41-2446 Swamp Ghost

Delivered with John Haig to Fort Douglas 6/12/41; Sacramento SAD 8/12/41 for armament installation Assigned 14RS/19BG; with Capt Fred Eaton to Hickam 17/12/41, then to Wheeler and att. USN for search missions, bomb. Sgt J.J. Trelia went sick and replaced by Rich Oliver; 11/2/42 and trans. 22BS/7BG, Garbutt, Aus 20/2/42; transferred 14RS/19BG Hickham); on mission from Townsville to attack Japanese shipping at Rabual, with Capt Fred Eaton, Co-pilot: Capt Henry Harlow, Navigator: George Munro, Bombardier: Rich Oliver, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarry Lemieux, Radio Operator: Harry Soresen, Waist gunner: Russ Crawford, Waist gunner: Bill Schwartz, Tail gunner: John Hall; suffered battle damage, ran out of gas and bellied in Agaiambo Swamp, Papua New Guinea 23/3/42 on its first mission; days later the crew battled its way through jungle and back to base by 1/4/42. After a long litigation process with PNG government, including collector David Tallichet, it eventually returned to USA June 2010, to “Planes of Fame“ at Chino 8/12/10, by Jan 2013 the fuselage was readied for Hawaii and back to US. Curator of Pacific Aviation Museum, Ken DeHoff, is confident the $5 million dollars will be obtained for restoration. SWAMP GHOST.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Added the Production block number and Manufacturer per info on the internet.
SOURCE: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/41-2446-swamp-ghost/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log