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OLD
IRONSIDES
42-5734
B-17F
91/323-R
OR-R
 The
second
Fortress
in
the
91st
Bomb
Group
to
carry
the
title
“Old
Ironsides”
was
one
of
13
specially
modified
aircraft
designated
as
YB-40.
These
modified
planes
were
conceived
as
gunships,
with
a
20%
increase
in
firepower,
to
escort
the
other
B-17Fs
in
a
formation.
Each
was
modified
from
a
standard
B-17F
with
an
additional
turret
in
the
radio
hatch
position
as
well
as
a
chin-mounted
remote
turret.
Twin
waist
guns
were
also
installed
and
after
arrival
in
England
in
May
1943
further
field
modifications
were
made
to
add
extra
side
machine
guns
in
the
navigator's
position
as
well.
Considerable
armor-plating
protected
crew
positions
and,
in
all,
there
was
a
massive
40001b
increase
in
weight
over
the
standard
B-17F
model.
Originally
named
“Seymour
Angel”,
this
ship
was
dispatched
to
the
92nd
Bomb
Group
at
Alconbury
who
were
to
operate
all
the
YB-40s.
The
first
YB-40
combat
mission
was
flown
by
the
92nd
Bomb
Group
on
27th
May
to
St.Nazaire.
Further
field
modifications
were
made
as
a
result
and
eight
more
missions
followed
but
problems
abounded.
The
tail-heavy
YB-40s
were
considered
to
be
difficult
to
handle
in
tight
formation
flying
and
much
slower
than
the
B-17Fs
they
accompanied
due
to
the
huge
weight
increase.
This
became
particularly
noticeable
after
loads
had
been
jettisoned,
further
lightening
the
bomb-carrying
airplanes
in
the
formation
and
enabling
them
to
fly
faster.
On
4th
July
Colonel
Ried,
CO
of
the
92nd,
reported
that
the
theoretical
20%
increase
in
fire
power
had
proven
to
be
only
10%
effective
in
combat,
mainly
as
a
result
of
the
chin
turret,
and
he
recommended
that
no
further
YB-40s
be
ordered
due
to
the
added
disadvantage
of
taking
a
plane
over
a
target
without
bombs
aboard.
On
16th
July
three
YB-40s
were
transferred
from
the
92nd
Bomb
Group
to
the
91st.
By
that
time
the
name
“Seymour
Angel”
had
apparently
been
changed
to
“Red
Balloon”
and
the
plane
is
recorded
in
the
323rd
Squadron
records
as
carrying
that
title
upon
its
assignment.
There
is
no
record
of
any
of
the
YB-40
escorts
flying
missions
with
the
91st
and
its
role
with
the
group
is
uncertain.
By
24th
August
a
further
name
change
had
made
this
aircraft
into
the
second
Old
Ironsides
-
a
suitable
title
considering
the
heavy
armor
plating
that
the
ship
carried
and
its
extra
armament.
The
last
of
the
three
YB-40s
to
remain
with
the
91st
at
Bassingbourn,
Old
lronsides
was
finally
withdrawn
to
the
USA
in
late
January
1944.
The
YB-40
program
was
not
considered
a
success
but
lessons
were
learned
from
it
and
one
major
component
of
the
heavily-armed
version
was
incorporated
as
standard
into
future
production
models
of
the
Flying
Fortress.
The
B
17Gs
would
all
carry
the
remote
operated
chin
turret
that
had
proved
of
value
against
the
deadly
frontal
assaults
of
the
Luftwaffe
fighters.
Many
B-17Fs
would
also
benefit
from
field
modifications
to
fit
this
extra
armament
in
the
nose.
The
staggering
of
waist
gun
positions
was
also
adopted
as
standard
on
later
Fortresses.
"Story
taken
from
Plane
Names
&
Fancy
Noses,
by
Ray
Bowden"
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