Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - Heavy Bomber Aircraft - History, Specs and Pictures - Military Aircraft, Helicopters and Drones View All Images (30) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber Aircraft (1937) The legendary Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accounted for over 290,000 sorties with 640,000 tons of ordnance dropped during World War 2. Staff Writer (Updated: 4/25/2016): Though the Consolidated B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is often regarded as the more important heavy bomber for the American Allies in the Second World War, accounting for over 290,000 sorties against ground installations and dropping over 640,000 tons of bombs. By war's end, the B-17 Flying Fortress was a mainstay in both the Pacific and European Theaters of War. The system became the symbol of American bomber might in the Second World War and continues with its legendary status even today.

Incidentally, the name "Flying Fortress" is purported to have come from one of the reporters present during the unveiling of the machine at the Boeing plant, remarking as to how the aircraft looked like a 15-ton "flying fortress". Designed to a US requirement for a four-engine bomber capable of long distance travel with a full 2,000lb bombload and reach speeds between 200 and 250 miles per hour. The result was the Boeing Model 229 which first flew in 1934, though was later lost to pilot error. Nevertheless, the US Army Air Corps pursued the design with an order for further developmental models fitted with differing powerplants. Early B-17 models were mostly developmental production variants that included the additions of seal-sealing fuel tanks, better armor protection and a redesigned tail. The initial definitive Flying Fortress model would arrive with 512 examples of the B-17E model which were the first to incorporated the twin .50 caliber tail armament for defense. This model was followed by the similar B-17F models of which 3,405 were produced. This latter model featured revised defensive armament positions.

Often regarded as the ultimate B-17 production model, the B-17G featured the identifiable and effective Bendix powered chin turret fitted with 2 x 12.7mm machine guns under the nose. Revised turbochargers and an increase to 13 .50 caliber machine guns also arrived with this G model. In the end, the B-17G would account for over 8,600 units with production split between Boeing (4,035 samples), Douglas (2,395 samples) and Lockheed Vega (2,250 samples). B-17 Flying Fortresses followed common practice in that they flew in what was known as the "box formation". This formation allowed every gunner on board the aircraft to bring their guns to bear to any position needed.

Gunner positions on the B-17 included a top turret gunner manning 2 x 12.7mm machine guns, a tail gunner manning 2 x 12.7mm machine guns, a belly gunner manning 2 x 12.7mm machine guns, 2 x cheek gun emplacements, staggered waist gunner positions each manning a single 12.7mm machine gun and the Bendix chin turret. A limited-arc-of-fire, single 12.7mm machine gun position at the radio operators area was available in early models but later removed. The flight engineer doubled as the top turret gunner while the bombardier and navigator in the nose section doubled as front gunners. The belly turret gunner was generally of a small stature to be able to fit into the limited-space turret system. All positions were afforded some type of built-in armor protection but this varied extensively by position. The bombardier and navigator were awarded the best views of the sky through the large plexiglas nose. The bombardier sat on a type of swiveling stool with the fabled Norden Bombsight before him.

The navigator sat off-set to his rear at a small map-filled desk. Both were supplied with defensive .50 caliber machine guns with the Bendix chin turret under the bombardiers control in the G model and onwards. Access to the nose was accomplished through a smallish passage way underneath the main flight deck. B-17 Flying Fortress – Top Facts About the WWII American Bomber B-17 Flying Fortress – Top Facts About the WWII American Bomber SHARE: Facebook Twitter Strategic bombing missions had properly begun during World War 1 and the post-war years saw a number of world powers working on the development of state-of-the-art bomber fleets. During the month of August 1934, in anticipation of rising tensions in the Pacific, the US Army Air Corps proposed a new multi-engine bomber that would replace the outdated Martin B-10. This was to be the B-17 Flying Fortress whose primary purpose would be to reinforce bases in Hawaii, Alaska & Panama. Enter the B-17 Flying Fortress. Boeing competed against both Martin and Douglas for the contract to build 200 units of such a bomber but failed to deliver as the first B-17 Flying Fortress crashed.

