B-17 CC Additional Material by Robert M Stitt

41-9234 in 1955, 12 years
after the crash-landing. Note
the fading star painted over
the RAF roundel. When
shown the Temperate Sea
scheme, pilot Ray Dau told
the Author: “I never flew a
B-17 that looked like that...”
and it is believed that 41-
9234 was painted in Dark
Olive Drab with Neutral
Grey following major in-theatre
repairs in late 1942.
The Temperate Sea
demarcation line is again
visible above the roundel
– suggesting that the Dark
Olive Drab, if indeed applied,
has mostly weathered away
– while the British serial
number FL461, visible in
later years, is obscured.
The application of Type A1 roundels and early-style fin flash is puzzling. 41 9234 was among the last B-17Es built, one of the last assigned to Britain, and was
delivered to Cheyenne some two weeks after FK209/41-9203 arrived with Type C1 roundels and the later-style fin flash. (Richard Leahy)
Rare image of 41-9234, one of the four B-17Es allocated to Britain but taken back by the USAAF and assigned to the 5 th Air Force in the South West Pacific Area
– the other three aircraft were 41-9196, 41-9235 Clown House and 41-9244 Honi Kuu Okole. The photograph was taken at Mareeba between September and
November 1942. Pilot Capt. Paul E Cool of the 28 th BS, 19 th BG stands alongside the aircraft. The view confirms that later B-17Es destined for Britain were painted
with Sky under surfaces in addition to the Temperate Sea upper camouflage scheme. Former aircrew recall the aircraft being ‘blue’ on top and ‘white’ underneath, an
understandable interpretation of the Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky colours. (Paul Cool, son of Capt. Paul E Cool.)
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