B-17 41-24406

Tunis, Tunisia-This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress," piloted by 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bragg of Savannah, Georgia, was on a bombing mission over Tunis on 1 February 1943 when a ME 109 dove at the ship. The Fortress fired on the attacking plane and killed the pilot. The ME109 then collided with the aircraft nearly shearing off the tail.

Tunis, Tunisia-This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress," piloted by 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bragg of Savannah, Georgia, was on a bombing mission over Tunis on 1 February 1943 when a ME 109 dove at the ship. The Fortress fired on the attacking plane and killed the pilot, whose aircraft collided with the B-17 nearly shearing of the tail.

This photo was taken some months after "All American's" last combat mission to Bo Rizzo on May 10, 1943. All turrets, guns and armor plate were then removed and she was used as a utility aircraft until she was salvaged overseas in March 1945. You can see evidence of the major surgery that was performed on her aft fuselage.

Boeing B-17F-5-BO 41-24406, All American III, 414th BS, 97th BG, after landing at Biskra Airfield, Algeria, 1 February 1943. (U.S. Air Force)

Boeing B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress 41-24406, All American III, 414th BS, 97th BG, after landing at Biksra Airfield, Algeria, 1 February 1943. (U.S. Air Force)

Tunis, Tunisia-A German fighter plane whose pilot had been killed, crashed into this Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" while it was bombing Nazi supply lines in North Africa. The fuselage was cut half into, and one elevator was torn away.

Tunis, Tunisia-This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress," piloted by 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bragg of Savannah, Georgia, was on a bombing mission over Tunis on 1 February 1943 when a ME 109 dove at the ship. The Fortress fired on the attacking plane and killed the pilot, whose aircraft nearly tore the tail of the B-17.