WHis\SwoosGK.DOC

            The story of the Swoose has a special place in the history of the US Air Force.  It came to represent many things to many people, a reminder of how those “old new” airplanes could be kept flying.  The B-17s were an advance airplane when it was designed in 1935, representing the best we had when hostilities broke out.  It initially lost out to the B-18 which cost less, then when hostilities broke out in Europe in 1939 enough money was found to start production.  By early 1941 the B-17C models were out and by mid 1941 enough B17D models were produced to equip the 14th Sqd in Hawaii to be flown to the Philippines.  The remaining B17C & B17D aircraft available were flown by the 30th and 93rd sqd to the Philippines.  35 B17s were on hand when the Japanese attack Clark Field Dec 8 1941.  Thankfully half of the B17s had been sent to Del Monte field Mindanao – surviving the attack.  B-17D 40-____ which was to become the Swoose was being flown at the time by H. Godman 14th sqd, then at Del Monte.  They tried to operate out off Clark Field and bomb the Japanese forces, but the field could not be defended and after the first week they shifted to Del Monte.  The Japanese found they were at Del Monte, and without any fighter protection, at the end of the second week they moved the remaining 10 aircraft to Bachelor Field Darwin Aus.  These aircraft moved on to the Dutch field Sigosari Malang Java.  The aircraft that was to become the Swoose had been damaged and sent to repair facilities in Australia.  It was there while the remaining B17C&D in Java became destroyed. leaving it the only survivor.  It survived by being repaired using parts from other aircraft – half swan and half goose – it became the Swoose.  Obsolete for combat, it continued to survive because it could still do what many other aircraft could not.  It could reliably fly long distances, as few other aircraft could – it continued to earn it’s keep, and in doing so established itself as a legend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon the public will be able to see the Swoose, as she once was, at the Smithsonian Washington DC.