Interesting pictures of Canadian B-17s

[Martinnfb]

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II in RCAF service.  None are preserved in Canada.  (RCAF Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204), cn 8305, No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe, ex USAAF B-17F-50-DL (Serial No. 42-3369).  This aircraft flew the first scheduled trans-Atlantic mail flight on 15 Dec 1943.  (RCAF Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204), cn 8305, No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, Rockcliffe.  Mail for Canadian airmen and soldiers pours out of the Flying Fortress as the new RCAF Air Mail Transport Squadron goes into action with a regular service between Canada, the UK and the East.  Weeks will be cut off the former time schedule as the fleet of Flying Fortresses do their bit in making sure that the mail gets through. 23 Dec 1943.  (RCAF Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9206) cockpit view.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583531)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9202). No. 168 (HT) Squadron.  Leading Aircraftman Freemantle painting a mailbag symbol to indicate another overseas mail flight completed, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 9 May 1944.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583263)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9203), 168 (HT) Squadron, ground crew, Rockcliffe, 9 May 1944.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583262)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. IIA, RCAF (Serial No. 9204), ca 1944.  (Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 9205), 168 (HT) Sqn, 8 Aug 1944.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643726)

source

[Bomber_County]

Thanks Martin, first time I have ever seen a Canadian 17..........

[Martinnfb]

My pleasure Phil, somehow the RCAF operations and equipment is not documented/mentioned in mainstream WW2 articles. Pictures like these are quite rare. It is important to share them.

[Jeff]

Here is a copy of the ORB for it's  mail flight, hope it is readable...

Edited September 15, 2018 by Jeff
wrong word..

[Jeff]

August 8/44 168 ORB

[Jeff]

Those two pages help tell the story with the pics....

[Clunkmeister]

Notice the swiveled tailwheel....  often seen, very rarely modeled

US insignia and serials very crudely painted over.  Very cool pics.  So it looks like they kept the standard OD green with blotches from the AAF service on a few of the bombers.

They sure look war weary. Mail service certainly is easier duty.