Curiously, the brilliant Boeing conception, first flown on July 28, 1935, was almost stifled by an agonizingly long gestation period that did not see the first production aircraft fly until June 27, 1939. Despite the airplane's demonstrated superiority over all its twin-engine competitors, the penny-pinching American Congress had been unwilling to authorize the plane's purchase in quantity until war seemed certain.
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 Although most closely associated with European operations, the Boeing B-17 also flew in the Pacific. The plane was aptly dubbed the "Flying Fortress." See more classic airplane pictures. |
 Boeing B-17s based in Europe flew mainly from bases in England. When the bombers were scheduled to return to base following a run, officers and others would gather outside to wait and count. |
The Boeing B-17C entered combat with the RAF, but was considered unsuccessful. A later version, the Boeing B-17D, entered the Pacific War on December 7, 1941. There followed a continuing succession of improved models: the B-17E, F, and G. Ultimately, 12,731 examples were built by Boeing, Lockheed (Vega), and Douglas.
 The Boeing B-17 was legendary for its ability to return to base after sustaining damage that would have doomed a lesser aircraft. This badly mauled B-17 was photographed over Tunisia as it headed home with an almost-severed tail section. |
The Boeing B-17 spearheaded the USAAF's doctrine that formations of heavily armed bombers could fight their way through enemy fighters and carry out their missions. The Boeing B-17 proved that this was so -- but only at terrible cost in air battles, such as those over Schweinfurt and Regensburg, Germany. Fortunately, long-range fighters soon became available to escort the big, slow bombers to and from targets.
 Ground crews were the unsung heroes of the Boeing B-17 story. These men kept the big bombers flying, even in the face of inadequate replacement parts and punishing flight schedules. |
A delightful airplane to fly, the Boeing B-17 won the hearts of its crews by its ability to absorb tremendous punishment and return home. The Fort fought brilliantly in every theater, then soldiered on long after the war in various support roles, such as air/sea rescue and reconnaissance.
Length: 74 ft. 4 in. Height: 19 ft. 1 in. Empty Weight: 36,135 lbs Gross Weight: 65,500 lbs Top Speed: 287 mph Service Ceiling: 35,600 ft. Range: 2,000 miles w/ 6,000 lbs of bombs Engine/Horsepower: Four Wright R-1820s/1,200 each, with General Electric turbo-superchargers Crew: 10 Armament: Thirteen .50-in. Browning machine guns; up to 17,600 lbs of bombs |
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