There are four 398th B-17 aircraft in this photo. Based on an analysis of aircraft numbers it is believed this photo is mislabeled and was taken between the 398th's first mission on 6 May 1944 and 8 January 1945.

Here are the bounds of the dates:

  1. Aircraft No. 1's demise indicates it must be before 2 March 1945
  2. In a blow-up of Aircraft No. 2, the N7-Q is very visible. If 42-102469 N7-Q, then the date is before 8 January 1945. If 43-39038, then the date was 4 March or after. But Aircraft No. 1, indicates it must be before 2 March. Therefore, this aircraft must be 42-102469 N7-Q and the date before 8 January 1945.
  3. Aircraft No. 3 could be either 42-102568 N7-N or 44-6573 N7-N but because of the range of dates no further information can be discerned as to the date of the photo.
  4. Aircraft No. 4 is was either 42-107138 N7-T or 43-38631 N7-T. Based on a review of the dates, an N7-T aircraft was available the entire period from April 1944 until May 1945 and thus provides no further information as to the date of the photo.

In summary, it is concluded that the date is somewhere between the 398th's first mission on 6 May 1944 and 8 January 1945. It is possible by studying formation charts carefully that the exact date can be determined.

From the viewer's left to right the aircraft are:

Aircraft No. 1
  1. Aircraft No: 42-97317
  2. Tail Letter: P
  3. Fuselage ID: N7-P
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 603rd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: Little Max
  6. Date of Photograph:
  7. Photo Location:
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C: Assigned to the 398th on 28 April 1944. Repaired and transferred out of the 398th 2 March 1945.
  10. Interpretive Comments: Six bombs can be seen dropping from this aircraft. In 14 Feb chart, not in 15 Feb 1945 formtion chart.

The next 3 aircraft were identified by their tail and fuselage letter:

Aircraft No. 2
  1. Aircraft No: Two 603rd aircraft had this fuselage number N7-Q: 42-102469 N7-Q and 43-39038 N7-Q
  2. Tail Letter: Q
  3. Fuselage ID: N7-Q
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 603rd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft:
  6. Date of Photograph:
  7. Photo Location: Unknown
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C:
    1. 42-102469 N7-Q was active with 398th 3 May 1944 and then transferred out 11 Jan 1945 after last mission 8 January 1945
    2. 43-39038 was active with the 398th 4 March through 2 June 1945.
  10. Interpretive Comments: This aircraft is just to the right of Little Max. Cannot find an N7-Q on 15 Feb chart, but did find 8121-3O-Q on 14 Feb 1945, but not N7-Q on either.
Aircraft No. 3
  1. Aircraft No: Three 603rd aircraft had this fuselage number N7-N: 42-102568 N7-N, 44-6573 N7-N, and 43-39146 N7-N
  2. Tail Letter: N
  3. Fuselage ID: N7-N
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 603rd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft:
  6. Date of Photograph:
  7. Photo Location: Unknown
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C:
    1. 42-102568 N7-N was assigned 28 April 1944; assigned out 29 October 1944 after crash landing.
    2. 44-6573 N7-N was assigned 6 Nov 1944 out 13 Jan 1945 following 10 Jan 1945 mission
    3. 43-39146 N7-N was assigned to the 398th 3 Feb 1945; assigned out 26 May 1945
  10. Interpretive Comments: This aircraft is the 2nd to the right of Little Max. In 14 Feb chart, not in 15 Feb 1945 formtion chart.
Aircraft No. 4
  1. Aircraft No: 42-107138 N7-T or 43-38631 N7-T
  2. Tail Letter: T
  3. Fuselage ID: N7-T
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 603rd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft:
  6. Date of Photograph:
  7. Photo Location: Unknown
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C:
    1. 42-107138 N7-T was assigned to the 398th 22 April 1944 and was MIA 21 November 1944.
    2. 43-38631 N7-T was assigned to 398th 23 Nov 1944; assigned out 26 May 1945
  10. Interpretive Comments: This aircraft is the 3rd to the right of Little Max.

Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: From the collection of Harry J. Dover Sr., Radio Operator, 600th
  2. Photo Reference: HD01
  3. Photographer: Unknown
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Harry Dover, Jr.
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.