The B-17 Flying Fortress
New Table of Contents
- The B-17 Flying Fortress
- B-17 Crew Training
- B-17 airshow flyby
- Flying Fortress Flight Uniforms
- Interview with B-17 Navigator
- Links to B-17 stuff
- Interesting news reel footage of "The Mighty Eighth"
- B-17 Nose Art
- Video of Flying Fortress nose art
- Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot
- Flying Fortress books
- B-17 videos
- Links
- Thanks for visiting
- B-17 Flying Fortress
The B-17 Flying Fortress
The B-17 FLYING FORTRESS became Americas primary heavy bomber during WW2. It proved rugged and able to withstand much damage. The B-17 went through several variations during its life to make it as defense capable as possible. I added links to different website's to cover as many aspects of the FLYING FORTRESS as I can find. You can read about the history of the B-17 Here
B-17 Crew Training
The FLIGHT CREW training was based on what their position or duty was to be on the aircraft. The Pilot and Co-Plilot were certified to fly, Navigator, Radio Operator and Bombadier learned their trade and the Gunners went through gunnery school. Check out this link for more info.Crew Duties and Training
Check out my site about a B-17 Pilot. I have scaned his flight records and the pages from his class books. It's some information you don't always have a chance to see.
B-17 airshow flyby
2006 New Castle Airshow - B-17 Flying Fortress
curated content from YouTube
Flying Fortress Flight Uniforms
Check out these people in authentic 1944 FLIGHT GEAR. The gear used for the photographs are from someones collection and the pictures look pretty good.B-17 Flight Gear
Interview with B-17 Navigator
WWII Story: Alan Cramer, B-17 Navigator, Tells of Brush with Flak
curated content from YouTube
Links to B-17 stuff
- Machine Guns on the B-17
- A good web site about the Browning Machine guns as used on the B-17
- The Norden Bombsight
- Another good website covering the amazing Norden Bombsight
- More on the Norden Bombsight
- Info from Wikipedia on the bombsight
- Bombs
- Covers the Bombs dropped from Bombers in WW2
- Combat America (Part I)
- Follows the Flying Fortress crews of the 351st Bombardment Group from the end of their training at a Colorado training field to actual combat over Germany. This segment introduces the crew of the bomber. This is Part 1, you can click on the arrows on the Nav bar under picture to move to next part. Narrarated by Clark Gable.
- More neat B-17 stuff
- See performance charts, cockpit photos, systems diagrams and more from an actual B-17F/G
Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions Manual.
Interesting news reel footage of "The Mighty Eighth"
B-17 Nose Art
- Gene Townsend B-17 nose art
- Website of Gene Townsend of the 32nd Bomb Squadron
- B-17 Aircraft markings
- Aircraft markings as applies to the 303rd Bomb Group
- B-17 Aircraft markings
- Somemore info on aircraft marking
- 398th Bomb Group markings
- Identification marking on the 398th Bomb group B-17
- 303rd Bomb Group B-17 illustrations
- Website with b-17 illustration by Mark Styling
Video of Flying Fortress nose art
Flying Fortress Nose Art
Before political correctness, fliers painted their aircraft with the likeness of the female form. B17 crews were no exception, In this clip from the video, "The Fortress and Her Crew" the love affair between man and machine is obvious. flyingbrickvideo.com
Runtime: 3:26
13372 views
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curated content from YouTube
Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot
Smith (Only the Days Were Long) served with Stewart (1908-1997) in the Eighth Air Force during 1943-1944. They were stationed in East Anglia, England, but Smith opens this memoir of their service with Stewart's New York homecoming in 1945. By then, Stewart had led 20 missions over enemy territory and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, along with other decorations. Smith, whose later career included stints working with Air Force brass and in the reserves, takes readers through Stewart's entire WWII service, including his fight with the studios to let him enlist, his training and his deployment. The bulk of the book concerns action in Germany, and will be of great interest to flight squad buffs. The final chapters make brief stops at Stewart's post-war marriage, his eventual promotion to Brigadier General and the establishment of the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana and the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum. Smith's clear admiration for Stewart comes through on every page, but with an understatement that even George Bailey could have lived with. 64 b&w photos.
Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/11/2009)
Flying Fortress books
Untold Valor: Forgotten Stories of American Bomber Crews over Europe in World War II
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/11/2009)
Return to Base: Memoirs of a B-17 Copilot Kimbolton, England, 1943-1944
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Tom's War: Flying with the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force in Europe, 1944
Amazon Price: $18.85 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Bomber Boys: True Stories of B-17 Airmen
Amazon Price: $29.45 (as of 11/11/2009)
B-17 Bomber Pilot's Flight Operating Manual
Amazon Price: $17.08 (as of 11/11/2009)
Links
The Famous Supermarine Spitfire
Here is a brief history of one of Great Britains b more...0 points
Enjoy some great WW2 Airplane Videos
Fighters and Bombers from the major countries that more...0 points
Thanks for visiting
Sharon61 wrote
in reply to SHARON 54 Hi Sharon,
I recently joined the 8th Army Air Force Historical Society which has a quarterly news magazine. When I read your question that story immediately came to mind. I read it in the 8ths mag. Yes, it is true, it was part of "TAPS" (the obituary) section of the magazine. Charles L. Brown died within the last year, the magazine coming out in March 2009. The story: Lt. Charles Brown was on his first mission as a command pilot in a B-17 bomber (379th BG). He was all of 21 years old! His plane was hit heavily by enemy fighters and flak. Limping home, a German fighter intercepted and indicated x2 for them to land. Lt. Brown refused fearing for his mens safety once down ; many of them needed critical medical care.The German pilot recognized the courage in his counterpart. The German fighter escorted the allied bomber to the coast, pointed a compass heading to the U.K., then saluted to his adversary. 45 years later they met and became as close as brothers!
Posted August 30, 2009
SHARON 54 wrote
MY DAD SAW AN EMAIL WITH A PICTURE OF A PAINTING EMBEDDED IN IT. THE PAINTING WAS OF A BADLY SHOT UP B-17 BEING ESCORTED TO THE COAST BY A GERMAN ME-109. THE B-17 WAS CALLED "YE OLD PUB" AND FLEW OUT OF KIMBOLTON ENGLAND. THE PILOTS WERE CHARLIE BROWN AND FRANZ STIGLER. THE PILOTS MET MANY YEARS LATER AT A 379TH BOMBER GROUP REUNION. FACT OR FICTION? I WANT TO BUY THE PRINT FOR MY DAD. CAN ANYONE HELP ME, PLEASE?
Posted August 02, 2009
johnny garcia wrote
As a son of a b-17 belly gunner and a combat crewman from viet-nam i appreciate the effort and stories of the men from this era. they are my heroes as was my father. He completed all missions over germany untnil his last when he was shot down and spent two years in prison camp.
i'm proud of my fathers committment to his country and proud of all of our servicemen for what they accomplish. i'm not proud of the direction our country has taken, nuf said!
Posted May 02, 2009
Sarah Fitzgerald wrote
thanks for the helpful information.... hopefully i can win the free ride on the B-17 my squadron is awarding to the most diligent cadet :R
Posted March 15, 2009
Liam_Tohms wrote...
Great lens, why not join the Flying and Aviation group today?
Posted February 05, 2009
B-17 Flying Fortress
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