083B - Inside the Boeing B-17

The Flying Fortress

YEAR OF DESIGN: 1935

CREW: 10

LENGTH:  74 feet 4 inches

WINGSPAN: 103 feet 9 inches

MAX AIRSPEED: 287  MPH

CEILING: 35,600 feet

TYPICAL ARMAMENT

2 x 12.7mm “Chin-Mounted” Machine Guns

2x 12.7 mm Nose-Mounted Machine Guns

2 x 12.7 mm Machine Guns in Top Turret

2 x 12.7 mm Machine Guns in Waist Turrets

2 x 12.7 mm Machine Guns in Bottom/Belly Turret

2 x 12.7 mm Machine Guns in Rear Gunner Position

1 x 12.7 mm Machine Gun in Radio Operator’s Roost

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4,000-17,000 Total Bomb Pay Load

[Depending on Mission Type]

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The Versatile B-17 Flying Fortress was a revolutionary design, focused on dreadnaught-like weaponry. with its impressive of thirteen 12.7 mm Machine Guns mounted in virtually every position throughout the plane. Engineers at .Boeing Manufacturing had designed the Flying Fortress to be self-sufficient, providing a massive defensive (and sometimes offensive) firepower that was suitable for any aerial combat. Additionally, the B-17s had massive payload capabilities, allowing them to be utilized as paratroop transports and cargo ships.

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The B-17s found their greatest use during the China-Burma-India (CBI) Campaign, fortifying Supply Lines and offering land-based bomber support for troops entrenched throughout Burma and Southern China.

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Originally, the B-17s had been designed for heavy use in Hawaii and the Philippine, but by the time action returned to that part of the Pacific, the Flying Fortresses had become outdated. However, Cargo planes like the C-300 and Ultra Heavy Bombers, including the B-29 Super Fortress were developed directly from the Flying Fortress design.

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