44-6393 / CP-981 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress cn 22616 US Air Force March Field Air Museum 19Feb19
The following is from the museum website
Manufactured in Long Beach, California the museum's B-17G serial number 44-6393 was accepted into USAAF service in July of 1944. The aircraft was initially assigned to the 15th Air
Force arriving in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in August of that year. Documented primary source information indicates 44-6393 was acquired as a command transport for the Commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Air Force legend General Ira Eaker, as a replacement for B-17E "Yardbird" his prior command aircraft. At the time of the transfer many of the defensive armaments were temporarily removed (including the turrets) and the aircraft received the name "Starduster" a designator it kept as General Eaker's personal transport for the rest of the war. During its service, "Starduster" flew the General from Italy and North Africa to conferences and planning meetings in England, the Soviet Union and the continental United States.
After General Eaker's retirement in 1947, "Starduster" was assigned as a VIP transport to various U.S. bases in the Far East and Canada. Serving until 1956, long after most B-17s had
left the USAF inventory; 44-6393 was transferred to storage in Arizona and dropped from the USAF active inventory. In June of 1956, it was transferred to the government of Bolivia where it served and additional 25 years as a cargo transport.
"Starduster" was reacquired by the USAF in January 1981 and flown to the United States for restoration and display at the March AFB Museum. Returned by museum volunteers to its 1944 configuration and graced with General Eaker's "Starduster" nose art, 44-6393 remains on loan from the USAF to the March Field Air Museum.
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The following is from Joe Baughers excellent website.
Converted to CB-17G then to VB-17G. Sold to government of Bolivia Jun 1956. To Lloyd Aero Bolivaro Jan 1957 as CP-627. Crashed at La Paz Aug 27, 1968, rebuilt with parts from B-17G 43-38322/CP-580. To Frigorifico Reyes as CP-891. Returned to USA in 1980 for display at March Field Museum, California as B-17F-105-BO 42-30092. Restored in 1997-98 and now bears its original serial number and named "Return to Glory".
44-6393 / CP-981 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress cn 22616 US Air Force March Field Air Museum 19Feb19
The following is from the museum website
Manufactured in Long Beach, California the museum's B-17G serial number 44-6393 was accepted into USAAF service in July of 1944. The aircraft was initially assigned to the 15th Air
Force arriving in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in August of that year. Documented primary source information indicates 44-6393 was acquired as a command transport for the Commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Air Force legend General Ira Eaker, as a replacement for B-17E "Yardbird" his prior command aircraft. At the time of the transfer many of the defensive armaments were temporarily removed (including the turrets) and the aircraft received the name "Starduster" a designator it kept as General Eaker's personal transport for the rest of the war. During its service, "Starduster" flew the General from Italy and North Africa to conferences and planning meetings in England, the Soviet Union and the continental United States.
After General Eaker's retirement in 1947, "Starduster" was assigned as a VIP transport to various U.S. bases in the Far East and Canada. Serving until 1956, long after most B-17s had
left the USAF inventory; 44-6393 was transferred to storage in Arizona and dropped from the USAF active inventory. In June of 1956, it was transferred to the government of Bolivia where it served and additional 25 years as a cargo transport.
"Starduster" was reacquired by the USAF in January 1981 and flown to the United States for restoration and display at the March AFB Museum. Returned by museum volunteers to its 1944 configuration and graced with General Eaker's "Starduster" nose art, 44-6393 remains on loan from the USAF to the March Field Air Museum.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from Joe Baughers excellent website.
Converted to CB-17G then to VB-17G. Sold to government of Bolivia Jun 1956. To Lloyd Aero Bolivaro Jan 1957 as CP-627. Crashed at La Paz Aug 27, 1968, rebuilt with parts from B-17G 43-38322/CP-580. To Frigorifico Reyes as CP-891. Returned to USA in 1980 for display at March Field Museum, California as B-17F-105-BO 42-30092. Restored in 1997-98 and now bears its original serial number and named "Return to Glory".