The Cursed B-17 That Fought 17 Zeros Alone

In the spring of 1943, a forgotten B-17 Flying Fortress sat in a scrapyard at Port Moresby. Its number was 666. Superstitious airmen avoided it. Mechanics considered it useless. Commanders thought it was finished. But Captain Jay Zeamer saw something different. Together with a crew of misfits, Zeamer rebuilt the abandoned bomber, added an incredible number of machine guns, and turned the so-called “Queen of Scrap” into one of the most feared aircraft in the Pacific. On June 16, 1943, this lone B-17 was sent on a near-suicidal reconnaissance mission over Bougainville. Then 17 Japanese Zero fighters came for them. What followed became one of the most unbelievable air battles of World War II: a crippled bomber, a dying bombardier, a wounded pilot, and a crew that refused to surrender even when their aircraft was being torn apart in the sky. This is the story of B-17 number 666, Jay Zeamer, Joseph Sarnoski, and the legendary “Porcupine” crew that fought through impossible odds and brought home photographs that helped change the course of the Pacific War. If you enjoy true stories of courage, impossible missions, World War II aviation, and forgotten heroes, remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more historical stories. #WWII #B17 #FlyingFortress #PacificWar #AviationHistory #WorldWar2 #MilitaryHistory #JayZeamer #JosephSarnoski #WarStories