Ground crews at work under Duke of Paducah (42-37736, 91BG), one of the very first G-model B-17s.  She survived the war, ending her days as a radio aircraft for the 67FW.

In our desire to educate the public about the air campaigns of the Second World War, it is important to not lose sight of the little aspects of warfare.  Bombardment operations were long, tedious affairs, and required careful planning and practice to be executed properly.  Historian Sir Max Hastings once described bombing raids as akin to driving a car for long hours at night, the hours of monotony broken only by the terrifying crash of hitting a deer.

As such, while we recognize the public’s fascination with combat equipment, we strongly feel that the auxiliary equipment is of equal importance – if only because they took up so much of air war’s time.  Lucky Thirteen will not just give a general impression of an active-duty Second World War heavy bomber, she will cover the minutiae as well.  The auxiliary equipment listed below is taken from Boeing manuals contemporary with Lucky Thirteen‘s service time.

Blueprint 55-7311-D: Equipment Installation

SOME PARTS SHOWN BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO LUCKY THIRTEEN‘S SERIAL NUMBER.
PARTS NOT APPLICABLE TO LUCKY THIRTEEN HAVE BEEN CROSSED OUT. 

NOSE COMPARTMENT

A.  Chair, Bombardier: Blueprint 14-3295 (Cramer Posture Air-Flow)
B.  Type B-11/B-13/B-14 Seat-Belt, Bombardier (Not Shown) Example COMPLETE (3 of 6)
C.  Chair, Navigator: Blueprint 9-3755 (Cramer Posture Air-Flow)
D. Type B-11/B-13 Seat-Belt, Navigator (Not Shown) Example COMPLETE (3 of 6)
E.  Clip Board: Boeing Aircraft (Modification) COMPLETED
F.  Box, Bomb Data Card  COMPLETED
G.  Chart, Glide Angel COMPLETED
H.  Table, Navigator COMPLETED
I.  Type B-5 Drift Recorder (Eastman-Kodak) COMPLETED
J.  Type A-1 Astrograph & Case (Eastman-Kodak) DONATED BY ANDY RIVERA (WILMINGTON, DE)
K.  Astrograph Mount: Boeing Aircraft (Modification)
L.  Astrograph Support: Boeing Aircraft (Modification)
M.  Type Mk. II Astro Compass (W. W. Boes) DONATED BY ANDY RIVERA (WILMINGTON, DE)
N.  Astro Compass Mount & Bracket DONATED BY MATT SMITH (KETTERING, UK) 
O.  33001 Astro-Dome (42D5467): Boeing Aircraft (Installation: 9-5082) DONATED BY BOB DICEY (SIMPSONVILLE, SC)
P.  Type D-12 Navigator’s Compass COMPLETED
Q.  Type BC-433 Radio Compass (Bendix) COMPLETED
R.  Flare Holder Folds: Boeing Aircraft (Modification)
S.  Type C-3 Signal Lamp (Grimes) DONATED BY KEITH ELLEFSON (OZARK, AL) (Stowage: Blueprint 7-2078)
T.  First Aid Kit Aeronautic COMPLETED (Stowage: Blueprint 6-13681)
U.  Dehydrating Tube: Blueprint 3-13930 – Tenite 1/2 OD 3/8 ID 7 Inch with 200 Mesh Screen, Nipple, and Cap
V.  Dehydrator, Radio Compass: Blueprint 6-11455 – 26″ White Rubber Hose, 5/16″ ID
W.  Ashtray, Bombardier: Blueprint 3-14949 COMPLETE
X.  Type C-13A Thermometer (Weston Electrical) Example DONATED BY JOE MCKOWEN (GAFFENY, SC)
Y.  Temperature Correction Card and AN5800-1 Holder
Z.  Windshield Wiper, Bombardier (Aerotorque) COMPLETED
AA.  Type A-17 Fire Extinguisher (CO2) Example COMPLETE (2 of 3) (Stowage: Blueprint 15-8787)
BB.  Curtains: Blueprint 15-9475
CC.  Curtains: Boeing Aircraft (Modification)
DD.  2x Type D-2 Pitot Tube (Kollsman Instruments) COMPLETED
EE.  Door Cover: Blueprint 55-7543

