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B-17D The Swoose

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  • Member since
    November 2005
B-17D The Swoose
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:46 AM
Christmas is a little late. The kit has been on back order. I open it and go over the instuction sheet. The color scheme raises some questions when you consider the decals included. I know that some of the 17s in the Philippines had their undersides painted black for early night missions against Jap forces.
I have poured over sites and many references and can't seem to find anything on the Swoose as to paint scheme at any point in her career. Can anyone offer some assistance. Thank you.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Harrisburg, PA
Posted by Lufbery on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 12:23 PM
Geez,

I saw it at the Garber Restoration Facility two years ago, but I can't remember whether it had a black underside or not. As I remember it, it was bare metal. I may have a picture or two.

This page may help:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/boeing_b17d.htm

There's actually some good information on its markings throughout its career on that page.

Good luck!

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 12:38 PM
Thanks! I had not read this one yet. The narrative was very informative. I think I found what I needed. Again, thanks.
Stew
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Manila, Philippines
Posted by shrikes on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 4:42 PM
Hey, Smitty! Keep us posted on this one, it sounds like a very interesting project!! Big Smile [:D]
Blackadder: This plan's as cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of cunning at Oxford University but has now moved on and is working with the U.N at the high commission of cunning planning
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph on Thursday, April 1, 2004 2:18 AM
Hi smitty! Is that the Academy 1/72 The Swoose? Like you I have some doubts about the recommended paint scheme and was planning to use the standard olive drab/neutral gray ( I was not even aware that there were 17s painted with black undersides). Lufbery's info is sure of great help. Many thanks. Please do keep us posted on this one. The Swoose is one of the B-17s in my Flying Forts for 2004 build list but it's April already and I'm not done with the Belle yet.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Thursday, April 1, 2004 8:30 PM
I have a small pictue of the Swoose on the ramp at an airfield in Australia. My Dad took it probably in 1943. He was with the 81st Air Depot at about that time. I think it may have been Melborne. There is a picture of it in the B-17 book I have and it appears to have been taken at about the same time.

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Thursday, April 1, 2004 10:32 PM
Someplace I have a National Geographic from 1943 and there is an ad (think it's a Boeing ad) which has a picture of the Swoose in Australia taken in 1942 and I want to say that the it was in the OD/Black scheme. I think its in storage but will check.

The Smithsonian web site does not say what color the aircraft was painted in upon its return to the US. However it indicates that by mid 1944 the a/c was silver and based in Panama. At that time it was rebuilt, with the belly tub and astro dome above and behind the pilots removed and the nosecone was replaced with a nosecone from a B-17F. At the end of the war the plane was shipped to Kingman for disposal and eventually purchased by the city of Los Angeles for $350. During the preparation for the move to LA, the aircraft was "repainted" in the OD/black paint scheme. When the city's plans for the aircraft fell through, the aircraft was donated to the Smithsonian, where the aircraft remains with the modifications and paint job.

I could be pretty wrong, but as the spark plug behind the movement to save the Swoose, that Col Kurtz (the Swoose's origional pilot) would probably have wanted it painted in the scheme that it carried when he flew it in combat. Just a thought.
Quincy
  • Member since
    September 2003
Posted by DaveB.inVa on Thursday, April 1, 2004 10:48 PM
I have a book with a few pictures of The Swoose in it as well as a nice color drawing. In all of those pics and the drawing The Swoose is in OD over neutral gray.

All the pics I have however are from its ferrying days when it had paintings of the flags of all the lands it visited on the nose. One pic in the book has The Swoose pictured with the officer it transported... Lyndon Johnson.
Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber pilots make history.
  • Member since
    March 2004
Posted by Gerarddm on Friday, April 2, 2004 12:33 AM
Trivia: Actress Swoosy Kurtz is the daughter of the pilot, and named after the plane.
Gerard> WA State Current: 1/700 What-If Railgun Battlecruiser 1/700 Admiralty COURAGEOUS battlecruiser
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