Boeing C-108 Flying Fortress
Boeing · United States · first flew 1943 · transport aircraft
The Boeing C-108 was a small family of transport conversions of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, modified for VIP and cargo transport duties in World War II. The most famous example served as General Douglas MacArthur's personal transport, named 'Bataan'.
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:
- WWII VIP transport conversion of the B-17 Flying Fortress
- Stripped of gun turrets and armour, fitted with passenger interior
- Used by General Douglas MacArthur as personal transport 'Bataan'
Essentially identical in external appearance to a B-17 Flying Fortress but lacking gun turrets; the nose and tail positions are faired over or glazed without gun installations, and the waist gun windows may be faired.
Specifications
- The Boeing C-108 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 467 km/h (290 mph).
- Typical crew: 8 + VIP passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Produced in very small numbers from 1943, the C-108 variants removed the bomber's armament and armour and fitted interior accommodation for passengers or cargo. The XC-108 was a command transport; the XC-108A was a freighter; the XC-108B was a fuel tanker testbed. The C-108 proper (MacArthur's 'Bataan') was the principal VIP transport variant.
Variants
XC-108 command transport (2 built); XC-108A freighter (1 built); XC-108B tanker (1 conversion); C-108 VIP transport (1 built, used by MacArthur).
Where you'll see it
Used exclusively in the Pacific Theatre by USAAF as a VIP and command transport; total production was around 5 aircraft across all variants.
Related aircraft
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
- B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
- Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
- Cessna C-106 Loadmaster
- Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
- Curtiss C-76 Caravan
- Douglas C-47B Skytrain
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