This Boeing B-17G, serial no. 44-8543, nicknamed "Madras Maiden" was built in October of 1944 at the Lockheed-Vega factory in Burbank, California. After being accepted into service with the USAAF, it was assigned to the Flight Test Branch at Wright Field, Ohio, and was modified as a "pathfinder" aircraft with the H2X "Mickey" radar system in place of the ball turret. In the following years, the plane was transferred to several different bases. It never saw combat, and spent its entire military career as a research and development platform until retirement from service in 1959.

Of the B-17s that were converted for use as "pathfinder" aircraft, this is the only example left in existence.

44-8543 began her civilian career after being purchased through a sealed bid by the American Compressed Steel Corp of Cincinnati, OH, and received the civilian registration of N3701G. In 1961, she was sold to Albany Building Corp of Fort Lauderdale, FL and was used briefly as a cargo transport, hauling fresh produce between South Florida and the Bahamas. In 1963, she was sold again to Dothan Aviation in Dothan, AL and converted to a fire ant sprayer under contract with the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. The plane was sold again in 1979 and brought to Fort Worth, TX, where it underwent a partial restoration back to combat configuration. In 2010, further restoration took place, and the plane began flying in airshows.

In 2013, the plane was sold again to the Erickson Collection in Madras, Oregon where it is now based. It was restored to combat configuration and painted in the colors of the 381st Bomb Group. In 2014, it received the "Madras Maiden" nose art, and spends the late spring, summer, and fall months flying across the United States to honor veterans and educate the public about the history of WWII, while helping to preserve America's rich aviation heritage.

"Madras Maiden" is operated and funded by the Liberty Foundation.

www.libertyfoundation.org