The Air Corps loved the design so much that they ordered 13 units for evaluation and analysis. After a string of tests, it was introduced in 1938; the B-17 was now the prime bomber for all kinds of bombing raids. A B-17 Dropping Bombs Here are some amazing things you probably won’t know about this mighty bomber: 1. The Prototype The prototype B-17 Bomber was built at the company’s own expense and was a fusion of the features of Boeing XB-15 and Boeing 247 Transport Aircraft. Initially, it could carry a payload of 2200 kg along with 5x .30-inch machine guns. The 4x Hornet Radial Engines could produce 750 HP at 2100 meters. Crashed Model 299 2. The Name The name Flying Fortress was coined by a reporter of the Seattle Times and from there on became the trademark for Boeing. The company lost the tender because the model crashed but the Air Corps designated a special F1 Fund for the procurement of 13 B-17s on an experimental basis.

A Depiction of the B-17 (Copyright PD-USGov-Military-Air Force) 3. Production on a Massive Scale The B-17 Flying Fortress was used in every single World War II combat zone and by the time production ended in 1945, Boeing along with Douglas & Vega had built 12,731 bombers. A B-17 Production Plant 4. The Mighty Eight The US 8th Airforce arrived in England in 1942 with the sole mission of destroying Germany’s ability to wage war. They would use any means necessary, be it carpet bombing or precision bombing. On August 17th, 1942 18x B-17s launched a bombing raid over Nazi-held territory in Europe, hitting railway networks and strategic points. At first, the Luftwaffe was unprepared and didn’t know how to counter the raids but then improved tactics brought the loss ratio down to 10:15. Here are some notable losses: September 6th, 1943, 400 bombers sent out to attack a ball-bearing plant, 45 were lost.

October 4th, 291 B-17s sent to the same location, 60 were lost. January 11th, 1944, 600 B-17s sent to various industries. Bad weather brought down this number to 238 out of which 60 were lost. 5. Head On The Luftwaffe found that attacking the B-17 Flying Fortress head on proved more fruitful and therefore the Americans developed the term “Bandits at 12 O’ Clock High” for oncoming Luftwaffe fighters. A Damaged B-17 A single B-17 Flying Fortress would cost US$238, 329 in 1945. 7. Models Although various models of the B-17 Flying Fortress were produced, the B-17G was the one that was liked the most. Almost 9000 B-17Gs were produced, the most of any variant because of their superior specs. A B-17G weighed 65,000 pounds and could cruise at a speed of 150 mph, peaking at 287 mph.

It could attain a service ceiling of 35,600 feet, and carry a 9600 pounds payload. The 4x Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines could produce 1200 HP each! B-17 Variants 8. A Rugged Machine One particular B-17 Bomber survived a bombing mission and flew back to safety with 180 flak holes and only 2 out of 4 engines. 75 years later, the veteran wrote a thank you letter to Boeing. 9. B-17 Drones During World War II, almost 25 B-17s were fitted with radio controls & cameras, filled with 20,000 pounds worth explosives and named Aphrodite Missiles. Subsequently, Operation Aphrodite was launched, during which the US Airforce carried out a precision bombing against bunkers and hardened enemy targets. Initially, the operation was a success, but as a whole, out of the 14 missions flown, none could completely neutralize their respective targets. 10.

Combined Bomber Offensive During the month of January 1943, the Allies decided to carry out the Combined Bomber Offensive against the Germans. The B-17 was chosen by the Americans while the British primarily chose the Wellington or Lancaster bomber. The US would attack during the day while the British would carry out operations during the night. The result was severe damage to Nazi morale as well as to the capability to fight back. The Luftwaffe fighters managed to inflict considerable damage to the bombers but they never really recovered to their previous glory. B-17s on a bombing run 11. Bringing it down After a detailed analysis of the fighter attacks on B-17s, it was found by the Germans that on average about 20 hits with 20mm shells were required to bring down a B-17. During the war, pilots could only hit with 2% accuracy so a pilot had to fire almost a thousand rounds before a bomber could be brought down! A B-17 shot down by Me-262 12. Captured Almost 40 B-17s were captured by the Luftwaffe. They were re-painted and used by the Luftwaffe for training exercises.

In addition, they were reverse engineered to improve existing German bombers. Similarly, the Soviets acquired B-17s that had landed in their territories due to mechanical failure and by 1946 they had reverse engineered both the B-17 and the B-29 to produce their very own Tu-4. 13. VIP transport After the war had ended, many B-17s were converted into commercial aircraft and purchased for VIP transport and rescue missions. Still, B-17s were used during the Korean War and for analyzing nuclear mushroom clouds for experimental purposes. 14. They were everywhere The B-17 was operated by almost all countries either militarily or commercially in Asia, North America, South America and Europe due to their versatility. Sally B 15. The last of the B-17s The last airworthy B-17 left in Europe is known as Sally B. It is now based in Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England, and still flies at airshows across the UK and Europe. The aircraft saw limited action during WWII as it was delivered too late in 1945.

