Old 666 was a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress heavy bomber, serial number 41-2666, assigned to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 19th and 43rd Bombardment Groups in 1942–1943.

Sep 6, 2016 · In World War II, a lone B-17's reconnaissance mission quickly devolved into a desperate dogfight for survival against the odds.

The authoritative story of “Old 666,” a.k.a. ”Lucy”—the B-17 Flying Fortress which Jay Zeamer's Eager Beavers flew into history on 16 June 1943.

Nicknamed "Old 666" or "666" for the last three digits of the serial number and was deemed to be an unlucky bomber. On November 4, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Melville Ehlers with co-pilot Lt. Bill Wilson in a bombing mission against Lae. Also aboard was navigator RAAF P/O John Edkins.

B-17 #41-2666 / Old 666 aka Lucy: Delivered Minneapolis 9/3/42; Assigned 435BS/19BG Hawaii 5/5/42; transferred 65BS/43BG; when on mission to Bougainville 16/6/43 with Jay Zeamer, who along with crewmate Joe Sarnoski (Killed in Action) earned Medal of Honor for great bravery, pilot & 5 others all WIA; after repair transferred 8PRS; Returned to ...

Nov 29, 2015 · Previously known as “Lucy”, a name the heralded crew would never embrace, the 666 was known as a cursed bomber. The B-17 didn’t look all the different from the rest, but it had a remarkable ability for returning back to base all shot up to pieces.

Jun 19, 2024 · Nicknames: 666/Old 666/Lucy; Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress; Production block number: B-17E; Manufacturer: Boeing

Mar 3, 2025 · A flying fortress unlike any other! Bomber #666 was a heavily modified B-17 built to take on enemy fighters with 16 .50 caliber machine guns. Was it the most extreme bomber of WWII, or just an ...

Apr 14, 2023 · The Eager Beavers and Old 666 took everything that was thrown at them and always returned home. Then in June 1943, they faced the toughest mission yet – a reconnaissance flight by a lone B-17 over Japanese-infested territory. The mission was to map Bougainville for the upcoming Allied landings.

Jan 5, 2019 · “Old 666” was the name of a B17 Flying Fortress during World War II. This was a heavy, relatively fast, long-range bomber with four engines that turned out to be a workhorse for America’s strategic bombing campaign during World War II. However, one mission from a single bomber made Old 666 a legend.