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[256th_Killer9876]

I agree, but I had an Uncle in Nam that said the only gunships that helped his unit (1st Air Cavalry) were the UH-1Ds the AH-1 Cobras, the AC-47s and the Early AC-130s and he was in Nam from 67 to I think he said the End of US Involvement. And he had a buddy in the USAF that said there were no 17's in Nam.

[Greif11]

That possibly SB-17G Search and Resque rebuild of B-17 but dismissed from active service and used for test purposes only (also for kind of Vulcan gun platform)
Located at

One of that serial## 43-39457, 44-83575, 44-83802, 43-37652, 44-83511, 43-39266, 43-39502, 44-83713, 44-83474, 43-38882, 44-83707, 42-97825, 44-83700 , 44-83539.

Some of the earlier B-17H conversions were intended for operations in combat areas and retained their defensive armament. Others deleted the defensive armament entirely and replaced the chin turret with a search radar. The aircraft did not become operational until the war was nearly over. Nevertheless, the B-17H was instrumental in saving the lives of several B-29 crews during the last stages of the bomber offensive against Japan.

Following the creation of the US Air Force, the aircraft designation scheme was revised in 1948. At that time, the B-17Hs were redesignated SB-17G, the S prefix indicating the primary search-and- rescue mission.

Some of these SB-17Gs were still in service at the time of the Korean War, and those planes operating in Korean waters were refitted with cheek, waist, and tail guns for defensive purposes. They were administratively assigned to the world-wide Air Rescue Service, which was a part of MATS. They provided air-sea rescue survices for the far-reaching world-wide operations of the USAF.

All SB-17G conversions were retired by the mid-1950s, some being assigned to provide range control service at missile test sites. At least two SB-17Gs survive in the USA today. 44-83575 is in storage awaiting restoration. 44-83722 was later deployed on the ground during a nuclear test and was heavily damaged, but its bits and pieces are currently in storage awaiting incorporation into other restored Fortresses.

B-17G air-sea rescue conversions redesignated as B-17H:

44-83573 (or 5?), 44-83700, 44-83705, 44-83710, 44-83714, 44-83718, 44-83719, 44-83722, 44-83791, 44-83793, 44-83794, 44-83799.

Here some other numbers from Marshall Cram:

43-39457, 44-83575, 44-83802, 43-37652, 44-83511, 43-39266, 43-39502, 44-83713, 44-83474, 43-38882, 44-83707, 42-97825, 44-83700, 44-83539.

The question mark is there because a much-reproduced post-1947 photo of a lifeboat-carrying Fortress shows the plane with the number 44-83575 painted on it. This may mean that there is a typo in the first entry in the list of serials given above. But it could also mean that there were more than the above listed number of lifeboat-carrying Fortresses conversions that were actually carried out.

B-17H conversions to TB-17H:

44-83700, 44-83714, 44-83718, 44-83791, 44-83793.

But all info abt that is still with big gaps. Just look how curved is history of that plane

Delivered to USAAF as 44-83575, 19??
- Used in atomic tests, Yucca Flats, NV, 1952.
- Abandoned at test site, 1952-1965.
Valley Scrap Metal, Phoenix, AZ, April 1965.
Abe Sellards/Aircraft Specialties Inc, Mesa, AZ, May 5, 1965-1981
- Registered as N93012.
- Rebuilt test site NV, ferried to Mesa on May 14, 1965.
- Stored at Mesa, stripped for spares, 1969-1977.
- Converted to tanker, Mesa, AZ, 1977.
- Flew at tanker #99 Lady of Yukka.
Globe Air Inc., Mesa, AZ, April 1981-1985.
- Flew as tanker #99.
Bob Collings/Collings Foundation, Stowe, MA, October 1985-2012.
- Delivered from Mesa, AZ to Kissimee, FL January 1, 1987.
-- Restored to military configuration.
- Crashed while landing, Beaver County, PA, January 28, 1987.
- Repaired, Delivered to Kissimee for full restoration, January 1991.
- Flown as 231909/Nine-O-Nine/A-R.
- Undercarraige collapse, Sioux City, IA (repaired), July 10, 1995.