It is actively used during film shoots & newsreels, there are more flying examples in the United States. FEATURED VIDEO Boeing: Historical Snapshot: B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 Flying Fortress Historical Snapshot On July 28, 1935, a four-engine plane took off from Boeing Field in south Seattle on its first flight. Rolling out of the Boeing hangar, it was simply known as the Model 299. Seattle Times reporter Richard Smith dubbed the new plane, with its many machine-gun mounts, the “Flying Fortress,” a name that Boeing quickly adopted and trademarked. The U.S. Army Air Corps designated the plane as the B-17. In response to the Army’s request for a large, multiengine bomber, the prototype, financed entirely by Boeing, went from design board to flight test in less than 12 months. The B-17 was a low-wing monoplane that combined aerodynamic features of the XB-15 giant bomber , still in the design stage, and the Model 247 transport .

The B-17 was the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit and was armed with bombs and five .30-caliber machine guns mounted in clear “blisters.” The first B-17s saw combat in 1941, when the British Royal Air Force took delivery of several B-17s for high-altitude missions. As World War II intensified, the bombers needed additional armament and armor. The B-17E, the first mass-produced model Flying Fortress, carried nine machine guns and a 4,000-pound bomb load. It was several tons heavier than the prototypes and bristled with armament. It was the first Boeing airplane with the distinctive — and enormous — tail for improved control and stability during high-altitude bombing. Each version was more heavily armed. In the Pacific, the planes earned a deadly reputation with the Japanese, who dubbed them “four-engine fighters.” The Fortresses were also legendary for their ability to stay in the air after taking brutal poundings. Seventy-five years after the B-17’s first flight, an 88 year-old veteran sent The Boeing Company a letter.

After explaining how he returned to England after a bombing raid over Germany with 179 flak holes and only two out of the four engines, he wrote: “I’m glad to be alive. Thank you for making such a good airplane.” Gen. Carl Spaatz, the American air commander in Europe, said, “Without the B-17 we may have lost the war.” Boeing Plant 2 built a total of 6,981 B-17s in various models, and another 5,745 were built under a nationwide collaborative effort by Douglas and Lockheed (Vega). Only a few B-17s survive today, featured at museums and air shows; most were scrapped at the end of the war. Technical Specifications 1000+ images about B-17 Flying Fortress on Pinterest | Planes, World war and Aviation Forward Taken by my Great Uncle during World War Two. This was taken from a gunners position on top of the aircraft. This photo was taken after a flack attack from German ground troops. I have come to find out that there are not many photos left of this squadron and that not many were taken.

Sadly my Great Uncle has passed away and his wife and his brother gave me permission to share this photo with A. net. USA - Air Force Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (299P) In Flight Germany, 1943 See More Seen These Pics? The Legendary B-17 "Flying Fortress" Bomber SHARE: Facebook Twitter The Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber’s first flight was on 28th July 1935. In total, 12,731 units were buillt between 1936-1945! The nickname “Flying Fortress” was concocted by an American reporter, then the Boeing Company registered the name as a trademark. The first 18 B-17E bombers arrived to equip the US 8th Air Force units in mid-1942 and flew their first mission against rail yards in occupied France on 17th August 1942. With the newly devised Norden Bombsight, this mission was much more successful than the British experience earlier in the European War. The B-17 was a fast, high-flying, long-range bomber that was able to defend itself.

It carried a superb bomb load and was able to return home despite extensive battle damage. Its reputation quickly took on mythic proportions, and widely circulated stories and photos of notable numbers and examples of B-17s surviving battle damage increased its iconic status – B-17 “fortress” fully deserved its nickname. As of May 2015, ten aircraft remain airworthy. None of them are combat veterans. Additionally, a few dozen more are in storage or on static display. The oldest is a D-series combat veteran with service in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Boeing Y1B-17 (pre-production version of the B-17) in flight [US Air Force]. B-17 carried General MacArthur to observe a parachute invasion of Nadzab. 5 September 1943. Bomber belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group 63rd Bomb Squadron [ Via ]. Boeing B-17G-75-BO (43-37877)on fire and going down near Merseburg, Germany. 30 November 1944 [U.S. Air Force].

