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.

In 1998, the museum at Elmira was called the National Warplane Museum. The rights to that name was taken over by the current museum at Geneseo, NY in 2010. The collection is now known as the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. "Fuddy Duddy", ex 44-83563, Douglas built, painted as USAAF 297400/E/K. It was a VB-17G and fire tanker before restoration.

7 Apr '45: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83563 at Hunter Army Air Field, GA, then delivered to Patterson Field, OH. 5/45: Delivered to Philippines. Converted to CB-17G. Ca.6/45: Converted to VB-17G. 7/45: Used by Gen Jimmy Doolittle at Kadena, Okinawa. Also carried Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1952: Returned to the USA for overhaul and then to 6000th Base Service Group, Japan. 1955: Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. With civilian fire-bomber owners it flew in two movies: "The War Lover" and"Tora, Tora, Tora". 1985: National Warplane Museum.

7 Apr '1945: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83563 at Hunter Army Air Field, GA, then delivered to Patterson Field, OH. 5/1945: Delivered to Philippines. Converted to CB-17G. Ca.6/1945: Converted to VB-17G. 7/1945: Used by Gen Jimmy Doolittle at Kadena, Okinawa. Also carried Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1952: Returned to the USA for overhaul and then to 6000th Base Service Group, Japan. 1955: Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. With civilian fire-bomber owners it flew in two movies: "The War Lover" and"Tora, Tora, Tora". 1985: National Warplane Museum.

7 Apr '45: TOS USAAF with s/n 44-83563 at Hunter Army Air Field, GA, then delivered to Patterson Field, OH. 5/45: Delivered to Philippines. Converted to CB-17G. Ca.6/45: Converted to VB-17G. 7/45: Used by Gen Jimmy Doolittle at Kadena, Okinawa. Also carried Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1952: Returned to the USA for overhaul and then to 6000th Base Service Group, Japan. 1955: Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. With civilian fire-bomber owners it flew in two movies: "The War Lover" and"Tora, Tora, Tora". 1985: National Warplane Museum.

This is actually B-17G 44-83872. After construction, it was transferred new to the US Navy which modified it to a PB-1W airborne early warning a/c with BuNo 77235. Retired from the USN in 1955 and sold to the civilian market where it was used as an aerial survey a/c. Sold to the CAF in 1967 and initially marked as a B-17 from the 305th BG, as seen here.

After almost eight years of restoration work by the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing 'Texas Raiders' is making its first public appearance at Wings over Houston 2009. 'Texas Raiders' is illuminated by the very last sunrays on the Friday evening before the show.

Aircraft D of the 332nd Bombardment Squadron, which was working up at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in April 1943 as part of the 94th Bombardment Group which deployed to England in May. 42-3259 was damaged by flak over Flensburg during one of its first missions on 19 May 1943. Transferred to 384th BG for which it flew 34 missions, now named Alabama Whirlwind. Transferred to 44th BG in March 1944. Retired from combat duty and flown to Tinker Field, Oklahoma in August 1944. Sold for scrap in 1946. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Operated by Butler Aircraft for fire suppression. Originally a B-17G-95-DL, it was later transferred to the US Navy as a PB-1W, serial 77233. After retirement from fire duties it was converted back to bomber configuration and went to the RAF Museum for display.

The last winter of the war left the western half of the Netherlands in German hands, with a starving population cut off from food supplies. On 28 April 1945 the Germans agreed to food droppings by Allied bombers. Taken towards the sea, this picture shows Valkenburg airfield. Reportedly named Liquid-8-Or, 44-6954 was scrapped at Kingman, Arizona in November 1945. Photo from: US Air Force

This bomber had a typical short career. Built by Douglas at Long Beach, it was delivered to Denver on 7 August 1943, and assigned to 365th BS at RAF Chelveston on 16 September. Shot up by Luftwaffe fighters while returning from raid against Bremen on 8 October and crash-landed in the Noordoostpolder, an area then just reclaimed from the sea. The crew survived.

In 1998, the museum at Elmira was called the National Warplane Museum. The rights to that name was taken over by the current museum at Geneseo, NY in 2010. The collection is now known as the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. "Fuddy Duddy", ex 44-83563, Douglas built, painted as USAAF 297400/E/K. It was a VB-17G and fire tanker before restoration.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum, all of which in immaculate condition and look as if they are brand new. "Fuddy Duddy" carries "44 83563" in small print below the tailplane, which is its actual former USAAF serial. It became N9563Z in Aug 1959, and in 1962 this Douglas-built B-17 featured in the movie "The War Lover" (painted as "127742 / DF-T"). A few years later it became an aitanker, and in the late 1980s it entered the warbird circuit, falsely painted as "297400 / K-E" as seen here. William Lyon acquired it for his museum in Jan 2006.

One of seven airworthy aircraft on display at the Lyon Air Museum. All seven are in immaculate condition and look as if they were painted and polished yesterday. Fuddy Duddy carries "44 83563" in small print below the tailplane, which is its actual former USAAF serial. It became N9563Z in Aug 1959, and in 1962 this Douglas-built B-17 featured in the movie "The War Lover" (painted as "127742 / DF-T"). A few years later it became an aitanker, and in the late 1980s it entered the warbird circuit, falsely painted as "297400 / K-E" as seen here. William Lyon acquired it for his museum in Jan 2006.

This Douglas-built B-17 spent many years on a civil career in Bolivia, starting in 1957 as CP-627. It crashlanded at La Paz in Aug 1968 and was rebuilt using major parts from another civil B-17 (CP-580 c/n 9300), effectively changing it into a composite airframe. After repairs it became CP-891 and continued to operate from La Paz until its delivery to the March Field Air Museum in Oct 1981. It was initially given the fake serial "230092", but in 1999 it was repainted with its actual former serial, seen in this photo. This nice "Return to Glory" nose art is only carried on this side.

This Douglas-built B-17 spent many years on a civil career in Bolivia, starting in 1957 as CP-627. It crashlanded at La Paz in Aug 1968 and was rebuilt using major parts from another civil B-17 (CP-580 c/n 9300), effectively changing it into a composite airframe. After repairs it became CP-891 and continued to operate from La Paz until its delivery to the March Field Air Museum in Oct 1981. It was initially given the fake serial "230092", but in 1999 it was repainted with its actual former serial, seen in this photo. The nose art is only carried on the left side.