Tag Archives: B-17

B-17 Ditching Mockup for Training

Details of a unique B-17 Flying Fortress ditching mockup constructed for training by the 396th Bombardment Group RTU at Drew Field, Florida. (Source: Air Sea Rescue Bulletin, U.S. Coast Guard, January 1945.) 396th Bombardment Group RTU Ditching School DescribesMOCKUP FOR … Continue reading

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Deadly Queen of the Skies

“Flying Fortress: Deadly Queen of the Skies… pride of the Army Air Forces” — WWII poster from the Office of War Information. Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.  

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B-17E Recognition

U.S. War Department WWII Recognition Guide for the B-17E Flying Fortress: DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Four-engine, low-wing monoplane. Wings equally tapered with rounded tips and full dihedral. Long, narrow fuselage. Gun turret on top of fuselage just aft of pilot’s cockpit enclosure. … Continue reading

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Delayed Action

Strange tale (tail?) from Air Force, April 1943. DELAYED ACTION CREWMEN of a B-17 had a surprise recently while flying over a quiet sector of England when a 20 mm. shell exploded in the left horizontal stabilizer. They had reason … Continue reading

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Wings of Freedom Tour Visits New Orleans

The Wings of Freedom Tour visits New Orleans with vintage aircraft including P-51 Mustang, Consolidated B-24 Liberator “Witchcraft”, and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine”. The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour will be at Lakefront Airport from March … Continue reading

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Words from the Wing Wise

Tips from bomber gunners to prevent guns and gunners from freezing during missions from a special edition of Army Talks, “Stars over the Reich,” published for the officers and men of the Eighth Air Force.   WORDS FROM THE WING … Continue reading

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Memphis Belle Departs for Home

The famous B-17 Flying Fortress “Memphis Belle” and her crew depart England for home.      

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Give Us More B-17’s

A dynamic U.S. Army poster from WWII recounting a successful mission by the B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe against the Luftwaffe.  

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Idiots’ Delight

Color photograph of the B-17 Flying Fortress “Idiots’ Delight” of Eighth Air Force in England. The original caption states the M/Sgt is Penrose A. Bingham of Reading, Pennsylvania. The B-17 “Idiots’ Delight” served with the 332nd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb … Continue reading

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B-17 “Chuckie” Moves to Military Aviation Museum

The B-17 Flying Fortress “Chuckie” is moving from the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas to the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The B-17 “Chuckie” was used for cropdusting until 1979. Owned by Chuckie Hospers, the B-17 … Continue reading

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