US bombers B-17 “Flying Fortress” during the bombing of Brasov, Romania [Via]. Crews examine flak damage to B-17G Fortress at RAF Bassingbourn, England. Damage sustained on a mission to Munich, Germany, 6 July 1944. Note “Mickey” Pathfinder radar dome in place of ball turret [United States National Archives]. US bombers B-17 “Flying Fortress” on the airfield at Poltava [ Via ]. Burning B-17 “Flying Fortress” was shot down by a direct hit from anti-aircraft missile over the Ruhland [ Via ]. Bombers B-17F “Flying Fortress” of the 390th Bomb Group (8AF)bombs their targets in France [ Via ]. B-17G formation of the 91st Bomb Group, 324th Bomb Squadron [ Via ]. Boeing B-17G of the 95th Bomb Group Raid in 1944 [ Via ]. Bombers B-17 “Flying Fortress” under anti-aircraft fire over Debrecen, Hungary [ Via ]. Bombardier of the “Flying Fortress” returns from a mission.

In the background are visible other B-17s of the 96th Bomb Group US Air Force [ Via ]. B-17G Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are escorted by a P-51B of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Summer-Fall 1944. [ Via ]. B-17 “Flying Fortress” with a damaged tail (by German fighter missiles) in flight near airfield Villaorba, Italy [US Air Force]. B-17 bombers of the 303rd Bomb Group flying in the gaps of the German anti-aircraft fire [ Via ]. The burning bomber B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Nis, Yugoslavia [ Via ]. United States planes in echelon formation. B-24 “Liberator”, Douglas DC-4 and B-17 “Flying Fortress” [ Via ]. B-17 Flying Fortress bomber at rest, silhouetted by the setting sun, Langley Field, Virginia, United States, July 1942. Note B-18 Bolo and two A-20 Havoc aircraft in the background [ Via ].

Wreck of B-17C bomber at Hickam Field, US Territory of Hawaii. 7 December 1941 (United States National Archives). B-17E Flying Fortress converted to XB-38 with Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engines as an experimental testbed in the event the radial engines became unavailable, 1942 [ Via ]. B-17F “Flying Fortress” aircraft “Spotted Cow”, assembly ship of 384th Bomber Group, 547th Bomber Squadron, based in RAF Grafton Underwood, England. 1943 [ Via ]. B-17F “Mary Ruth – Memories of Mobile” and the 401st Bomb Squadron flying toward the German U-boat pens at Lorient, France. 17 May 1943. This photo was taken from B-17 “Memphis Belle” on her last combat sortie (United States National Archives).

B-17 Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group nearing the Dornier Assembly Plant at Meulan, France at dawn, Aug 13, 1943 (United States National Archives) Overhead view of the B-17H bomber in flight (US Air Force). B-17F Fortress flying over Monte Cassino as smoke rises from the abbey. 15 February 1944 (US Air Force) B-17G Fortress ‘Miss Donna Mae II’ drifted under another bomber on a bomb run over Berlin, 19 May 1944. A 1,000 lb bomb from above tore off the left stabilizer and sent the plane into an uncontrollable spin. All 11 were killed (United States National Archives) FEATURED VIDEO B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II Guns: 13 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns Bombs: 4,500-8,000 lbs.

depending on range B-17 Flying Fortress - Design & Development: Seeking an effective heavy bomber to replace the Martin B-10, the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) issued a call for proposals on August 8, 1934. Requirements for the new aircraft included the ability to cruise at 200 mph at 10,000 ft. for ten hours with a "useful" bomb load. While the USAAC desired a range of 2,000 miles and top speed of 250 mph, these were not required. Eager to enter the competition, Boeing assembled a team of engineers to develop a prototype. Led by E. Gifford Emery and Edward Curtis Wells, the team began drawing inspiration from other company designs such as the Boeing 247 transport and XB-15 bomber. Constructed at the company's expense, the team developed the Model 299 which was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1690 engines and was capable of lifting a 4,800 lb. bomb load. For defense, the aircraft mounted five machine guns.

