Research for 'Old 666"

[Aurora-7]

I had contacted the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s archive center asking for reference material relating to a Pacific B-17E known as ‘Old 666’. While they were unable to supply with specific information, I was none the less, impressed by there response. I just recieved this e-mail about 30 minutes ago. I would recommend to anyone trying to model a specific operational aircraft to contact the Air & Space Museum’s archive center for help.

Dear Mr. Paquette:

We received your e-mail communication of February 1, 2007, seeking assistance in determining precisely how a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, which you identified as “Old 666” (we assume this must have been USAAF serial number 41-2666) was modified in the Pacific theater circa 1943 for photo reconnaissance.

We consulted the Individual Aircraft Record Card for this aircraft, and found no indication that it was officially modified. Normally, if such a modification was carried out by a depot-level organization, such as the Hawaiian Air Depot of the Seventh Air Force, a notation was made in the “Remarks” column of the IAHC. The aircraft, for your information, departed Hamilton Field, CA for Hawaii May 5, 1942 and on to the Pacific area May 13, 1942, returning to the U.S. May 22, 1944. The aircraft was redesignated as RB-17E after return to the United States, but you should understand that as of 1944, the “R” prefix indicated “obsolescent” rather than the “Reconaissance” function that was attached to this designator post-war.

As you may be aware, a number of B-17 aircraft, usually thought to have included B-17E, B-17F and perhaps some B-17G variants, were formally converted to photo reconnaissance configuration between 1942 and 1944 and redesignated as F-9s. These invariably had an appropriate annotation made on their respective Individual Aircraft Record Card. Of course it is possible that the modification that you are seeking to identify and document may have been made “in the field,” in which case, the only possible source for documentation might be the operating unit history, which are held by the USAF Historical Research Agency, 600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112.

Sincerely,

Dan Hagedorn

Archives Research Team Leader and Adjunct Curator,

Latin American Aviation

Archives Division MRC 322, National Air and Space Museum

PO Box 37012

Washington, DC 20013-7012

[Phildirt]

WOW! Impressive.

[soulcrusher]

I am totally impressed by such an elaborate and detail response. It is nice to know there are people out there with this type of information that are willing to answer questions when they arise. Nice job!

Soulcrusher

[richs26]

If you want more info about the pilot of 41-2666, Google for Jay Zeamer. There is a website that describes him.

[Aurora-7]

I’ve done that and got images of him and his crew. It’s because of those articles and the History Channel’s ‘Dogfights’ episode that got me interested in doing a model of ‘Old 666’.

While I think I have enough for doing the machine gun mounting modifications, I’m really trying to find images of B-17Es with camera mounts in the bomb bays. I’m still not sure if the bomb bay doors were removed or not for recon flights.

[B299X]

B-17E’s were not equipped to carry cameras in the bomb bay. Removing the bomb bay doors would have increased the drag on the plane with a subsequent range penalty. Of course ‘field modifications’ may have placed the cameras in a unique place but the bomb bay just seems unlikely.

B-17E’s, F’s, and G’s had a small camera bay located under the radio room floor the normally held a strike camera for recording bomb strikes on the target during the mission. I think that this was were the cameras were located.

HTH

Tony H.

[Aurora-7]

My reply from the USAF Historical Research Agency:

Dear Sir:

42-2666 Delivered Minneapolis 7/3/42 Assigned to 19th BG Hawaii 5/5/42 
Trans 43BG. The aircraft card then has the codeword SUMAC  which is I 
believe Australia 5/22/42 and then Return to the 3/4/44 arriving 3/30/44 
Assigned to maybe the 4th Air Forced Spokane. Then to Training Command 
Assigned the 4134 Base Unit. Then to Walla-Walla, 423 BU. On to Hendriks 
Field in FL, Assigned to the 2137 BU.  Next to Albuquerque, Air 
Transport Command, 4160 Base Unit. 

Dropped from USSSAF inventory 8/9/45 and given over to the 
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.  Probably scrapped. 

If the aircraft was in Australia it was assigned to the 43rd BG however 
within that bomb group was the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron which 
started out flying the first B-17A in the states. After turning in their 
B-18 which they had been using for anti-submarine/reconnaissance patrols 
off the eastern coast of the US.  

I could find no photograph. 

B-17 FLYING FORTRESS IN DETAIL AND SCALE D&S Part 3. More Derivatives by 
Alwyn T. Lloyd  has a chapter entitled Photo-Recon B-17s. The chapter 
does have pictures pf the various photographic ports and other equipment 
associated with the cameras, etc. 

41-2666 is not listed as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft but that 
doesn't mean a lot. 

The book is available for purchase on the internet. Also available 
through interlibrary loan.  Consult your local library.