![Wreck of B-17C bomber at Hickam Field, US Territory of Hawaii, 7 Dec 1941. Photo 1 of 2. [Colorized by WW2DB]](/images/ai/20230224/air_flyingfortress38.jpg)
Show Original Black and White Photograph | Show WW2DB Colorized Version
Caption | Wreck of B-17C bomber at Hickam Field, US Territory of Hawaii, 7 Dec 1941. Photo 1 of 2. [Colorized by WW2DB] ww2dbase | |||||||||||||
Colorization Note | This photograph was originally a black and white photograph; the colorized version presented here was a derivative work by WW2DB. The colors used in this version were speculative, and could be significantly different from the real colors. Processed using Adobe Photoshop Image Processor, with default neural filter, selecting "None" as the profile. View the original black and white photograph at its own permanent page. | |||||||||||||
Photographer | Tai Sing Loo | |||||||||||||
Source | ww2dbaseUnited States National Archives | |||||||||||||
Identification Code | 80-G-32915 | |||||||||||||
More on... |
| |||||||||||||
Photos on Same Day | 7 Dec 1941 | |||||||||||||
Photos at Same Place | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii | |||||||||||||
Added By | C. Peter Chen | |||||||||||||
Colorized Date | 24 Feb 2023 | |||||||||||||
This photograph has been scaled down; full resolution photograph is available here (1,600 by 1,131 pixels). | ||||||||||||||
Licensing | Public Domain. According to the US National Archives, as of 21 Jul 2010: Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
Did you enjoy this photograph or find this photograph helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this photograph with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Visitor Submitted Comments
2.
Bill says:
20 Jul 2010 05:37:01 PM
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, twelve new 17E's were on their way to the Philippines,
stop at Hawaii. One is shown destroyed on Hickam Field Dec. 7, 1941.
![Commenter identity confirmed Commenter identity confirmed](/images/icon_check.png)
20 Jul 2010 05:37:01 PM
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, twelve new 17E's were on their way to the Philippines,
stop at Hawaii. One is shown destroyed on Hickam Field Dec. 7, 1941.
3. Bill says:
14 Nov 2014 04:23:16 PM
Of the twelve Boeing B-17Ds that were stationed at Hickam Field five aircraft were destroyed in the attack.
STUMBLED INTO A WAR:
Four B-17Cs and Eight B-17Es arrived during the Pearl Harbor Raid December 7, 1941 Japanese A6M Zeros made attacks against the forts the bombers
split up and made for Bellows and Hickam and the auxiliary field at Hal-eiwa another landed in a golf course. Two B-17s out of the twelve that arrived during the raid, were destroyed.
LEFT BEHIND:
Did you know of the twelve B-17s that made the flight to Hawaii, two other B-17s experienced engine trouble and didn't leave with the rest of the flight. Another B-17 had problems and didn't leave and the last B-17 turned back due to other technical problems.
FLYING INTO A WAR WITHOUT AMMO!
In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora showed Maj.
Truman H. Landon's B-17 flight arriving during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Did you know that none of the bombers carried any ammunition.
Once the flight arrived in Hawaii, the aircraft would be issued ammunition for the next phase of its flight were they going to the Philippines.
14 Nov 2014 04:23:16 PM
Of the twelve Boeing B-17Ds that were stationed at Hickam Field five aircraft were destroyed in the attack.
STUMBLED INTO A WAR:
Four B-17Cs and Eight B-17Es arrived during the Pearl Harbor Raid December 7, 1941 Japanese A6M Zeros made attacks against the forts the bombers
split up and made for Bellows and Hickam and the auxiliary field at Hal-eiwa another landed in a golf course. Two B-17s out of the twelve that arrived during the raid, were destroyed.
LEFT BEHIND:
Did you know of the twelve B-17s that made the flight to Hawaii, two other B-17s experienced engine trouble and didn't leave with the rest of the flight. Another B-17 had problems and didn't leave and the last B-17 turned back due to other technical problems.
FLYING INTO A WAR WITHOUT AMMO!
In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora showed Maj.
Truman H. Landon's B-17 flight arriving during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Did you know that none of the bombers carried any ammunition.
Once the flight arrived in Hawaii, the aircraft would be issued ammunition for the next phase of its flight were they going to the Philippines.
4.
Bill says:
10 Dec 2014 06:16:29 AM
WRITTEN OFF QUEEN:
USAAF B-17 in above file photo was assigned to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron. Hanger # 5 is in the background Hickam Field. The fortress was part of a flight of B-17s arriving from the mainland during the Pearl Harbor raid December 7,1941.
THERE'S A ZERO ON YOUR TAIL:
In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora one fort made a low pass over the runway passing the control tower followed by those infamous Hollywood T-6 Texans modified to look like Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, as the B-17 made a bank to the left with the Zeros following you get a picture of how large the B-17 was.
![Commenter identity confirmed Commenter identity confirmed](/images/icon_check.png)
10 Dec 2014 06:16:29 AM
WRITTEN OFF QUEEN:
USAAF B-17 in above file photo was assigned to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron. Hanger # 5 is in the background Hickam Field. The fortress was part of a flight of B-17s arriving from the mainland during the Pearl Harbor raid December 7,1941.
THERE'S A ZERO ON YOUR TAIL:
In the 1970 movie Tora, Tora, Tora one fort made a low pass over the runway passing the control tower followed by those infamous Hollywood T-6 Texans modified to look like Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, as the B-17 made a bank to the left with the Zeros following you get a picture of how large the B-17 was.
5.
David Stubblebine says:
2 Mar 2019 02:52:28 PM
The presence of his bicycle, equipment box, and his signature pith helmet leave little doubt that Tai Sing Loo took both photographs in this series.
![Commenter identity confirmed Commenter identity confirmed](/images/icon_check.png)
2 Mar 2019 02:52:28 PM
The presence of his bicycle, equipment box, and his signature pith helmet leave little doubt that Tai Sing Loo took both photographs in this series.
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
Search WW2DB
![](/images/icon_amz_prime_trial_200x80.png)
Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
Lat/Long | 21.3353, -157.9483 |
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,150 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 43,557 timeline entries
- » 1,240 ships
- » 349 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 372 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 259 facilities
- » 469 book reviews
- » 28,462 photos
- » 432 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"George Patton, 31 May 1944
Support Us
![](/images/icon_patreon_200x80.png)
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!
![](/images/icon_teespring_200x80.png)
Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!
1 Feb 2009 02:08:44 PM
When this aircraft still had a tail, it had Tail Number 40-2074. It was flown into the middle of the Japanese Air Attack on Pearl Harbor by Captain Raymond T. Swenson who was able to land at Hickam Field. As Swenson was on final approach, the aircraft’s magnesium flare box was hit by Japanese strafing and ignited. The burning plane separated upon landing. The entire crew survived, except one - a flight surgeon who was killed by strafing as he ran from the burning wreck.