This imposing look led Seattle Times reporter Richard Williams to dub the aircraft the "Flying Fortress." Seeing the advantage to the name, Boeing quickly trademarked it and applied to the new bomber. On July 28, 1935, the prototype first flew with Boeing test pilot Leslie Tower at the controls. With the initial flight a success, the Model 299 was flown to Wright Field, OH for trials. At Wright Field the Boeing Model 299 competed against the twin-engined Douglas DB-1 and Martin Model 146 for the USAAC contract. Competing in the fly-off, the Boeing entry displayed superior performance to the competition and impressed Major General Frank M. Andrews with the range that a four-engine aircraft offered. This opinion was shared by the procurement officers and Boeing was awarded a contract for 65 aircraft. With this in hand, development of the aircraft continued through the fall until an accident on October 30 destroyed the prototype and halted the program. B-17 Flying Fortress - Rebirth: As result of the crash, Chief of Staff General Malin Craig canceled the contract and purchased aircraft from Douglas instead.

Still interested in the Model 299, now dubbed YB-17, the USAAC utilized a loophole to purchase 13 aircraft from Boeing in January 1936. While 12 were assigned to the 2nd Bombardment Group for developing bombing tactics, the last aircraft was given to the Material Division at Wright Field for flight testing. A fourteenth aircraft was also built and upgraded with turbochargers which increased speed and ceiling. Delivered in January 1939, it was dubbed B-17A and became the first operational type. B-17 Flying Fortress - An Evolving Aircraft Only one B-17A was built as Boeing engineers worked tirelessly to improve the aircraft as it moved into production. Including a larger rudder and flaps, 39 B-17Bs were built before switching to the B-17C which possessed an altered gun arrangement. The first model to see large-scale production , the B-17E (512 aircraft) had the fuselage extended by ten feet as well as the addition of more powerful engines, a larger rudder, a tail gunner position, and an improved nose.

This was further refined to the B-17F (3,405) which appeared in 1942. The definitive variant, the B-17G (8,680) featured 13 guns and a crew of ten. B-17 Flying Fortress - Operational History The first combat use of the B-17 came not with the USAAC (US Army Air Forces after 1941), but with the Royal Air Force. Lacking a true heavy bomber at the start of World War II , the RAF purchased 20 B-17Cs. Designating the aircraft Fortress Mk I, the aircraft performed poorly during high-altitude raids in the summer of 1941. After eight aircraft were lost, the RAF transferred the remaining aircraft to Coastal Command for long-range maritime patrols. Later in the war, additional B-17s were purchased for use with Coastal Command and the aircraft was credited with sinking 11 u-boats. B-17 Flying Fortress - Backbone of the USAAF With the US entry into the conflict after the attack on Pearl Harbor , the USAAF began deploying B-17s to England as part of the Eighth Air Force.

On August 17, 1942, American B-17s flew their first raid over occupied Europe when they struck railroad yards at Rouen-Sotteville, France. As American strength grew, the USAAF took over daylight bombing from the British who had switched to night attacks due to heavy losses. In the wake of the January 1943 Casablanca Conference , American and British bombing efforts were directed into Operation Pointblank which sought to establish air superiority over Europe. Key to the success of Pointblank was attacks against the German aircraft industry and Luftwaffe airfields. While some initially believed that the B-17's heavy defensive armament would protect it against enemy fighter attacks, missions over Germany quickly disproved this notion. As the Allies lacked a fighter with sufficient range to protect bomber formations to and from targets in Germany, B-17 losses quickly mounted during 1943. Bearing the brunt of the USAAF's strategic bombing workload along with the B-24 Liberator , B-17 formations took shocking casualties during missions such as the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raids.

Prev B17 Flying Fortress - History Learning Site B17 Flying Fortress Citation: C N Trueman "B17 Flying Fortress" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 19 May 2015. 16 Aug 2016. The Boeing B17 Flying Fortress was the main bomber used by the American Air Force in Europe during the bombing campaign against Nazi Germany . The B17 crews flew thousands of missions over Germany and paid a high price for doing so. After the carnage of World War One , many nations looked to a new form of military hardware that would ensure the horrors of trench warfare were never relived. By the 1930’s there was a general belief that the bomber would always get through and the devastation of Guernica by the German Condor Legion seemed to emphasise the sheer power bombers could have. On August 8th, 1934, the American Army Air Corps put out a tender called ‘Proposal 32-26’ for a 250 mph bomber with a range of 2000 miles and an operating ceiling of 10,000 feet.

