How many B-17 planes are left?

Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States.

What is a B-17 bomber called?

B-17, also called Flying Fortress, U.S. heavy bomber used during World War II.

What does the 17 stand for in B-17 bomber?

Acronym. Definition. B-17. Boeing Flying Fortress (US; WWII bomber)

How many B-17 survived 25 missions?

But flying it proved deadly. So much so that the odds of a B-17 crewman surviving the 25 missions required to complete a tour were only one in four.

Can a B-17 fly on 1 engine?

Its famous nickname came from the fact it carried 13 . 50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns for protection, and had a legendary toughness for carrying its crew home on one engine or even with the tail shot away.

Which B-17 flew the most missions?

Nine-O-Nine was a Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress heavy bomber, of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, that completed 140 combat missions during World War II, believed to be the Eighth Air Force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew her.

How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle?

Historical accuracy With the exception of the aircraft names, this film is fiction based only very loosely on fact. The characters are composites, the names are not those of the real crew of the Memphis Belle and the incidents shown are supposed to be representative of B-17 missions in general.

How many B-17G planes were built?

The B-17G was the final version of the Flying Fortress, incorporating all changes made to its predecessor, the B-17F, and in total, 8,680 were built, the last (by Lockheed) on 28 July 1945. Many B-17Gs were converted for other missions such as cargo hauling, engine testing, and reconnaissance.

What was the B-17 bomber used for in WW2?

The B-17 was primarily employed by the USAAF in the daylight strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial, military and civilian targets.

What is the best book on the Boeing B-17?

“Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress: Queen of the Skies”. Wings of Fame. Volume 6, 1997, pp. 38–103. London: Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-874023-93-X. ISSN 1361-2034. Hoffman, Wally and Philippe Rouyer. La guerre à 30 000 pieds [Available only in French]. Louviers, France: Ysec Editions, 2008. ISBN 978-2-84673-109-6.

What is the difference between a B-17 and a Y1B-17?

Once service testing was complete, the Y1B-17s and Y1B-17A were redesignated B-17 and B-17A, respectively, to signify the change to operational status. The Y1B-17A had a maximum speed of 311 miles per hour (501 km/h), at its best operational altitude, compared to 239 miles per hour (385 km/h) for the Y1B-17.