Question from above info What test platform was from 1965 till 1969

B-17 Flying Fortress/44-83575 in MATS markings after recovery from test site, stored at Mesa, AZ, June 27, 1965.
And  plane after that mistery service

B-17 Flying Fortress/44-83575 after being stripped for parts and stored at Mesa, AZ, 1971.


Present day

[Ass Eagle]

Wow some of you guys are making a long stretch even longer.

So..

Many reasons why this can't be found on the internet..... The CIA's secret bombing of Laos....

A B-17 secret bombing in Laos.. where the US dare not tread, in a plane exclusivly used by the US filled with CIA.. with original/ civil and/or CIA registration #'s, that was prolly the easiest thing to shoot down during that time.. becouse they will not fit it with advance RADAR/COUNTER-MEASURES/ETC. Typical things for a covert operation. Ohhh and ANYTHING flying at night over hostel Vietnam/Loas territory would be SAM bait.

You know, as opposed to just using a missle strike.. wow!

LOL

[Phas3e]

Yet we know of all other forms of gunship tested, because they were recorded.

I could just as easily say that F15s flew secretly in Vietnam and the records were altered to say it entered service in 76, I know because my uncles, mailmans hairdresser serviced them in Tailand.

Its seriously starting to sound like a conspiricy group struggling convince themselves the moon landing was faked.

[LuseKofte]

I find it hard understanding the choose of using a B-17 with so many other options, the plane could not carry a lot of ordinance , if they used it it must be because it had some advantage over newer types

[Greif11]

it had some advantage over newer types

First - cheap as scrap
2nd- totally dismissed from all air force records.  Any reason if it lost by some circumstances (by return ground fire)-that plane never issued.
3rd- many other reasons.......

Deep search starts from that place http://www.ruudleeuw.com/usa08-mesa_falcon.html

[Wildchild]

As crazy as using a B-17 for night time operations with SAMS everywhere, it's actually not as stupid as you think.

Which produces more heat? A B-17 or a B-52?
Which is faster? B-17 or C-47 (DC3)?

It's a known fact North Koreans used outdated bi-planes for ground attack because F-4's heat seeking missiles cannot pick up a bi-plane.

With that said, would a low flying B-17 be picked up on radar or by SAMS? And, the B-17 can fly faster than the C-47 so it can get to the troops faster.

This, on the same token, works for B-17's used in the CIA

I find it hard understanding the choose of using a B-17 with so many other options, the plane could not carry a lot of ordinance , if they used it it must be because it had some advantage over newer types

If your a B-52 crew that is out of a plane for a long time, until they recieve more B-52's, will you sit on the sidelines, or use a outdated B-17 on special missions?

Watch the dogfights episode on "Old 666". Outdated B-17 that was essentially scrap and was transformed to use on special missions

[Ass Eagle]

Still don't buy it.

Covert-ops -

H.A.L.O. jumps into Laos by members of MACV-SOG during the Vietnam war. That was certainly not done from a B-17.
Makes to much sense? Look it up lol

What about Old 666? More guns, very brave & dedicated crew. Got chewed up during a recon mission.

North Korea: also a known fact they used everything from Donkeys to MiGs, spec-op squirrels, and everything in between. Ohh...
and Frank Burns.

[Wildchild]

North Korea: also a known fact they used everything from Donkeys to MiGs, spec-op squirrels, and everything in between. Ohh...
and Frank Burns.

Post of the night 

[BravoFxTrt]

Old Possum Face, lol

[Wildchild]

http://www.air-america.org/newspaper_articles/rgj_moore_ls85.pdf

And you said there were no bi-planes...

[BravoFxTrt]

Nice link/story there WildChild, thanks.