An ailing Boeing Company, headed by Edward C Wells, took up the challenge. Wells used near enough all the spare capital Boeing had – and the manpower – to complete the task. The name of the project was Model 2-99. In July 1935, Boeing Model 2-99 was rolled out. It was an all-metal four-engine bomber, weighing in at 15 tons. Its specifications were well above those laid down by the US Army Air Corps. The plane first flew in Seattle and one watching journalist is said to have commented that the plane, when in the air, was a flying fortress due to the number of machine guns it carried. The nickname stuck. However, the Boeing 2-99 had competition for the contract. Martin’s B12 and the Douglas DB1 were rivals. On October 30th 1935, during evaluation exercises for the US Army Air Corps, the 2-99 crashed shortly after take-off killing its experienced two-man crew. The US Army Air Corps then disqualified the 2-99 and the twin-engine Douglas DB1 won.

However, a small number of 2-99’s were ordered “for further evaluation” by the Air Force. As the situation in Europe became more tense, the Douglas DB1 proved to be under-powered. By now Boeing had upgraded the 2-99 to the YB17 model. This had super-charged engines and had a flying ceiling of 30,000 feet – in excess of what the Douglas could do. As war approached in Europe, the American Army Air Corps only had 30 B17’s. In 1941 , as part of the Lend-Lease deal signed between F D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill , B17’s were sent to Britain to help out Bomber Command . In total, 20 were sent to Britain. It had an inauspicious debut. The first one to fly to Britain crashed. On July 8th 1941, two B17’s went on a mission with the RAF to attack the naval base at Wilhelmshaven. During the flight, its guns froze and its bombs were dropped off target. The RAF responded to this by putting more armour on the plane, more weapons and keeping its flight path at a lower altitude.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941 , B17’s had already been sent there. Based at the Hickham Air Base, they were attacked while on the ground and 12 bombers were lost. However, the attack on Pearl Harbour pushed America into its full military production capability and Boeing was told to produce as many B17’s as was possible. The US 8th Air Force was based in Britain. It was to be the main US input to the bombing of Nazi-occupied Europe. The RAF decided to attack Germany at night. This, they believed, would give their bombers greater protection against German fighter planes. The US 8th Air Force decided on daylight raids as they believed that this allowed for precision raids and precision bombing. Therefore, they reckoned, fewer raids would be needed in the long term for bombing to succeed. The first full B17 mission against Germany took place in August 1942 . The B17’s flew in a wedge formation that should have given them massive fire power against any attackers. However, German fighter pilots quickly learned that a frontal attack effectively neutralised the huge armaments of the B17’s that were primarily carried on the sides of the bombers.

In January 1943 , the Casablanca war conference took place. At this meeting the ‘Casablanca Directive’ was issued by Roosevelt and Churchill . It was a decision to launch a bombing attack on Germany that would destroy Germany’s industrial base. On August 17th 1943, B17’s attacked the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. This was a very important target as 52% of all of Germany’s ball-bearings were produced there. It was also a massively defended factory. 211 B17’s took part in the raid – 60 planes were lost, a loss rate of just under 30%. In 1943, it was estimated that 1/3rd of all B17 crews would not survive the war and the huge losses sustained in daylight raids nearly caused an end to such raids. However, a study done by the 8th Air Force in 1943, also showed that over 50% of plane losses were as a result of B17’s leaving the protection of their formation. In 1944, a revised pattern of flying was introduced.

B17’s had traditionally flown in wedges of 18. Now they were to fly in a pack of 36. There would be three flights of 12 B17’s tightly packed together, one on top of the other. This gave the flight of 36 huge firepower especially as the new Model G had been given more fire power including more machine guns at the front of the plane to fight off frontal assaults. The Model G now carried thirteen .50 calibre machine guns giving each plane a massively increased firing capacity. However, flying so tightly also led to collisions. By 1944 , the B17’s also had fighter protection in the shape of the awesome Mustang fighter. The Mustangs carried extra fuel tanks and could accompany the B17’s deep into Germany. With their increased fire power and their new bodyguards, the B17 could now concentrate on two primary targets – what was left of the Luftwaffe’s factories and Berlin itself. In February 1944, the B17’s went all out to destroy the factories that kept the Luftwaffe flying. In February ‘Big Week’ took place.

