I think that they are Boeing B17 bombers and this would narrow the date to probably 1944.
Cheers
Jack Gee
Thank you for that, will go for the Boeing B17 bombers. The date would also fit in with my father being in Brighton in 1944. He was also in the Home Guard.
cupcake
I think that they are Boeing B17 bombers and this would narrow the date to probably 1944.
RAF Bomber Command operated a squadron of B17's in 1941.
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My apologies folks for arriving here late & chiming in late too.
I live very near the two countryside RAF bases where No.90 Squadron (RAF) commenced their work-up period & launched their first 4-5 raids from, whilst using the "Fortress.1" otherwise known to latterday aficionados as the "sharkfin" (tailed) Boeing B.17-C variants.
This is arguably among the most famous shots of the rarely used "Fortress.1" for obvious reasons
The RAF (much) later used 'cast-off' Boeing B.17-G's within 100 Group, based in Norfolk
They were used on what we nowadays call "ELINT" missions - (Electronic Warfare & Jamming)
These were mainly based in Norfolk too, namely at Sculthorpe & Oulton.
I say "cast-offs" as the USAAF Bomb Groups were NEVER going to donate any of their best a/c, so "if" one were donated (or reluctantly given up) to 100-Group (RAF), then the USAAF would've conveniently given up their more troublesome or higher mission 'G's.
Speaking of the Boeing B.17 'G' variant, that is what these a/c in the photograph very clearly are
Either 8th Air Force 'F' or likely 'G' variants, as they're clearly in "Box Formation" for mutual protective cover from their amassed 0.50cal defensive crossfire,
so there's zero doubt that Jack Gee is 100% correct that they ARE USAAF 8th Air Force Bomb Group B.17's of either the 1st or 3rd Air Divisions, as the RAF never used the box formations for the few RAF B.17's ever used.
The early "sharkfin" variants were used (regrettably) in broad daylight.
The RAF 100-Group a/c flew at night, individually & at higher altitudes than the main Bomber streams that they were tasked to protect - several would have naturalised Germans aboard (!) serving with the RAF & vetted for the Allied cause.
Gerhard Heilig was one, as his Grandparents were tortured by the Nazis which is why he fled Nazi Germany & took FOUR attempts before he managed to convince an RAF recruitment team to take him on, with Gerhard later being specialise trained at just 19 to talk & give vectoring orders to the German NachtJagd crews flying Ju.88's & Me.110's who were sent-up to intercept the main Bomber force - I can recommend some Nachtjagd books authored by Theo Boiten (Dutch Author) to explain more, as I know he interviewed Heilig in the 1990's, the latter, despite being a naturalised "Berliner" was very, very proud of his extended service in the RAF's 214 Sqdn as Boeing B.17 crew.
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