Boeing 299O B-17F Flying Fortress

Boeing 299O B-17F Flying Fortress

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06/30/2008. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This B-17F-27-BO was delivered to the United Airlines Modification Center at Cheyenne Municipal Airport, Wyoming, on September 16, 1942. Flown to the UK, it was assigned to the 323nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 101st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force on January 29, 1943. The squadron was based at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England and this B-17 was named THE CAREFUL VIRGIN.

After completing more than 50 missions, this aircraft was converted to a radio controlled drone for Operation APHRODITE. The Operation was a plan calling for B-17s to be loaded to capacity with explosives, and flown by remote control into bomb-resistant fortifications such as German U-boat pens and V-1 missile sites.

This modified B-17 was one of four that flew the first APHRODITE mission (Eighth Air Force Mission 515) on August 4, 1944. The four targets were the V-1 weapons launching sites at Mimoyecques, Siracourt, Watten and Wizernes, France. The target for this aircraft was Mimoyecques. All four aircraft missed their targets."


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06/30/2008. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This B-17F-27-BO was delivered to the United Airlines Modification Center at Cheyenne Municipal Airport, Wyoming, on September 16, 1942. Flown to the UK, it was assigned to the 323nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 101st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force on January 29, 1943. The squadron was based at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England and this B-17 was named THE CAREFUL VIRGIN. After completing more than 50 missions, this aircraft was converted to a radio controlled drone for Operation APHRODITE. The Operation was a plan calling for B-17s to be loaded to capacity with explosives, and flown by remote control into bomb-resistant fortifications such as German U-boat pens and V-1 missile sites. This modified B-17 was one of four that flew the first APHRODITE mission (Eighth Air Force Mission 515) on August 4, 1944. The four targets were the V-1 weapons launching sites at Mimoyecques, Siracourt, Watten and Wizernes, France. The target for this aircraft was Mimoyecques. All four aircraft missed their targets."