Vega XB-40 Flying Fortress
Vega Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1943 · bomber
The XB-40 was an experimental heavily armed escort variant of the B-17F Flying Fortress, developed by Vega Aircraft Corporation at the request of the USAAF to act as a 'convoy defender' flying with bomber formations. It carried up to fourteen .50 calibre machine guns but no bombs.
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:
- B-17F converted to heavily-armed bomber escort gunship
- Doubled gun positions with chin, cheek, and additional waist turrets
- No bomb capability — bomb bay replaced with ammunition storage
Outwardly resembles a standard B-17F but bristles with additional gun positions including a chin turret, second dorsal turret, and extra waist positions; the absence of a bomb bay door fairing reveals a sealed fuselage section used for ammunition.
Specifications
- The Vega XB-40 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 470 km/h (292 mph).
- Typical crew: 10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1942–1943 the USAAF sought a way to escort B-17 formations over targets beyond the range of fighters. Vega modified B-17F aircraft with additional gun turrets including a chin turret, a second dorsal turret, and more waist guns. The YB-40 service test variant flew combat missions with the Eighth Air Force in 1943, but proved too slow when unloaded bombers accelerated away from the target, rendering the escort concept impractical.
Variants
The XB-40 was the prototype; the YB-40 was the service-test production batch of around 20 aircraft. The TB-40 was a training version. The concept was abandoned in favour of long-range fighters.
Where you'll see it
The YB-40 flew a handful of combat missions with the 92nd Bombardment Group in 1943 before the concept was declared unsuccessful and the programme cancelled. The chin turret developed for the XB-40 was adopted for the production B-17G.
Related aircraft
- Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress
- Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress
- Arado Ar 234
- Avro Lancaster B X
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
- Canadian Car and Foundry SBW Helldiver
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.