This B-17 was named after a similar ship that was lost in a mid-air collision over Manheim, Germany in 30 Dec 44. It was build at the Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach CA in 1944 and initially served in the Pacific theater rather than in Europe where most B-17's were deployed. After the war this ship served as a VIP transport carrying Gen. Dwight Eisenhower on his tour of the South Pacific.