The Origin of the Blackhawks logo design

Notes:

Charlie Grandy mentioned that the original Blackhawks logo was copied from a WW2 plane.
USAAF Nose Art Research Project notes:

This was another Fort originally assigned to 384BG but transferred on 6th July to 96BG. Some sources suggest that the aircraft was also named "Guzzlers" but on its right side Johnnie White painted an impressive design of a black bird riding an 8-ball sprouting machineguns like a chin turret, or ball turret. "Black Hawk" did not in fact carry the chin turret which became standard with later B17G models. If it had the aircraft might have faired better in the latter half of the year. Between mid-July and 31st December it sustained notable battle damage on at least seven occasions. On the final day of 1943, flak inflicted particularly serious damage which put the plane out of action for some time.

Returning to combat in January 1944 it was hit heavily again on 29th when "Black Hawk" was riddled with 20mm cannon fire, which also wounded two of the crew. The veteran Fort may have been withdrawn from combat operations after this battering and at some time later in the year was transferred to be modified for the experimental remote control "Aphrodite" project. Stripped of weaponry and packed with explosives and extra fuel, the aircraft was aimed at the submarine pens at Heligoland on 11th September 1944. Tragically, one of the pilots was killed as he bailed out of the "drone" but it was successfully controlled by the "mother" ship and aimed at the target. 350 metres short of its aiming point it was shot down into the sea.

Note that just below the angled cheek gun mounting, someone has added further embellishment by cutting out a Vargas pin-up from a copy of Esquire magazine and pasting it onto the side, adding the name "Bette Lore".

No mission listing is currently available for this aircraft"

Black Hawk

B-17F-90-BO 42-30180

96th Bomb Group, 337th Bomb Squadron

Nose art painted by: Sgt Johnnie WHITE

96th Bomb Group

Snetterton Heath, England

3. 1st Lt William Wyatt PATTON Jr 1918-1945

MISSIONS CASTOR/APHRODITE

The aircrafts are modified; they receive a double Azon system. The systems of radio operators controls arrive in July 44 in England, composed of an AN/ARW-1 which is in connection with the flight control, and an AN/APN-1 radio operator altimeter, plus a TV camera control RC-489 placed in the Plexiglas nose of the aircraft directed forwards. A compass is placed in front of the camera to make it possible to know the direction for the operator.

An AN/TPN-1 Eureka is installed to allow the localization of the aircraft in the event of visual loss.

A smoke-producing equipment with 75gal US (234 litres) of oil is installed under the aircraft, with a dispersion of 1.5gal/min (5.68L/min), it is controlled by remote via a solenoid which activates a radio valve controlled by the operator.

The explosive is the Torpex (explosive British made up with 41,8% of RDX, 40,2% of TNT, aluminium powder 18%)

Packed in boxes of about 6x12x17,5 inches (15.24 X 30.48 X 44.45 cm) with a varying weight net 55 to 55,5lbs (approximately 25kg)

Distributed thus 25 installed behind the cockpit, 100 in the radio operator section and 210 in the bomb bay.

The ignition of the explosive is done manually by the pilot before his evacuation, via a series of fuses and primacord.

A block of 20 B-17 is recovered in order to modify them in "Castor", but only 11 are deployed and operational.

1. Boeing B-17F-90-BO Fortress 42-30180 c/n 5294 (?)

2. Boeing B-17F-100-BO Fortress 42-30363 (foot-note Ex 803BS (P)) c/n 5477

3. Lockheed/Vega B-17G-1-VE Fortress 42-39827 c/n 6570

4. Boeing B-17F-85-BO Fortress 42-30039 (foot-note Ex 803BS (P)) c/n 5153

5. Douglas-LongBeach B-17G-10-DL Fortress 42-37743 (foot-note803BS (P)) c/n 8529

6. Boeing B-17F-85-BO Fortress 42-30066 (foot-note Ex 803BS (P)) c/n 5180

7. Douglas-LongBeach B-17F-60-DL Fortress 42-3438 c/n 8374

8. Lockheed/Vega B-17G-1-VE Fortress 42-39824 c/n 6567

9. Boeing B-17F-100-BO Fortress B-17 F 42-30353 (foot-note Ex 803BS (P)) c/n 5467

10 Boeing B-17F-90-BO Fortress B-17 F 42-30178 c/n 5292

11 Boeing B-17F-95-BO Fortress B-17 F 42-30237 c/n 5351

The 5 "mothers" planes are them

1. Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress 43-37946 c/n 8924

2. Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress 43-37953 c/n 8931

3. Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress 43-37962 c/n 8940

4. Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress 43-38006 c/n 8984

5. Boeing B-17G-80-BO Fortress 43-38081 c/n9059

They receive an AN/ARW-18 control system a SCR-550 TV control installed in the nose operator being in place of the bomber crew, an AN/APN-2 (US version of English Rebecca MKII.)

A BC-756 transmits the signal to a BC925 located in the radio operator section, which also has an signal amplifier to keep away from counter measurements, the whole of the signals are sent by the antennas located at the center of the fuselage close to the radio operator section.

4. American Air Museum in Britain

"Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Presque Is 30/5/43; Assigned 384BG Grafton Underwood 10/6/43; transferred 337BS/96BG [AW-H] Andrews Fd 6/7/43 GUZZLERS; Snetterton 12/6/43, BLACK HAWK; 563BS/388BG APH Knettishall /43; Missing in Action (as drone), with Lt Richard. Lindahl killed by static line incorrectly attached bailing out, Navigator: Lt D. Salles (Returned to Duty) off Heligoland shore 11/9/44. "

References

"Black Hawk B-17F-90-BO 42-30180" USAAF Nose Art Reserach Project
"B-17 42-30180 96th Bomb Group Aphrodite Mission Drone" World War Photos
"Missions Castor/Aphrodite" 1st Lt William Wyatt PATTON Jr 1918-1945
SimHQ
"42-30180" American Air Museum in Britain