| Caption | B-17F Fortress “The Aztec’s Curse” of the 26th Bomb Squadron immediately after an attack on Ghizo Island in the Solomon Islands, 5 Oct 1942. ww2dbase | |||||||||
| Photographer | Unknown | |||||||||
| Source | ww2dbaseUnited States National Archives via the Bobby Rocker Collection | |||||||||
| More on... |
| |||||||||
| Photo Size | 1,600 x 1,238 pixels | |||||||||
| Photos on Same Day | 5 Oct 1942 | |||||||||
| Photos at Same Place | Ghizo, British Western Pacific Territories | |||||||||
| Added By | David Stubblebine | |||||||||
| Licensing | Public Domain. According to the US National Archives, as of 21 Jul 2010: Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. Joel E. Brown says:
5 Oct 2013 07:13:00 AM
She's beautiful..
5 Oct 2013 07:13:00 AM
She's beautiful..
3. John O'Brien says:
5 Oct 2013 11:43:00 AM
What an incredible in-flight mission photo of the '17
5 Oct 2013 11:43:00 AM
What an incredible in-flight mission photo of the '17
4. Cy White says:
5 Oct 2013 12:29:00 PM
Would be interesting to find out what the ultimate demise of The Aztec's Curse was. Survived the war, scrapped?
5 Oct 2013 12:29:00 PM
Would be interesting to find out what the ultimate demise of The Aztec's Curse was. Survived the war, scrapped?
5. Herbert G. Mische says:
5 Oct 2013 12:32:00 PM
Great shot!!!
5 Oct 2013 12:32:00 PM
Great shot!!!
6. Brian F Harris says:
5 Oct 2013 03:21:00 PM
Magic photo of aerial action
5 Oct 2013 03:21:00 PM
Magic photo of aerial action
7. John Witzell says:
5 Oct 2013 05:04:00 PM
Great shot.....my Dad was a Flight Engineer on B-17s....after the war they converted them to the SB-17 for long range search and rescue.....he flew on them until 1955 with our last assignment being the 57th Air Rescue Squadron at Lajes Field in the Azores...
5 Oct 2013 05:04:00 PM
Great shot.....my Dad was a Flight Engineer on B-17s....after the war they converted them to the SB-17 for long range search and rescue.....he flew on them until 1955 with our last assignment being the 57th Air Rescue Squadron at Lajes Field in the Azores...
8. 
David Stubblebine says:
6 Oct 2013 03:36:34 PM
To Vh Hurtado:
As the Allies moved up the Solomon chain, Rendova became an important forward base following the island’s capture in mid-1943. The real-life Black Sheep Squadron (VMF-214) was formed in Aug 1943 and flew in support of the advancing Solomon campaign, with the Rendova base playing an important part of their rear area. The frequent mention of it in the TV series would make sense historically.
David Stubblebine says:6 Oct 2013 03:36:34 PM
To Vh Hurtado:
As the Allies moved up the Solomon chain, Rendova became an important forward base following the island’s capture in mid-1943. The real-life Black Sheep Squadron (VMF-214) was formed in Aug 1943 and flew in support of the advancing Solomon campaign, with the Rendova base playing an important part of their rear area. The frequent mention of it in the TV series would make sense historically.
9. David Stubblebine says:
6 Oct 2013 03:37:18 PM
To Cy White:
On Apr 23, 1943 "Aztec's Curse" (#41-24457) experienced brake failure on landing at Momote Field, Admiralty Islands that resulted in a ground loop. The plane was not damaged but a ground tug struck the bomber's tail and the airplane had to be written off.
David Stubblebine says:6 Oct 2013 03:37:18 PM
To Cy White:
On Apr 23, 1943 "Aztec's Curse" (#41-24457) experienced brake failure on landing at Momote Field, Admiralty Islands that resulted in a ground loop. The plane was not damaged but a ground tug struck the bomber's tail and the airplane had to be written off.
10. Bill says:
14 Nov 2014 04:36:47 PM
AZTEC'S CURSE:
B-17 was flown by Captain W.E. Chambers of the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group and saw action during the Guadalcanal campaign 1942. Capt. later Major Chambers received two Silver Stars during this action. Chambers crew rotated back home to the good old U.S.of A, the Aztec's Curse was left behind tail assembly broken from the fuselage later salvaged to keep other forts flying...
Bill says:14 Nov 2014 04:36:47 PM
AZTEC'S CURSE:
B-17 was flown by Captain W.E. Chambers of the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group and saw action during the Guadalcanal campaign 1942. Capt. later Major Chambers received two Silver Stars during this action. Chambers crew rotated back home to the good old U.S.of A, the Aztec's Curse was left behind tail assembly broken from the fuselage later salvaged to keep other forts flying...
11. Billy K says:
18 Apr 2018 09:33:45 PM
This is not "flying over Rendova Island" as the caption says. The white smoke in the background (just above and forward of the plane's tail) is the waterfront of Gizo town being bombed. All the land on the right side of the photo is part of Ghizo Island. I have been there many times and recognize it clearly. Rendova Island is about 60 miles to the southeast. These planes probably took off from the US base at Rendova.
18 Apr 2018 09:33:45 PM
This is not "flying over Rendova Island" as the caption says. The white smoke in the background (just above and forward of the plane's tail) is the waterfront of Gizo town being bombed. All the land on the right side of the photo is part of Ghizo Island. I have been there many times and recognize it clearly. Rendova Island is about 60 miles to the southeast. These planes probably took off from the US base at Rendova.
12. Don Allen says:
20 Oct 2020 01:48:03 PM
Billy K is correct. Approximate location of where this photo was taken:
8°04'21.4"S 156°50'19.4"E
https://goo.gl/maps/g8auEp7FxRWAEqTTA
20 Oct 2020 01:48:03 PM
Billy K is correct. Approximate location of where this photo was taken:
8°04'21.4"S 156°50'19.4"E
https://goo.gl/maps/g8auEp7FxRWAEqTTA
13. David Stubblebine says:
20 Oct 2020 02:24:25 PM
Billy K and Don Allen (above):
I think you are both absolutely correct. Both the caption and the location pin have been updated to reflect the correction. Thank you for pointing this out.
David Stubblebine says:20 Oct 2020 02:24:25 PM
Billy K and Don Allen (above):
I think you are both absolutely correct. Both the caption and the location pin have been updated to reflect the correction. Thank you for pointing this out.
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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Modern Day Location
| WW2-Era Place Name | Ghizo, British Western Pacific Territories |
| Lat/Long | -8.0785, 156.8405 |
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5 Oct 2013 06:36:00 AM
I used to watch the Black Sheep Squadron series on TV back in day and I recall the pilots saying the name "Rendova" frequently