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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Boeing B299 / B-17 Fortress
    Latest Model:B-17G Fortress
    Last Military Serial:44-85778 USAF
    Construction Number:8687
    Last Civil Registration:N3509G
    Latest Owner or Location:Pond Warbirds Llc, Reno, NV

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    Dates

    Event

    1945

    Constructed as a B-17G-105-VE by Lockheed-Vega at Burbank, California, USA.

    6 June 1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-85778.
    Delivered to USAAF at Dallas, TX.

    6 September 1945

    Transferred to South Plains Army Airfield, TX.

    Transferred to 48th Search and Rescue Group.

    Circa August 1946

    Transferred to 24th Composite Group, Caribbean Air Command, Borinquen Army Air Field, PR.

    Converted to a TB-17G.

    18 September 1947

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 44-85778.

    1948

    Transferred to Brazilian Air Command.

    Converted to a VB-17G.

    1954

    Transferred to 1100th Operations Group, Bolling Field AFB, Washington, DC.

    1956

    Assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ for storage.

    14 August 1959

    To Ace Smelting Inc, Phoenix, AZ with new c/r N3509G.

    From 20 September 1960 to By 1961

    To Sonora Flying Service, Columbia, CA keeping c/r N3509G.

    From 25 May 1961 to By 1966

    To Leo J. Demers, Madras, OR keeping c/r N3509G.

    Operated as fire service #97.

    27 April 1962

    Certificate of airworthiness for NL3509G (B-17G, 44-85778) issued.

    From 29 April 1966 to By 1972

    To Aero Union Corp, Chico, CA keeping c/r N3509G.

    Operated as fire service #E16.


    Photographer: Robert Long

    Operated as fire service #16.

    15 September 1968


    Photographer: Ron Olsen

    22 April 1970

    Certificate of airworthiness for NL3509G (B-17G, 44-85778) issued.

    From 2 June 1972 to By 1978

    To Central Air Service/William A. Dempsay, Rantoul, KS keeping c/r N3509G.

    Operated as fire service #F42.

    Operated as fire service #42.

    Operated as fire service #102.

    From 6 July 1978 to By 1981

    To Western Air Contractors, American Fork, UT keeping c/r N3509G.

    June 1979


    Photographer: Eric Bannwarth
    Notes: At Porterville

    From 15 June 1981 to By 1982

    To Westernair of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM keeping c/r N3509G.

    From 28 March 1982 to By 1990

    To Aircraft Component Equipment Supplies Inc/Richard Vartanian, Klamath Falls, OR keeping c/r N3509G.

    October 1982


    Photographer: Unknown Photographer
    Notes: Photographed at the Edwards AFB Open House.

    From By 1984 to By 1991

    To Aero Nostalgia, Stockton, CA keeping c/r N3509G.
    Withdrawn from use and placed in storage in the Aero Nostalgia hangar.

    July 1990

    To Arthur W. McDonnell, Mojave, CA keeping c/r N3509G.

    February 1991

    To Florida Aircraft Leasing Corp./Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N3509G.

    From April 1991 to By 1992

    Based at Lone Star Flight Museum, Scholes Field, Galveston, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    Restored as a B-17G.

    Markings Applied: Miss Museum of Flying, 4485778

    24 April 1991

    To Air SRV Inc, Hockley, TX keeping c/r N3509G.

    1992

    To Warbirds of GB Ltd, Biggin Hill, UK.
    Not actually delivered to the U.K.

    Editor Note: This photo was taken in 1944, prior to this airframe even being built. The photo was moved to this point in the time-line to provided better context to the next photo.
    Photographer: John Householder
    Notes: The Flying Goddess painted on this B-17 is the same figure as was on a wall of a building used by the 1249th Quartermaster Company, 15th Air Force, Italy, 1944. See tone enhanced image of drawing on wall behind the company band.

    Circa 1993


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At Planes of Fame East, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

    From May 1993 to By 1997

    In the inventory of Planes of Fame East/Robert J. Pond, Eden Prairie, MN.
    View the Location Dossier

    8 August 1994


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Flying Cloud Airport, Minneapolis, MN

    8 August 1994


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Flying Cloud Airport, Minneapolis, MN

    1995


    Photographer: Unknown

    December 1997

    To Palm Springs Air Museum/Pond Warbirds Llc/Robert J. Pond, Palm Springs, CA keeping c/r N3509G.

    3 July 2001

    To Pond Warbirds Llc, Saint Cloud, MN keeping c/r N3509G.

    16 October 2004


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: at MCAS Miramar Airshow

    Based at Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: Miss Angela, 4485778

    28 May 2013


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Displayed at the Palm Springs Air Museum, California

    28 May 2013


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Displayed at the Palm Springs Air Museum, California

    28 May 2013


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Displayed at the Palm Springs Air Museum, California

    22 April 2017


    Photographer: Marcin Rogowski
    Notes: At the Palm Springs Air Museum, CA, USA.

    22 April 2017


    Photographer: Marcin Rogowski
    Notes: At the Palm Springs Air Museum, CA, USA.

    22 April 2017


    Photographer: Marcin Rogowski
    Notes: At the Palm Springs Air Museum, CA, USA.

    13 February 2018

    To Pond Warbirds Llc, Reno, NV keeping c/r N3509G.


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    AMCAR
    American Air Museum in Britain
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Glenn Chatfield
    Marcin Rogowski

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