World War II Database

1.  David Stubblebine says:
1 Feb 2009 02:08:44 PM

When this aircraft still had a tail, it had Tail Number 40-2074. It was flown into the middle of the Japanese Air Attack on Pearl Harbor by Captain Raymond T. Swenson who was able to land at Hickam Field. As Swenson was on final approach, the aircraft’s magnesium flare box was hit by Japanese strafing and ignited. The burning plane separated upon landing. The entire crew survived, except one - a flight surgeon who was killed by strafing as he ran from the burning wreck.

2.  Bill says:
20 Jul 2010 05:37:01 PM

When Pearl Harbor was attacked, twelve new 17E's were on their way to the Philippines,
stop at Hawaii. One is shown destroyed on Hickam Field Dec. 7, 1941.

3. Bill says:
14 Nov 2014 04:23:16 PM

Of the twelve Boeing B-17Ds that were stationed at Hickam Field five aircraft were destroyed in the attack.

STUMBLED INTO A WAR:

Four B-17Cs and Eight B-17Es arrived during the Pearl Harbor Raid December 7, 1941 Japanese A6M Zeros made attacks against the forts the bombers
split up and made for Bellows and Hickam and the auxiliary field at Hal-eiwa another landed in a golf course. Two B-17s out of the twelve that arrived during the raid, were destroyed.

LEFT BEHIND:

Did you know of the twelve B-17s that made the flight to Hawaii, two other B-17s experienced engine trouble and didn't leave with the rest of the flight. Another B-17 had problems and didn't leave and the last B-17 turned back due to other technical problems.

FLYING INTO A WAR WITHOUT AMMO!

In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora showed Maj.
Truman H. Landon's B-17 flight arriving during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Did you know that none of the bombers carried any ammunition.
Once the flight arrived in Hawaii, the aircraft would be issued ammunition for the next phase of its flight were they going to the Philippines.

4.  Bill says:
10 Dec 2014 06:16:29 AM

WRITTEN OFF QUEEN:

USAAF B-17 in above file photo was assigned to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron. Hanger # 5 is in the background Hickam Field. The fortress was part of a flight of B-17s arriving from the mainland during the Pearl Harbor raid December 7,1941.

THERE'S A ZERO ON YOUR TAIL:

In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora one fort made a low pass over the runway passing the control tower followed by those infamous Hollywood T-6 Texans modified to look like Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, as the B-17 made a bank to the left with the Zeros following you get a picture of how large the B-17 was.

5.  David Stubblebine says:
2 Mar 2019 02:52:28 PM

The presence of his bicycle, equipment box, and his signature pith helmet leave little doubt that Tai Sing Loo took both photographs in this series.