Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
Boeing · United States · first flew 1942 · bomber
The Boeing B-17F was the principal production variant of the Flying Fortress during the first half of the USAAF's strategic bombing campaign over Europe, featuring a one-piece moulded Plexiglas nose, improved engines, and provision for additional fuel and armament. Over 3,400 were built by Boeing, Douglas, and Vega.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 22.78 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Frameless Plexiglas nose cone replacing multi-panel glazing
- Four Wright R-1820 radials, paddle-blade Hamilton propellers late production
- No chin turret — later retrofitted on some aircraft
Very similar to the B-17G but identifiable by the absence of a chin turret; the one-piece clear moulded nose cone replaced the earlier faceted multi-panel glazing of the B-17E, giving a more streamlined appearance.
Specifications
- The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress has a length of 22.78 m (75 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.62 m (104 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 523 km/h (325 mph).
- Typical crew: 10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The B-17F entered service in 1942 and bore the brunt of the Eighth Air Force's early raids over occupied Europe and Germany, including the costly Schweinfurt missions of 1943. Its lack of a chin turret left a forward blind spot exploited by Luftwaffe head-on attacks, leading directly to the development of the B-17G with its chin turret. Extensive field modifications added more guns during the production run.
Variants
The B-17F was produced in many block numbers with progressive armament and engine changes. The XB-40 gunship was developed from the B-17F airframe. The subsequent B-17G added the Bendix chin turret and became the definitive variant.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the USAAF in the European, Pacific, and Mediterranean theatres. The B-17F formed the backbone of the Eighth Air Force in England from 1942 to mid-1943 before being supplemented and eventually replaced by the B-17G.
Related aircraft
- B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing XAT-15
- Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger
- Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
- Aichi B7A Ryusei
- Avro Lancaster B.III
- Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress
- Consolidated B-32 Dominator
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