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Radar equipped B-17's
The first development of B-17's with radar were conversions of seven B-17F
models in which a British developed H2S (Stinkey) radar or "Oboe" Mark I were installed.
On these ships, the radar
antenne was mounted under the nose of the plane and covered by an aerodynamic
housing.
H2S equipped B-17F
Later planes were equipped with the American (AN/APS-15/) H2X "Mickey" system which was a further development of the British H2S "Stinky" airborne radar. Development took place by scientists of the MIT Radiation Laboratory. On the first 12 aircraft it was hand crafted into the nose of the aircraft behind the chin turret in a rather crude way.
The suffix "SH" was added to the model number to indicate the presence of an
H2X radar system. Suffix for H2S equipped planes was "SO".
Similar suffixes can be found on B-24 airplanes. [1]
The 12 B-17 aircraft modified with this initial version of the H2X were following [2]:
| 42-3483 | B-17F/G | MI-A |
| 42-3484 | MI-B | |
| 42-3485 | MI-C | |
| 42-3486 | B-17F/G | MI-D "Invictus", MIA 11.01.44 into IJsselmeer/Zuiderzee, The Netherlands |
| 42-3487 | MI-E | |
| 42-3490 | MI-F, MIA 21.06.44 | |
| 42-3491 | MI-G, "Chopstick G George", MIA 06.03.44 over Berlin | |
| 42-3492 | MI-H "Paper Doll" | |
| 42-3500 | B-17F/G | MI-J, MIA 04.02.44 near Zwolle, The Netherlands |
| 42-3511 | MI-K, MIA 25.04.44 near Precy-sur-Oise, Normandy, France | |
| 42-30280 | MI-L, “crazy horse”, MIA 21.02.44, into IJsselmeer/Zuiderzee, The Netherlands | |
| 42-37745 | MI-M |
Note, one of them was an F version, the rest were "F" versions modified and
re-designated "G" versions, or built as a "G" version.
Initial version H2X equipped B-17F/G
After the initial batch of 12 H2X modified airplanes, subsequent radar
modified B-17's were built with the radar dome mounted semi retractable as
replacement of the ball
turret.
Final version H2X equipped B-17Gs from 96thBG
Another version of radar equipped B-17 was used for maritime reconaissance/ Air Sea Rescue services. A number of these were provided with a lifeboat which was released in the air and lowered by parachute.
Notes:
[1] 12 0'Clock High forum thread "B-17GSH"
26th April 2018 started by Cees Steijger
[2] List from Roger Freeman,
information added from the various MACR's of each plane where available.