| Of all the heavy bombers that flew in WWII, | | | | formation of B-17s without numerous holes in |
| the B-17 Flying Fortress was without a doubt | | | | the fuselage of his aircraft. Most of the |
| one of the two most famous, the other being | | | | bombers of any type downed by fighters were |
| the Lancaster. The prototype first flew in | | | | stragglers; those that could not maintain or |
| 1935 but it would be another five years | | | | regain their position in formation as a |
| before the B-17 was delivered in any | | | | result of damage from flak encountered during |
| quantity. They first saw action with the RAF | | | | their bombing runs.Built mostly over 3 years |
| in 1941. The first order filled by Boeing | | | | from mid-1942 to mid-1945, these four engine |
| was for 39 B-17Bs with turbo-charged Wright | | | | heavy bombers once filled the skys. Workers |
| Cyclone radial engines. The 17C followed | | | | across the US built a total of 12,731 B-17s. |
| with seven machine guns instead of the | | | | After the war, several dozen B-17s lived on |
| original five; this modification together | | | | as fire-bombers and aerial surveyors until |
| with better armor and self-sealing tanks in | | | | the last one was retired in the 1970s. |
| the 17d resulted from lessons learned in the | | | | Today, a few B-17s have been restored to |
| early bombing raids over Europe. The B-17E | | | | their wartime splendor. Eleven are currently |
| and 17F soon followed with a larger tail. | | | | flying in the United States, one in the UK |
| The final version came out when head-on | | | | and another one in France.Keeping a B-17 |
| attacks by enemy fighters proved to be a | | | | flying these days is an expensive |
| definite problem, which the B-17G countered | | | | proposition. Someone once said that a B-17 |
| with a chin turret with dual machine guns. | | | | operates on gas, oil and money. Especially |
| This gave the B-17 a defensive armament of 13 | | | | money. A B-17 will easily burn 200 gallons |
| machine guns in all.The Flying Fortress flew | | | | of fuel per hour, plus about 10 gallons of |
| with a crew of ten in the 17G model. These | | | | oil per hour. Consumables and wear items |
| were: Pilot, Co-pilot, Bombardier, Nose | | | | cost an estimated $3,000 per flight hour. |
| Gunner, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, | | | | For each hour a Flying Fortress spends in the |
| Radio Operator/Gunner, Ball Turret Gunner, | | | | air, ten are spent on the ground in |
| Right Waist Gunner, Left Waist Gunner and | | | | maintenance. An engine overhaul can cost |
| Tail Gunner.The B-17 was a heavy aircraft | | | | $40,000 and FAA required wing-spar |
| weighing in at 36,000 lbs, with a maximum | | | | inspections and repairs will cost each Flying |
| takeoff weight of 65,500 lbs. With a wing | | | | Fortress in excess of $100,000.Consequently |
| span of 103ft 9in, the length was 74ft 4in | | | | operating a B-17 is more than any one person |
| while the roof of the cockpit sat 19 feet | | | | can do. As a result, foundations own most of |
| above ground. The Fortress could operate at | | | | them, or museums set up specifically to keep |
| 35,800 feet although best operating altitude | | | | the Flying Fortress in the air. These |
| was in the 25,000 foot range where it could | | | | organizations are partly funded by corporate |
| achieve its maximum speed of 287 mph. With a | | | | donations and air show fees, but most depend |
| cruising speed of 182 mph, it could carry a | | | | on touring. A B-17 tour will take the Flying |
| 6000 lb bomb load with a range of 2,000 | | | | Fortress from city to city across the USA and |
| miles. Its maximum bomb load was actually | | | | Canada, where she will be on display for |
| about 17,000 lbs but this was with a minimum | | | | tours and a lucky few have a chance to take a |
| fuel load on a short-range raid.The Flying | | | | flight on the B-17. If you hear that a B-17 |
| Fortresses flew in defensive formations that | | | | tour is stopping in your city, please do go |
| presented an overall curtain of withering | | | | check it out, contribute a few dollars and |
| machine gun fire to enemy fighters. One | | | | consider taking a B-17 flight. You'll find |
| German F-109 pilot who shot down 28 fighters | | | | it will be the thrill of a lifetime. Keep |
| but only four light bombers (not B-17s), said | | | | 'em flying. |
| that he never returned from an attack on a | | | | |