Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress: 1935 Onwards - Tapa dura

This manual offers a unique perspective on what it takes to restore and operate a B-17 Flying Fortress, as well as a wonderful insight into the engineering and construction of this remarkable airplane. The B-17 is one of the most famous airplanes ever built. Although Boeing’s B-17 prototype first flew on July 28, 1935, only a relative handful of B-17s were in the Army Air Corps inventory when America’s war started on December 7, 1941. But production quickly accelerated, peaking at 16 airplanes a day in April 1944, before ending in May 1945 with a total of 12,726 aircraft delivered. The B-17 served in every World War II combat zone but is best known for daylight strategic bombing of German industrial targets. B-17s from the Eighth Air Force participated in countless missions from bases in England. These missions often lasted for more than eight hours and struck at targets deep within enemy territory. Because of their long-range capability, formations of Flying Fortresses often flew into battle without fighter escort, relying on their own defensive capabilities. G model Fortresses carrying thirteen .50-cal. machine guns and tight formation flying made famous by the motion picture 12 O’Clock High ensured successful missions.

Graeme Douglas has almost 30 years of experience working on the B-17. He spent 15 years as a part-time volunteer restoring B-17 Mary Alice at Duxford, and later as ground crew on the privately-owned B-17 Sally B. He is also the author of the Haynes Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Manual, Haynes Consolidated B-24 Liberator Manual and Haynes Focke-Wulf Fw190 Manual. He lives in Essex.