One of two B17 Fortresses named for the famous Springfield Armory as a result of employees contributions. It was named at Westover Army Air Base sometime in 1944 using temporary panel hung on the side for photo purposes.

The numbers shown on the fuselage side reveal it to have been a Vega-built model 44-8158. This aircraft went first to 34th Bomb Group and then on to 490th's 850th Squadron where it was named as "Bobby Sox".