Nice little boeing b17 find. (i think)

**381st digger** · 06-02-2010, 08:00 PM

Hi everyone,
Can someone out there confirm this as being from a B17 please.
It came from a 8th air force base a week or so ago.

It has a part number 3-16694 on the lid and part number 3-16695 on the bottom.
If it help at all it has 13 small holes in the bottom and 2 big ones. The larger holes look like they were for screwing it in place somewhere.
On the inside of the box it has white wrighting but it cant be made out

All so found a really nice kit bag locker. Its a cracking find

**Steve T** · 06-02-2010, 08:34 PM

Nice finds 381st.

I can't ID that box but it looks familiar. Let me have a think about it....i've seen one before I am sure.

Nice kit bag lock to

Steve T

**381st digger** · 06-02-2010, 08:41 PM

by Steve T

Nice finds 381st.

I can't ID that box but it looks familiar. Let me have a think about it....i've seen one before I am sure.

Nice kit bag lock to

Steve T

Steve,
I know what you mean iv seen one before to but i just cant remember where

**GasMasksUK** · 06-02-2010, 10:32 PM

I'm taking a wild guess here, but maybe its some sort of electrics box? Pieces of wire might go through all the little holes in the back of it and into the aircraft? I don't have a clue really but it was just a thought

Very nice finds though

Thanks

Danny

**Walkwolf** · 06-02-2010, 10:49 PM

Is it a fuse box ? It kind of looks like one !

**GasMasksUK** · 06-02-2010, 10:51 PM

Thats one of the posibilities that I thought of, the other being that it might have once contained buttons or switches that you wouldnt want to press by mistake

Thanks

Danny

**Walkwolf** · 06-02-2010, 11:53 PM

by GasMasksUK

Thats one of the posibilities that I thought of, the other being that it might have once contained buttons or switches that you wouldnt want to press by mistake

Thanks

Danny

Buttons or switches would have been mounted to the box lid, but here are no holes anywhere that would be large enough to accomodate buttons or switches, or any room for them inside when the lid is closed.

Toggle switches need at least 1/2" clearance height, and 1/4" holes
to be mounted into.

Someone must have schematics or drawings of Boeing electrical
components made for and used in WWII aircraft..............

The B-17 is the first WWII plane that comes to mind !

**Paul B** · 06-03-2010, 01:23 AM

Looks like I'm finally going to have to invest in my own copy of the B-17 Illustrated Parts List on CD.
Between us the number of part numbers I'm requesting identification of is getting to the limit that my contacts can/will provide.

All the best,
PB

**davejb** · 06-03-2010, 01:33 AM

Could it be the arming box for the selector re bomb load?

**Paul B** · 06-03-2010, 01:42 AM

No, it's too small and as mentioned earlier there are no toggle-switch sized holes in the casing.
I'm wondering whether it's one of the boxes for spare fuses that were located throughout a B-17.
I'll have to see if I have any of the Boeing 3-xxxx sub-assembly parts listed to give a clue.

TTFN,
PB