Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater of Operations and dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II. It is the third-most produced bomber of all time, behind the American four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the German multirole, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88. It was also employed as a transport, antisubmarine aircraft, drone controller, and search-and-rescue aircraft.
"B-17" redirects here. For other uses, see B17 (disambiguation). "Flying Fortress" redirects here. For the film, see Flying Fortress (film). "B-17 Flying Fortress" redirects here. For the video game, see B-17 Flying Fortress (video game).
In a USAAC competition, Boeing's prototype Model 299/XB-17 outperformed two other entries but crashed, losing the initial 200-bomber contract to the Douglas B-18 Bolo. Still, the Air Corps ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation, which were introduced into service in 1938. The B-17 evolved through numerous design advances[4][5] but from its inception, the USAAC (from 1941 the United States Army Air Forces, USAAF) promoted the aircraft as a strategic weapon. It was a relatively fast, high-flying, long-range bomber with heavy defensive armament at the expense of bombload. It also developed a reputation for toughness based upon stories and photos of badly damaged B-17s safely returning to base.
The B-17 saw early action in the Pacific War, where it conducted raids against Japanese shipping and airfields.[6] But it was primarily employed by the USAAF in the daylight component of the Allied strategic bombing campaign over Europe, complementing RAF Bomber Command's night bombers in attacking German industrial, military and civilian targets.[7] Of the roughly 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Nazi Germany and its occupied territories by Allied aircraft, over 640 000 tons (42.6%) were dropped from B-17s.[8]
As of February 2024, six aircraft remain airworthy, none of which had been flown in combat. Dozens more are in storage or on static display, the oldest of which is The Swoose, a B-17D which was flown in combat in the Pacific on the first day of the United States' involvement in World War II.
Chief Seattle – sponsored by the city of Seattle, she disappeared (MIA) on 14 August 1942 flying a recon mission for the 19th BG, 435th BS[185] and the crew declared dead on 7 December 1945.
[184]
Hell's Kitchen – B-17F 41-24392 was one of only three early B-17F's in 414th BS to complete more than 100 combat missions.
[186]
Mary Ann – a B-17D that was part of an unarmed flight which left Hamilton Air Field, Novato, California on 6 December 1941 en route to in Hawaii, arriving during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The plane and her crew were immediately forced into action on Wake Island and in the Philippines during the outbreak of World War II. She became famous when her exploits were featured in Air Force, one of the first of the patriotic war films released in 1943.[187]
Hickam Field
– one of the first B-17s to complete a tour of duty of 25 missions in the 8th Air Force and the subject of a feature film, now completely restored and on display since 17 May 2018[188] at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.
Memphis Belle
Milk Wagon - B-17G. Over the course of its tour of duty, Milk Wagon set a record in the 3rd Division, possibly the war, for 129 missions without aborting for mechanical failure.
[189]
– B-17C. Previously named 'Pamela'. Stationed in Mackay, Queensland, Australia during World War II. On 14 June 1943, crashed shortly after takeoff from Mackay while ferrying U.S. forces personnel back to Port Moresby, with 40 of the 41 people on board killed. It remains the worst air disaster in Australian history. The sole survivor, Foye Roberts, married an Australian and returned to the States. He died in Wichita Falls, Texas, on 4 February 2004.[190]
Miss Every Morning Fix'n
Murder Inc. – A B-17 bombardier wearing the name of the B-17 "Murder Inc." on his jacket was used for propaganda in German newspapers.
[191]
Royal Flush – B-17F 42-6087 from the and commanded on one mission by highly decorated USAAF officer Robert Rosenthal, she was the lone surviving 100th BG B-17 of 10 October 1943 raid against Münster to return to the unit's base at RAF Thorpe Abbotts.[193]
100th Bomb Group
– B-17F featured in the June 1944 issue of Popular Science magazine[194] and the 1945 issue of Flying magazine.[195] Articles discuss mobile recovery crews following October 1943 belly landing at Tannington, England.
Sir Baboon McGoon
– Initially nicknamed Ole Betsy while in service, The Swoose is the only remaining intact B-17D, built in 1940, the oldest surviving Flying Fortress, and the only surviving B-17 to have seen action in the Philippines campaign (1941–1942); she is in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum and is being restored for final display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.[196] The Swoose was flown by Frank Kurtz, father of actress Swoosie Kurtz, who named his daughter after the bomber.
The Swoose
Ye Olde Pub – A highly damaged B-17 piloted by that was not shot down by Franz Stigler, as memorialized in the painting A Higher Call by John D. Shaw.[197]
Charlie Brown
5 Grand – 5,000th B-17 made, emblazoned with Boeing employee signatures, served with the 333rd Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group in Europe. Damaged and repaired after gear-up landing, transferred to 388th Bomb Group. Returned from duty following , flown for war bonds tour, then stored at Kingman, Arizona. Following an unsuccessful bid for museum preservation, the aircraft was scrapped.[198]
V-E Day
Brigadier General (flying as co-pilot) – awarded posthumously for remaining at controls so others could escape damaged aircraft.[201]
Frederick Castle
2nd Lt (bombardier) – awarded posthumously for tending to injured crew and giving up his parachute to another[204]
David R. Kingsley
1st Lt (bombardier) – posthumously, the first airman in the European theater to be awarded the Medal of Honor[207]
Jack W. Mathis
Brigadier General Commanding officer of V Bomber Command, killed while leading small force in raid on Rabaul – awarded posthumously[215]
Kenneth Walker
Maj (pilot) – earned on unescorted reconnaissance mission in Pacific, same mission as Sarnoski[216]
Jay Zeamer Jr.
Crew: 10: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier/nose gunner, flight engineer/top turret gunner, radio operator, waist gunners (2), gunner, tail gunner[222]
ball turret
Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft 9 in (31.62 m)
Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
Wing area: 1,420 sq ft (131.92 m2)
Empty weight: 36,135 lb (16,391 kg)
Gross weight: 54,000 lb (24,500 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 65,500 lb (29,700 kg)
Aspect ratio: 7.57
Powerplant: 4 × -97 "Cyclone" turbosupercharged radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each
Wright R-1820
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Hamilton-Standard
Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[42]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Air warfare of World War II
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress variants
B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces
Accidents and incidents involving the B-17 Flying Fortress
Related development
Related lists
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Gansz, David M. B-17 Production – Boeing Aircraft: 4 January 1944 – 26 February 1944 B-17G-35 to G-45 42-31932 – 42-32116 and 42-97058 – 42-97407. New Jersey: First Mountain Belgians, 2020. 978-1734380606.
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