In all, 3,500 B17s were involved in bombing raids on factories in Germany. 244 planes were lost (about 7% of the planes taking part) in just a week but the back of the factories producing for the Luftwaffe had been fatally broken. While the Lutwaffe had planes, many were forced to stay on the ground as they had no parts to keep them airborne. Berlin was the next target. This was probably the most defended city in the world at this time. The Luftwaffe had kept what reserves it had for planes to defend the city. On March 6th, 1944 , in a massive raid on Berlin, 69 B17’s were lost – but the Luftwaffe lost 160 planes. Whereas the 8th Air Force could recover from these losses, the Luftwaffe could not. By the end of the war, The 8th Air Force and the RAF had destroyed 70% of Berlin. After Berlin, the 8th Air Force turned its attention to Germany’s synthetic oil factories. Attacks on these factories started on May 12th.

In just one month, the USAAF dropped 5000 tons of bombs on these factories. In August 1944, 26,000 tons were dropped and in November 1944, the attacks peaked at 35,000 tons. The attacks decimated the Germany military’s ability to move. The Battle of the Bulge , Hitler’s attempt to push back the advancing Allies in Europe, ended because of the lack of fuel to keep his tanks moving. Albert Speer, in his book “Inside the Third Reich” commented after the war that there were 300 King Tiger tanks at Munich rail station waiting to be moved to the front – but the Germans had neither the railways nor the fuel needed to move these tanks around; both targets of Allied bombing. However, the raids on the oil factories took their toll – 922 B17’s were lost in total with the loss of nearly 10,000 men killed, wounded or captured. The bombing raids on Germany by the 8th Air Force and the RAF’s Bomber Command , took the heart out of Germany’s industrial production.

By September 1944 , Germany had lost 75% of its fuel production. Out of the 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Germany, the B17 dropped 500,000 tons. The 8th Air Force had fired 99 million rounds of ammunition during these flights and it is thought that 20,000 German planes were destroyed. In total, over 12,000 B17’s were built in the war and nearly 250,000 Americans experienced flying in them. 46,500 were either killed or wounded. However, the part played by the B17 in the European theatre of war was of great importance. The B-17 Flying Fortress - World War II Long Range Heavy Bomber The B-17 Flying Fortress – Symbol Of American Air Power Posted on by JetAviator7 During World War II the B-17 Flying Fortress was flown by approximately 250,00 Americans in both the European and Pacific theaters of war.

The B-17 was originally designed by Boeing, made its first flight on July 28th, 1935, and entered service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1938. 12,731 B-17s were manufactured between 1936 and 1945, and the last B-17 was retired from the Brazilian Air Force in 1968. The aircraft was designed to carry a large bomb payload over long distances with the ability to sustain heavy damage and have a basic design allowing it to be mass produced during the Second World War. Each aircraft cost approximately $ 240,000 and has become an icon of American air power and a symbol of the Air Force. The B-17 Flying Fortress was used for daylight precision bombing of strategic targets in Germany and in the Pacific to bomb Japanese shipping and Japanese air fields. To get a taste of what the air campaign was like, consider the 1943 raid on a ball bearing plant in Schweinfurt, Germany.

In all 211 B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft took part in the raid during which 30% of the aircraft were lost (60 B-17s). The large number of aircraft participating in these raids departing from England to attack targets in Europe lead to the description of these raids as “The Aluminum Overcast”. The B-17 Flying Fortress carried a crew of 10 consisting of: Pilot; Bottom Ball Turret Gunner; Tail Gunner. The aircraft was powered by 4 Wright R-1820-97 “Cyclone” Supercharged Radial Engines rated at 1,200hp each. It cruised at 182 mph and had a range of 2,000 miles carrying a 6,000 pound bomb load and had a service ceiling of 35,000 feet. Armed with 13 .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns it was a formidable aircraft to attack. B-17 Flying Fortress In Flight Production took place at a Boeing factory in Burbank, CA, and in order to protect the plant from attack by Japan the factory was covered with camouflage to hide it from air attack.

Here is a photo of how the plant looked in those days: Boeing Plant In Burbank CA Under Camouflauge During World War II You can read more about how military plants were hidden during World War II at “ Hiding In Plain Sight “. Today a number of these aircraft are still flying, including “The Aluminum Overcast” belonging to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Here is a video of a flight in this aircraft: You can read more about this aircraft and see its 2012 schedule at the EAA B-17 Flying Fortress website . For more information on flying this marvelous aircraft you can find this interesting hardcover book Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Manual: 1935 Onwards on Amazon.

Question: Name the manufactureers of the American World war II bomber the Flying Fortress
Answer: BOEING