What was special about the B-17 "5 Grand"?

Short answer

It was the 5,000th B-17 built by Boeing since Pearl Harbor, signed by every worker before leaving the Seattle factory. It flew with the 338th BS, 96th BG at Snetterton, completed 78 missions, and was scrapped at Kingman in November 1945.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What was special about the B-17 "5 Grand"?

Sunset silhouette of flying fortress, Langley Field, Va

Signed by the Seattle workforce

The "5 Grand" was the 5,000th B-17 to roll off Boeing's production line since Pearl Harbor. Before it left the Seattle factory, every worker signed the aircraft.

Transfer to England and a landing gear that wouldn't come down

The bomber was delivered to Cheyenne on 15 May 1944, passed through Kearney on 30 June 1944, and arrived at Dow Field on 13 July 1944. The following day it was assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group, coded BX-H, at Snetterton. During a training flight with Jack Bimemiller the landing gear could not be lowered, and the aircraft was ordered to head to the Honington depot for a forced landing.

78 missions and the end at Kingman

Once repairs were completed, the "5 Grand" flew 78 missions and in May 1945 was transferred to the 388th Bomb Group. It returned to the United States, to Bradley, on 14 June 1945. On 29 July 1945 it passed to the 4168th Base Unit at South Plains, Texas. It was finally assigned to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and sold for scrap at Kingman on 22 November 1945.