Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry outperformed both competitors and exceeded the Air Corps' expectations. Although Boeing lost the contract because the prototype crashed, the Air Corps was so impressed with Boeing's design that they ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances.

28 May 1945 - Delivered from the Douglas Aircraft Company - Long Beach, California. 31 May 1945 - Received by the Maintenance Division, Syracuse Army Air Base, New York - placed into storage having flown 20hrs 25mins. 2 Nov 1945 - A further 35mins were flown before the aircraft was dropped from the USAAF inventory by transfer to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Altus AAF Oklahoma - apparently remained at Syracuse. 17 Feb 1947- American Aviation Historical Society recorded this date as that when the aircraft was purchased by Colonel Andres Soriano for $13,750. This seems rather early when compard with other doncumentation (see 23 Nov 1948.) 21 Feb 1947- Received at Altus (recorded as Altos) for Transocean Air Lines. Accepted by Samuel L Wilson who was to fly the aircraft for Col Soriano. 22 May 1947 - Registered to Transocean Air LInes of Oakland Municipal Airport, California as NL68269. 1947/48 - AAHS record that the aircraft was used regularly for flights between Oakland and Manila. 7 Oct 1948 - Recorded as received at Oakland California. It is assumed that the refitting of the interior to an executive configuration occurred prior to this date. 23 Nov 1948 - Sold to Colonel Andres Soriano of San Francisco - bill of sale from Transocean Air Lines. The aircraft was fitted with a seven seat lounge in the nose position, toilet, buffet with drinks cabinet, refrigerator and office. Extra fuel tanks were installed in the bomb bay and new autopilot fitted. 12 Jan 1949 - Registered to Colonel Soriano then President of Philippine Air LInes and named "San Miguel". Flown regularly between Oakland and Manila by Captain Wilson who was on loan from Transocean Air lines. 14 Oct.1949 - Bill of sale-purchased by General Council ot the Assemblies of God Inc. Springfield, Missouri. 28 Oct 1949 - Registered to the Assemblies of God and renamed Ambassador 11. It replaced Ambassador 1, a Curtiss C46 Commando, having longer range and greater four engined safely in its task of flying missionaries to South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The nose eventually carried names of 38 countries which Ambassador 11 had visited in its first year of operation. Jan 1950 - First journey of Ambassador 11 was to Mexico City. 20 July 1951 - A bill of sale to Albert J Leeward. The sale was forced by increased insurance costs caused by the Korean War and other trouble spots. Regular scheduled airline services were also improving by this time. 28 Aug 1951 - Formally registered to Albert J Leeward. 1952 - Sold to the office of the Air Attache French Government in Washington - CAA cancelled the registration on 3 Nov 1954. 30 Dec 1952 - Received by Institute Geographique Nationale Creil near Paris, France with 1475 airframe hours. Converted for aerial survey work. 18 Feb 1972 - Grounded at Creil after flying 6808 hrs and 40mins and cannibalised for spares to keep other B-17s flying. 20 Nov 1973 - Offered for sale without engines, instruments or radios for 30,000 Francs, then worth some £2,860. May 1975 - Purchased by Euroworld Ltd. together with an airworthy B-17 44-85784 (F-BGSR) later to become G-BEDF - "Sally B" of B-17 Preservation Ltd. Both aircraft arrived at Duxford later that month. January 1978 - After being used for spares to maintain "Sally B", the aircraft was bought by the Imperial War Museum who started a major re-conversion and conservation programme to restore the aircraft, now called Mary Alice back to its wartime configuration. The aircraft now carries the marking of a B-17G 42-31983 flown by Lieutenant Dan Knight of the 615th Bomb Squadron 401st Bombardment Group based at Deenethorpe in Northampshire, England 1944.