Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
High-altitude bomber

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

Boeing B-17 Fortress
Type: High-altitude strategic bomber.
History: In May 1934 the US Army Air Corps issued a specification for a multi-engined anti-shipping bomber to defend the nation against enemy fleets. The answer was expected to be similar to the Martin B-10, but Boeing proposed four engines in order to carry the same bomb load faster and higher. It was a huge financial risk for the Seattle company but the resulting Model 299 was a giant among combat aircraft with four 750hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines, a crew of eight and stowage for eight 60 llb (272-kg) bombs internally.

The service-test batch of 13 Y1B-17 adopted the Wright Cyclone engine, later versions all being turbocharged for good high-altitude performance. The production B-17B introduced a new nose and bigger rudder and flaps, though the wing loading was conservative and an enduring characteristic of every Flying Fortress was sedate flying.

With the B-17C came a ventral bathtub, flush side guns, armour and self-sealing tanks. In return for combat data 20 were supplied to the RAF, which used them on a few high-altitude daylight raids with 90 Sqn of Bomber Command. It was found that the Norden sight tended to malfunction, the Browning guns to freeze at the high altitude and German fighters to attack from astern in a defensive blind spot.

While surviving Fortress I's operated with Coastal and Middle East forces, the improved B-17D joined the US Army and bore the brunt of early fighting in the Pacific.

Last-minute check before a mission by RAF Coastal Command Fortress IIA (B-17E). Some 200 served there from mid-1942.

But extensive combat experience led to the redesigned B-17E, with powered dorsal, ventral (ball) and tail turrets, a huge fin for high-altitude bombing accuracy and much more armour and equipment. This went into mass production by Boeing, Lockheed-Vega and Douglas-Tulsa. It was the first weapon of the US 8th Bomber Command in England and on 17 August 1942 began three gruelling years of day strategic bombing in Europe.

Olive-drab B-17F's in 1942. Later the 8th AAF Fortress were distinguished by unit insignia readable from a distance; and they were delivered unpainted, because the trail-streaming formations could be seen 100 miles away.

Soon the E gave way to the B-17F, of which 3,405 were built with many detail improvements, including a long Plexiglas nose, paddle-blade propellers and provision for underwing racks.

At the end of 1942 came the final bomber model, the B-17G, with chin turret and flush staggered waist guns. A total of 8,680 G models were made, Boeing's Seattle plant alone turning out 16 a day and the total B-17 run amounted to 12,731.

Sections of B-17G's from the 381st BG outward bound from their base Ridgewell, escorted by a lone P-51B Mustang.

A few B-17F's were converted to XB-40s, carrying extra defensive guns to help protect the main Bomb Groups, while at least 25 were turned into BQ-7 Aphrodite radio-controlled missiles loaded with 12,000 lb of high explosive for use against U-boat shelters. Many F and G models were fitted with H2X radar with the scanner retracting into the nose or rear fuselage, while other versions included the F-9 reconnaissance, XC-108 executive transport, CB-17 utility transport, PB-1W radar early-warning, PB-1G lifeboatcarrying air/sea rescue and OB-17 target drone.

Loading bombs in a B-17G Flying Fortress of the 398rd BG of 8th USAAF.

Users: British RAF, US (AAC/AAF, Navy).

3d model of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

This 3d model is a current element of the WW2 game WW2 Total. The data for production, movement and combat of the Axis and Allies units are here !

'Stop' waves a ground-crewman to the skipper of a red-tailed G-model on the green grass of a British base.