The B-17 Flying Fortress was a durable and iconic aircraft used in World War II, with a distinctive four-engine design and strong turret guns. It was capable of accurate bombing and often flew in fighter formations to protect itself. Many are now on display in aviation museums or used for transportation.
The B-17 Flying Fortress is an iconic aircraft in American aviation history, as well as being a well-known aircraft from World War II. These robust aircraft performed extremely well in both the European and Pacific theaters, becoming so visually distinctive that the image of a B-17 flying overhead became highly iconic to many in the 1940s. In a simple illustration of the powerful role the Flying Fortress played in World War II, about a third of the bombs dropped on Germany came from the stomachs of B-17 bombers.
This aircraft was designed by the Boeing company in 1934, in response to a call for a new long-range bomber. Although the original B-17 prototype did not perform very well, the aircraft’s potential was obvious and a fleet order was placed. Over the course of the 1930s and 1940s, Boeing repeatedly modified the aircraft, responding to feedback from aircrews and pilots as they worked with the aircraft in combat situations. The last B-17 used for military purposes was decommissioned in 1968, but with 12 operational B-17s in operation as of 2008, it’s still possible to see these magnificent aircraft in the air, and people can also buy tickets for a flight at to B-17.
The Flying Fortress had a distinctive four-engine design, with an extremely durable body that was meant to withstand a great deal of damage. A badly damaged B-17 could still reach its target, drop its payload and fly home, and several planes that were reported downed later turned up at home airfields, crews intact. Pictures of badly damaged B-17s arriving home, sometimes without fully functional engines or landing gear, were widely published in the 1940s to raise public morale. The B-17s were also capable of defending themselves, with strong turret guns and heavy armor to protect them from anti-aircraft and other aircraft attacks.
Often the B-17s flew in massive fighter formations that were designed to protect the aircraft while maximizing their bombing effect. The planes were known for their extremely accurate bombing mechanisms, allowing them to target areas with great precision, and a full combat formation of B-17s would have been an intimidating sight. The use of the fighter formation also greatly reduced losses in the B-17 fleets, with most aircraft shot down as a result of being separated from the rest of the fleet.
Several aviation museums have B-17 Flying Fortresses on display, and it’s often possible to go inside the plane to see what it’s like inside. Of the B-17s still in operation, some are used by private companies for transportation, while others are preserved as working museum pieces, displayed at air shows and other events. For those who have been able to see a B-17 in action, the distinctive heavy rumble of the plane’s four engines is something to remember.
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