Interesting B-17 Bomber

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http://2.bp.########.com/_zu-DKjmLnoA/RpBfDtPFnVI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/xiV-GupXEGc/s1600/german%2Bb-17.jpg

This particular B-17 went missing in action on December 12, 1942, very early in the war. Originally, this B-17F had the serial number#41-24585, and flew with the 303rd Bomb Group. The plane landed in a hay field near Melun, France, damaging the ball turret. The Germans were able to transport it to Netherlands, repair it, and fly it to Germany. The damaged ball turret was never replaced.

The plane was re-painted with German insignia and given serial number DL+XC. The underside was painted yellow. After careful examination at the Luftwaffe Test and Evaluation Center at Rechlin, the plane, newly named . "Wulfe Hound" made its maiden voyage with the Luftwaffe on March 17, 1943. It was later transferred to the Luftwaffe "Kampfgeschwader" KG200 Squadron at Rangesdforf, Germany on and took part in training and secret missions between May and June 1944.

http://untoldvalor.########.com/2007/07/german-luftwaffe-b-17.html
 
there are lots of photos of "Q" planes from both sides if you are interested in that stuff
KG 200 flew/evaluated almost every type of Allied plane in all kinds of situations...
iirc there was even a British armored division that had a Me-109 as a hack to fly around in...
 
Juster said:
Ironically, the Germans accidentally landed that very plane on a US airfield during covert ops:
download.axd
Click to expand...

These are awesome pics.
Where did they come from?
I collect B-17 related photographs and have over 200 in the collection right now. All are either first generation photos or press photos.
Thanks for sharing
 
Not just one B-17....

B-17F-85-BO "Flak Dancer"

Second B-17 in German hands was B-17F-85-BO "Flak Dancer" (42-30048) from 544BS 384BG. Plane piloted by Lieutenant Dalton Wheat forced landed at Laon airfield in France. After repairs and traditional period of trials in Rechlin plane was transfered to KG 200 in Spring 1944 and coded A3+CE.

B-17F-90-BO "Down and Go!"

B-17F-90-BO "Down and Go!" was surely cursed plane. Problems with plane piloted by Lieutenant Ned Palmer begun soon after take off. Both inner engines failed and pilot was forced to disable them. Crew wanted to drop some bombs on Germany and flew forward. Shortly before target engine number four overheated and pilot had to disable it too. Navigator set course on Sweden but plane has landed on Wehrmacht exercise field in Avedore Holme, Denmark. Plane was encircled by German soldiers but crew was able to destroy secret Norden gunsight. Plane was transported to city Kastrup, Denmark where was repaired by Heinkel plants' engineers. After repairs and traditional period of trials in Rechlin plane was transfered to KG 200 in Spring 1944 and coded A3+EE (however later had code A3+BB).

B-17F-100-BO "Miss Nonalee II"

Last B-17 captured by Germans in 1943 was B-17F-100-BO "Miss Nonalee II" (42-30336) from 548BS 385BG. This plane piloted by Lieutenant Glyndon G. Bell was damaged 9th of October 1943 during bombing run on Arado plant in Anklam (Eastern Prussia). Crew decided to go to Sweden but they made mistake and flew to Denmark. All crew members excluding pilot jumped and were caught by Danish police collaborating with Germans. Lieutenant Bell made forced landing near Varde, Denmark and after failed try to set fire on bomber evaded Danish policeman and was transported by Danish Resistance to Sweden. Meanwhile Germans sent from Flensburg transport plane Ar 232 with technicians. After few hours work lightened plane took off to Rechlin. There in unknown what happened with plane after repairs and traditional period of trials in Rechlin.

B-17G-25-DL

First B-17 captured in 1944 was B-17G-25-DL (42-38017) from 349BS 100BG "Bloody Hundredth". Plane piloted by Lieutenant John G. Grossage was damaged 3rd of March 1944. After loss one of engines and heavy wounding one of crew members (plane technician) pilot decided to flew to Sweden but navigator made mistake and plane landed at Schlezwig-Jagel airfield in Northern Germany. After repairs and period of trials in Rechlin plane was transfered to KG 200 in Spring 1944 and probably coded A3+GE.

B-17F-115-BO "Phyllis Marie"

Last B-17F captured by Germans was B-17F-115-BO "Phyllis Marie" (42-30713) from 568BS 390BG. Plane was captured 8th of March 1944 after landing at Vaerlose, Denmark.

B-17G-10-VE

Last airworthy B-17 captured in 9th of April 1944 by Germans was B-17G-10-VE from 731BS 452BG.
 
Interesting post KG-200 seems to get all the cool stuff. I had never really thought about planes before but the german army used a lot of captured equipment everything from M1 carbines to tanks although a jeep with a quick repaint and decal job would be a lot easier to ID than a plane.
Dave
 
there is a pretty good novel called "KG 200" that fictionalizes some of KG 200s exploits
it is quite good but pay attention at the beginning or you will miss a key story point...
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
there are lots of photos of "Q" planes from both sides if you are interested in that stuff
KG 200 flew/evaluated almost every type of Allied plane in all kinds of situations...
iirc there was even a British armored division that had a Me-109 as a hack to fly around in...
Click to expand...

Good Call Donny
I just got done reading a book about the KG 200, I also have the novel of the same name.
The author thought they could have had as many as 15 working B-17's throughout the war. The also had British Mosquito's and Halifax's and a number of Russian planes.
All planes that had gone down and been cobbled back together.
 
Not really a Q-plane when it's all decked out in Luftwaffe paint. An old book of mine (Great Aircraft of the World 1986, 1988, 1992) mentions near the end of the B-17 section that the aircraft had the cover designation Dornier Do 200 and that some of the I/KG 200 aircraft wore German markings - they weren't being used specifically to deceive anyone, but because they were better suited than any German aircraft - not really a stretch considering the Luftwaffe never really got a good 4-engine plane in service. (The Condor is debatable)
 
The Brits had a number of German aircraft, repainted and used for training, including, during the Battle of Britain, a Ju88 that accidently landed in Ireland (the crew got lost) and an He177 that was stolen from France under the German noses. A Brit crew was flown in at night with a Lysander, landing on the field, and flew the 177 to the UK. The plane survived the war, and was crated up and shipped to the US where it disappeared. In another case, near war's end, a German pilot at a field where Do335's were being tested, took one and flew at tree top height to the US front so he wouldn't end up in Russian hands.

There is a great book, War Prizes, that documents all the war booty that ended up in Alies hands.
 
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