seen from directly above), with the upper colors in temperate sea scheme Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey, Grey codes. That is the same as Sunderlands of that time period, and Coastal Command Beaufighters. Before mid 42, Coastal Command colors were a bit loose, as I read my references, and the coolors you named may be possible, especially since the B-17C/Fortress I’s had first been with Bomber Command and used on daytime raids with poor results.
In my references, Jablonsky’s “Flying Fortress”, it is said that 12 of the 20 B-17C’s sent to England ended up with Coastal Command. I haven’t found any photos or color references so far on these, except for one which (AM528) which has a dark colored rudder but other than that is a light monochrome color, has a fuselage roundel with the yellow surround, no fuselage codes, and no underwing markings that I can see. 45 B-17E’s went to England, all to Coastal Command as Fortress IIA’s, and 19 B-17F’s to CC, for some reason called Fortress II’s.
OK. I studied my Harleyford book some more, and found the whole thing spelled out. Now if this is wrong, call Bruce Robertson et al, not me.
Special Finish
Quote:
Passing from the general to the particular, there is an interesting exception in markings from the R.A.F.'s unsuccessful attempt to use the American Boeing B-17C (Fortress) as a high-altitude day bomber. Twenty of these machines, AN518-537, were delivered in clear finish, at first incorrectly numbered AM518-537. They were delivered to No. 90 Squadron in dark brown and green to M.A.P. Pattern No.4, with azure blue undersurfaces, fins and rudders.
During August, 1941, the camouflage changed to temperate sea scheme, being more suited for their long unescorted daylight raids over the sea to Brest, Oslo and Kiel. However, the following September operations ceased, AN523, AN525 and AN533 had been lost on operations, AN535 was so badly damaged that it had to be scrapped, AN522 had been lost earlier in a flying accident and during August, AN534 was burnt out on the ground. Apparently night operations were then contemplated, for AN537 in October, 1941, was observed to have black undersurfaces that extended well up the fuselage sides; white letters ‘WP.D’ showed it to be still with No. 90 Squadron. Night operations were never put into effect, for the remaining Fortresses were dispersed. AN527 and AN530 re-finished in ‘Coastal White’ (see Chapter 4) (edit: see my first reply) went to No. 220 Squadron, AN524 became 3355M and AN526 became a familiar landmark at St. Athan as 4449M. AN532 ended up in India with U.S.A.A.F. markings. So the R.A.F. gave up the idea of high altitude day bombing. There was no need to pursue the matter for the Americans soon arrived in force and took over this side of the business, while the R.A.F. concentrated on night bombing.
If you have access to Model Aircraft Monthly Vol.6 Issue 8, August 2007, it has profiles and plan views. If not, send me your email addy and I’ll scan it for you.
There is a photo of two B-17E’s in formation. One in the standard O.D. over N.G. The second plane is in the scheme of dark green, dark earth over deep sky. This plane was taken over from a British order because of the USAAF’s urgent needs. It also has national insignia in six locations covering the previously applied British national insignia. The photo shows both airplanes from the left and above which shows most of the pattern used. I couldn’t say for sure that his was the pattern used on the Fortress I’s but it could very well be.
The two most recent books I can find with photos of the two B-17’s are; Warbird Tech Series Vol. 7 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress by Frederick A. Johnson. A nice color photo in there.
The second is; B-17 Flying Fortress The Symbol of Second World War Airpower, also by Frederick A. Johnson. This is in the Walter J. Boyne Military Aircraft Series vol. 6. The overhead view I mentioned is in this book.
An older book that has some good photos of British Fortress I’s, including some in the Coastal Command finish, is B-17 Fortress at War by Roger A. Freeman.
Antoni has been wide awake since 5.00 am this morning. Anyway dogsbody has beaten me to it. You won’t find anything much better than Paul Lucas’s article in August’s MAM which also includes US B.17s in British camouflage.
Coastal Command B.17s were comprehensively covered in a lengthy 3 part article in Air Enthusiast not so long ago. If back copies are not available the very nice people at Key Publishing will sell you a photocopy of any article for, I think, £4 + postage.
That’s right, Antoni, I forgot about the AE article. Lots of nice history and some good pics. It only has a few profiles, though. I would say the Paul Lucas is the better of the two, regarding colour and markings.
