History[]
Built by Boeing at Seattle with Constructor Number 2123. In April 1941 it was delivered to the USAAF as a B-17D Flying Fortress with serial number 40-3095. It got assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group, 61st Bombardment Squadron. On December 8, 1941 while parked at Clark Field on Luzon, it was destroyed at noon by a Japanese bombing raid.
During January 1942 when the Japanese occupied Clark Field, the wreckage of this bomber was discovered by the Japanese, who repaired the fuselage[2] (possibly using parts from B-17D 40-3069 also destroyed on the ground). Repaired to flying condition and painted with Japanese Hinomaru (rising sun) markings it was flown to Japan as a war prize. During July 1942, this B-17 was displayed at Haneda Airfield together with other six other captured Allied aircraft. Afterwards it was assigned to Tachikawa Airfield, for Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) flight testing and experiments. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.[3]
References[]
- Robert Mikesh "Japan's Mystery Fleet of American Bombers" Air Classic Vol 9, No 5, May 1973.
- Fortress Against The Sun pages 144, 382-383, 398.