The Swoose

The Swoose is a Boeing B-17D-BO Flying Fortress, USAAF serial number 40-3097, that saw extensive use in the Southwest Pacific theatre of World War II and survived to become the oldest B-17 still intact. It is the only early "shark fin"-tailed B-17 known to exist, and the only surviving B-17 to have seen action in the 1941–42 Philippines Campaign, operating on the first day of the United States' entry into the war. After that campaign it ended up in Australia and used for VIP duties until it fell out of service. After the war it was rescued from being scrapped, eventually making its way into the hands of the National Museum of the Air Force, where in the 21st century it is being restored for display.