COCKPIT COMPARTMENT

A.  2x Seats, Pilot & Co-Pilot: Blueprint 75-3448 (General Fireproofing) UNDER CONSTRUCTION
B.  2x Type B-11/B-13 Seat-Belts, Pilot & Co-Pilot Example COMPLETE (3 of 6)
C.  Seat-Belt Suspender, Pilot & Co-Pilot (Modification)
D.  2x Type A-1 Seat Cushions, Pilot & Co-Pilot DONATED BY ROGER DEERE (URBANA, OH)
E.  2x Type A-3 Back Cushions, Pilot & Co-Pilot DONATED BY ROGER DEERE (URBANA, OH)
F.  Box, Wiring Diagram: Blueprint 67-1527 COMPLETED
G.  First Aid Kit Aeronautic COMPLETED
H.  Paper Cup Dispenser: 39D3339 (Stowage: Blueprint 15-11682) COMPLETE
I.  Type A-2 Fire Extinguisher (Carbon Tet.)  Example
J.  Type A-17 Fire Extinguisher (CO2) Example COMPLETE (2 of 3) (Stowage: Blueprint 9-3656)
K.  Type M-8 Flare Pistol & Holster (37mm) (Eureka Vacuum) DONATED BY ANDY RIVERA (WILMINGTON, DE)
L.   Flare Pistol Ammo. Holder (37mm)
M.  Flare Pistol Aircraft Mount (37mm) Example
N.  Key Holder: Blueprint 1-20381
O.  2x Super-Vac Inverted Thermos Bottles (Stanley) COMPLETED (Rack: Blueprint 15-7935) (Clamps: Blueprint 3-12317)
P.  Type D-42 Escape Axe & Sheath (Stowage: Blueprint 15-11682) DONATED BY BEAVER MOUNTAIN WORKS (MAPLE RIDGE, BC)
Q.  B-17F Familiarization Manual DONATED BY JAMES M. DUNNE (DEMING, NM)
R.  2x Ashtrays, Pilot & Co-Pilot: Blueprint 1-20039 DONATED BY ROBERT MCHUGH (WANTAGH, NEW YORK)
S.  4x Dehydrating Tubes: Blueprint 3-13930 – Tenite 1/2 OD 3/8 ID 7 Inch with 200 Mesh Screen, Nipple, and Cap
T.  Windshield Wiper, Pilot & Co-Pilot (Marquette)
U.  2x Curtains: Blueprint 15-7611
V.  Chart, Control Cable Identification: Blueprint 41-9339 COMPLETED
W.  Chart, Control Cable Identification: Blueprint 1-18916 COMPLETED
X.  Chart, Operating Instructions: Blueprint 9-6131 COMPLETED
Y.  Chart, Flight Operations: Blueprint 9-6132 COMPLETED
Z.  Pilot’s Checklist: Blueprint 1-21936 (Craftsman Press) COMPLETED (EARLY VARIANT)
AA.  Type 3 Control Column Boots: Blueprint 14-1681 (Clamps: Blueprints 41-1351 & 41-7198) (Collar: Blueprint 9-2771, Pg 2)
BB.  Type A-2 Flare Gun Holder (43G7044) & A-7 Pyrotechnics Bag (42H11968) COMPLETED

BOMB-BAY & RADIO COMPARTMENT

A.  Chair, Radio Operator: (Cramer Posture Air-Flow) (Blueprint 1-18332) MISSING BLUEPRINT
B.  Type A-1 Seat Cushion, Radio Operator  
C.  Type A-3 Back Cushion, Radio Operator  
D. Type B-11/B-13 Seat-Belt, Radio Operator Example COMPLETE (3 of 6)
E.  Chair, Auxiliary
F.  Chair, Auxiliary
G.  Table, Radio Operator COMPLETED
H.  Folder, Radio Operator: Blueprint 46-5305
I.  Ashtray, Radio Operator: Blueprint 43-9073 COMPLETE
J.  Type A-17 Fire Extinguisher (CO2) Example COMPLETE (2 of 3) (Stowage: Blueprint 49-3654)
K.  Hand Crank & Extension: Blueprint 21-9586 (Eclipse Machine D-12092 / AN4098)
L.  Starter Crank & Extension: Blueprint 3-12408
M.  Curtains: Blueprint 15-9286
N.  Guard Rail Rope COMPLETED
O.  Relief Tube COMPLETED
P.  Chart, Fuel System COMPLETED
Q.  Chart, Weight/Data/Rigging COMPLETED
R.  Flight Reports Folder COMPLETED
S.  Chart, Fuel Pump Instructions COMPLETED
T.  Charts, Bomb Loading COMPLETED
U.  2x Type A-2 Life Rafts
V.  2x Life Raft Release Handles: Blueprint 41-7703

RADIO & WAIST COMPARTMENTS

A.  Chart, C. G. Computing: Boeing Aircraft No. 9-5328
B.  Chart, Winterization Checklist: Boeing Aircraft No. 3-20241
C.  Chart, Fuse Locations COMPLETED
D.  Straps, Shutter Coil: Blueprint 6-9236 DONATED BY SILVER ANVIL METAL CRAFT (BRANSON, MO)
E.  Coil, Shutter Induction
F.  3x Supports, Camera Support: Blueprint 3-7012
G.  2x Brackets, Camera Support: Blueprint 3-7022
H.  Ladder COMPLETED (Stowage: Blueprint 15-7641)
I.  Cylindrical First Aid Kit (E. D. Bullard) COMPLETED
J.  First Aid Kit Aeronautic COMPLETED

TAIL COMPARTMENT

A.  Type C-10 HRU-28 Auxiliary Power Unit (Homelite) (Installation: Blueprint 15-7983) COMPLETED
B.  APU Cords & Plugs: Blueprint 3-15131 (Hines Equipment)
C.  Step, Main Entrance: Blueprint 15-8520
D.  Toilet, Chemical Bucket (Sierra Manufacturing No. CC-4202 / Imperial Brass No. M-1019)
E.  Toilet Paper Holder (Seattle Hardware No. 2609) COMPLETED
F.  Type A-2 Fire Extinguisher (Carbon Tet.) Example
G.  Coat Hook (Pacific Marine Supply No. 8831) COMPLETED
H.  Pad, Bump DONATED BY MATT STURGELL (EASLEY, SC)
I.  Pads, Shoulder: Blueprint 6-9338
J.  Pad, Armor Plate: Blueprint 7-1539
K.  Pad, Knee DONATED BY BEAVER MOUNTAIN WORKS (MAPLE RIDGE, BC)
L.  Seat, Tail Gunner
M.  Seat Cushion, Tail Gunner DONATED BY BEAVER MOUNTAIN WORKS (MAPLE RIDGE, BC)
N.  Type B-11/B-13 Seat-Belt, Tail Gunner Example COMPLETE (3 of 6)
O.  Strap, Armor Plate: Blueprint 9-3640
P.  Azimuth Scale COMPLETED
Q.  Release, Tow Target: Blueprint 9-5314
R.  Chart, Control Cable Identification COMPLETED
S.  Type N-2 Gun Camera (16mm): Blueprint 15-7999