That certainly threw a spanner in the works. During Operation Varsity a B-17 carrying a Combat Camera Crew and Observers was shot down. A bit more to story here: Supply drop for "Varsity" 1945 But how to find out more on that possibility for OMG? Regards ...
Two B-17s also involved in the Sept.17th lift. A quote from the Middlebrook book, "Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle, 17-26 September". " ... Two American generals - Lewis Brereton, the overall commander of 'Market', and Matthew Ridgway, whose Airborne Corps Headquarters had no part to play in the operation - each flew in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber to observe all three of the divisional drops. Brereton had a close shave from flak near Grave, but Ridgway enjoyed himself by manning one of the nose guns in his Fortress and letting fly at targets on the ground." From Bereton's book: Regards ...
Out of interest here's another small piece on the Bereton B-17 from the book,"Deliver Us From Darkness" by Ian Gardner. We already know that aircraft took the southern route to Holland so it would not be the one in above photos flying next to C-47s carrying men of the 82nd Airborne who arrived at their drop zones by the northern flight path. I can't find any further information on the B-17 that carried General Matthew Ridgway who was, by the way, the CO of the 82nd until as recently as mid-August of 1944 when that position was taken over by General Jim Gavin. From the book "More Than Courage": But it is obvious who he would have followed into battle. We also know his B-17 was equipped with guns which he fired himself. So there is a strong possibility that the partial views of the B-17 seen in above photos was the one that carried General Ridgway. ... Say tuned as I later eat my words. Regards ...
B-17 42-3037 This is interesting but how do we interpret it? Apparently not the "Windy City Avenger"? 42-3037 / Windy City Avenger | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies Regards ...
In Operation Varsity a B-17 was used to carry film teams and photographers. Maybe the same idea was used in Market Garden.
Yes i had all ready seen this one, the letter G is the wrong way round but the number looks the same.
Keith, Looks like nothing new for you but will add the following for others. Here is an enlarged and lighter version of pic. Serial could be read as 23037 (the 4 is dropped). KY would denote the 366th Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb group. The N-1 could be the radio call sign. Not sure what the 'G' signifies? Regards ...
Had this info sent to me Hello Keith, Thank you for the amazing pictures. The triangle G is the unit marking for the 305th Bomb Group. Two B-17s serial number in this group ending with 3037: - 42-30375 / Yo-Yo - 42-3037 But both were not used for combat duties in September 1944. 42-30375 returned to the USA in July 1944. Maybe the serial number on the tail was 8037. One B-17 of the 305th Bomb Group is a candidate: 42-38037. Assigned to 305th BG in January 1944 and returned o US in June 1945. -- Kind regards (from Germany) / Viele Grüße Jing Zhou
With the B-17s the 'G' in triangle I think was a variant and not squadron specific. Somewhat complex. List of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress variants - Wikipedia Regards ...
I can't imagine this would be that popular, but anyone wishing a PDF variation of thread go to link below. I informed Keith first and he did not seem to mind. Hopefully more information turns up on the B-17 and who was on board. Noticed there are some good walkarounds of B-17s on the web. B-17 Flight Photos OMG.pdf - Icedrive Regards ...
Not taken from the negs but original wartime photos taken buy a British serviceman REME that were in my collection from a few years ago. Tugs towing two gliders each. Keith
To point out the obvious the double towed Wacos are offset with one set of tow ropes longer than the other. Regards ...