Interesting B-17 photos

[John Dell]

Here are a couple of links I thought many of you would find interesting. They show some B-17Es that took part in the first 8th Air Force bombing missions and B-17Fs in North Africa during Operation Torch. Plus there are some Spitfires. The albums contain color and B&W photos, many of which were taken by famed photographer Margaret Bourke-White. She also in a few. If you look closely you will see some other famous faces. Paul Tibbets appears in several of the photos.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Radio.WW2/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1924008327845154

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Radio.WW2/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1923599127886074

Margaret Bourke-White probably holds the distinction of being the only woman to fly a combat mission in the B-17.

[Don Boose]

Wonderful images.

Mystery (to me) image: first set, row 8, 2nd image, tail no. 6073. I thought at first it was one of the reverse lend lease Spitfires, but the tail wheel assembly is wrong. What is it?

I do like the images of the 307th (MX) and 309th Fighter Squadron (WZ), 31st Fighter Group, Spitfire Vs. The photos must have been taken between August and early October 1942, since the 31st FG was transferred to XII Air Force and North Africa in October.

Don

[John Dell]

That is a Ju 88 Don.

[Texman]

Someone identified it as a Ju-88

[Don Boose]

Aha! Thanks, John and Flyboy! I never would have figured that out.

My aircraft i.d. skills are somewhat better for U.S., British, and Japanese aircraft. Considerably less so for Luftwaffe.

Don

[John Bowden]

this one shows several captured German aircraft.........RAF marked

[whulsey]

Those are some great photos.

[John Dell]

There are a couple of photos of that Ju 88 from different angles in that album. Along with the Ju 88 is a Bf 109 and Bf 110.

I'd like to do a kit of "Flying Flit Gun". Apparently Margaret Bourke-White came up with the name and christened it.

[ghshinn]

Question: In set 1, third row, 4th picture from the left. Could the man standing at the far left of the picture be Paul Tibbets?

Garland

[John Dell]

Yes, that is Paul Tibbets. He was the lead pilot on the first 8th Air Force B-17 mission. He later flew a B-17F named “Red Gremlin” during Operation Torch. He got around.