Subject: Bomber Series--Boeing B-17 Fortress (24 of 27)

From: [email-masked] (joseph.f.baugher)
Date: 12 Sep 94 00:16:49 GMT

The first use of drone Fortresses was as unmanned aircraft that would
fly through and near mushroom clouds during atomic tests.  The
first of these tests took place in the South Pacific under the
code name *Operation Crossroads*.  In May of 1946, sixteen B-17s
were withdrawn from stores for conversion into drones with the
addition of radio, radar, television, and other equipment.  Six
other Fortresses were converted as drone controllers.  Most of the
work was performed by the San Antonio Air Depot at Kelly Field in
Texas.  

When the USAF was established in 1947, the Director aircraft became 
DB-17Gs, while the drones became QB-17Gs.

Further nuclear tests occurred through 1952.  The drones were
operated primarily by the 3205th Drone Group out of Elgin AFB,
Florida.

The designation QB-17L was assigned to surplus B-17Gs that were 
modified during the postwar years as radio-controlled drones for 
various tests, usually as targets for missiles.  They were sometimes 
equipped with television cameras to provide a target's view of the 
approaching missile.  They were usually painted in red-orange Day-Glo 
paint with black diagonal stripes for increased visibility.  Their 
serial numbers were prefixed by an O, indicative of their obsolete 
status.  Sources for QB-17 conversions were new B-17s in storage,
B-17s retired from other duties, and DB-17 drone directors surplus
to requirements. 

Most of them met their end as flying targets for the early Nike Ajax 
surface-to-air missile or for the Hughes Falcon air-to-air missile.  
The QB-17L would often be the subject of intentional near misses
to preserve the drone for as many missions as possible.
Other QB-17Ls were used for various unmanned but destructive tests 
such as the ditching tests carried out by NACA in San Francisco Bay.  
The last DB-17/QB-17 mission was flown on August 6, 1959,
with 44-83727 being blown out of the sky by a Falcon missile
fired by a F-101 Voodoo.  
The last QB-17L was destroyed by an IM-99 Bomarc missile in 1960.  

The QB-17N was a drone conversion similar to the QB-17L but with a 
different guidance system and not fitted with television cameras.  
The optical tracking equipment was installed in detachable wingtip
pods equipped with explosive bolts and parachutes for recovery
of test data in the event of the loss of the drone.

The DB-17P was the designation given to obsolete B-17Gs converted as 
drone director aircraft.  They would often guide the QB-17L and N 
target drones during the missile tests.  When they were worn out or 
the need was diminished, the DB-17Ps would more often than not be 
converted to QB drone configuration and would be expended themselves.  

The last active USAF Fortress, a drone director 44-83684, arrived at 
Davis-Monthan AFB for storage in August of 1959.
The few DB-17P drone controllers remaining on Air Force rolls in 1960 
were transferred to various museums such as the Air Force Museum in 
Dayton, Ohio and the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.  

Sources:

  Flying Fortress, Edward Jablonski, Doubleday, 1965.

  Famous Bombers of the Second World War, Volume One, William
  Green, Doubleday, 1959.

  Boeing Aircraft Since 1916, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute
  Press, 1989.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough
  and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  Boeing B-17E and F Flying Fortress, Charles D. Thompson,
  Profile Publications, 1966.

  American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Third Edition, Doubleday, 1982.

  Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Military Press, 1989.
  
  Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors,
  Scott Thompson, Pictorial Histories Publishing Co.

Joe Baugher			**************************************
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