The Boeing B-17G-85DL 'Flying Fortress'. A WW-II heavy bomber. painted as "Sentimental Journal". F 44-83514 flying for the 398th Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 94th Bomb Group. Currently based with the Confederate Air Force, Arizona Wing, Mesa AZ. N9323Z B-17G Limited.

In 1950, this B-17G was transferred to Eglin Field, Florida and converted to a DB-17G for service as an air-sea rescue craft. During the 1950s, it was modified to a DB-17P standard, serving with the 3215th Drone Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. One of its important missions was ÒOperation Greenhouse,Ó the fourth postwar atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted by the United States during the spring of 1951. As a mother ship, the RB-17P directed unmanned, radio controlled B-17 drone aircraft to measure blast and thermal effects and to collect radioactive cloud samples. During the test, a drone aircraft would be taken off by ground control. A Òmother ship,Ó already airborne, would then come from behind, take control of the drone and fly it to the target area.
On 27 January 1959, the aircraft was transferred to military storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. After a few months storage, 83514 was acquired by the Aero Union Corporation of Chico, California, receiving civilian aircraft registration: N-9323Z. For 18 years, the converted bomber flew as a forest fire fighter throughout the United States. -[wiki]

Photo by Bob Nelson circa September 1996 at Hector Field.