Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Directory
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B-17 FLYING FORTRESS/44-85599
B-17 Flying Fortress 44-85599
B-17 Flying Fortress 44-85599 - Click here to view larger version & description B-17 Flying Fortress 44-85599 - Click here to view larger version & description B-17 Flying Fortress 44-85599 - Click here to view larger version & description B-17 Flying Fortress 44-85599 - Click here to view larger version & description
Serial #: 44-85599
Construction #: 8508 (-VE)
Civil Registration:
  None
Location:
  32°25'59.6"N 99°48'50.7"W
Model(s):
  B-17G Flying Fortress
  EDB-17G Flying Fortress
  DB-17G Flying Fortress
  DB-17P Flying Fortress
Name: Reluctant Dragon
Status: Static Display
Last info: 2025
History:
Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 44-85599.
- BOC: N/A
- SOC: N/A
- Retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, August 1959.
96th BG Memorial Association, Abilene Municipal Airport, Abilene, TX, October 1960-1974
- Displayed as 0-5599/Black Hawk
USAF Museum, Dyess AFB, Abiliene, TX, 1974-2025
- Restored for static display.
- Initially displayed as 485599/A.
- Currently displayed as 238133/Reluctant Dragon/OA-W.
Source(s):
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-4th Edition, 2003.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-6th Edition, 2025.
Photo Source(s):
Chuck Gardner
R. Hawkins.

Research Assistance:
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