B-17 at Hamilton AFB

"Merlin Dorfman" wrote in message
...

I know that very few B-17s were in good enough shape to be used
for personal transportation. (Col. Robert McCormick of the Chicago
Tribune had one of the few.)
http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/other/wacky.html
A few were used by the Coast Guard for dropping life rafts,
but after WW II there were very few B-17s in use.


The USAF operated the B-17 until 1960.

A few were used by the Coast Guard for dropping life rafts,
but after WW II there were very few B-17s in use.


The USAF operated the B-17 until 1960.

I think the USAF operated an air/sea rescue version, not the CG.

The CIA had a few for black ops in the '50s. The Israelis had 3 they used in
the 1956 war.

Walt

"WalterM140" wrote in message
...

I think the USAF operated an air/sea rescue version, not the CG.


They both did.

The B-17H was a B-17G modified for air rescue work. It had an air-droppable
lifeboat mounted between the chin and ball turrets. Over time, the armament
was dropped and some had a search radar mounted in place of the chin turret.
The designation was changed to SB-17G at some point, it remained in USAF
service until 1956.

The Coast Guard operated a similar modification of the B-17G as the PB-1G.

Steven P. McNicoll ) wrote:

: "WalterM140" wrote in message
: ...
:
: I think the USAF operated an air/sea rescue version, not the CG.
:

: They both did.

: The B-17H was a B-17G modified for air rescue work. It had an air-droppable
: lifeboat mounted between the chin and ball turrets. Over time, the armament
: was dropped and some had a search radar mounted in place of the chin turret.
: The designation was changed to SB-17G at some point, it remained in USAF
: service until 1956.

Pictures at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/rescue/sb17.htm

: The Coast Guard operated a similar modification of the B-17G as the PB-1G.

Pictures at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/Boeing_PB1.html
Any guesses as to where
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/gifs/PB1G_2.jpg was taken?