Boeing's "Queen of the Skies," as the B-17 Flying Fortress is sometimes called, certainly earned its place in history. Originally designed to protect the coast of the United States from invasion by bombing enemy fleets far out to sea, the Fortress had the range and, with its precision bombsight, the means to become the 8th Air Force's principal weapon in the air war against Germany. Bristling with machine guns, the B-17 was a tough plane to bring down and, employed en masse, it accounted for much of the destruction of German industry that occurred during the war. A full formation of Fortresses was a daunting foe for the Germans, but not an impossible one provided they had the guts to press their attacks. Always the focus of the German defenses, Fortresses often took heavy losses on lengthier missions until they began to be escorted by longer ranged fighters. The B-17 was an honest, forgiving, and tough airplane, well liked by its crews.
MODELS:
F: August 1942 model.
G: Adds chin turret and emergency power setting for engines.
