B-17G | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

The B-17G was the latst production model of the “Flying Fortress” and was manufactured in the greates numbers.

However, the new model B-17 also experienced its own operating difficulties. When fired at maximum elevation, the chin turret guns had a tendency to crack the plexiglass nose; a problem was solved by fitting blast barrels to each gun. The oil cooler regulator often failed to operate and could result in complete engine seizure. The ability to feather the propeller blades, in event of engine failture, was lost in the B-17G because the standpipe that held back sufficient oil to work the feathering tank was sacrificed in the quest for a lighter aircraft. This was a major design error and meant that, by the winter of 1943, the lack of feathering was a major reason for bomber loss. Urgent request were made by Groups for special modifications kits but it was only in September 1944 that B-17G’s arrived with these modifications built-in.

Fatal Error

Another serious problem on the B-17G was the lack of an engine fire extinguisher system. Designers had believed that it was ineffective so had left it out of the new model. In reality, the system had worked well and it was requested by Bomber Groups that it be re-introduced as soon as possible.

The B-17G was still tail heavy with the same centre of gravity problems as earlier models. However, by May 1944, when long-range fighter esort was effective defensive protection, gunners were not as busy as before and it was decided that one waist gunner be dispensed with. The radio romm gun, the least used in action, was got also rid of and the quanity of ammunition carried reduced. All these measures brought the centre of gravity nearer th a more acceptable position. In the las month of the war, when there was little enemy fighter activity, some Combat Wings flew without waist guns, ball turrets or chin turrets. Operational reports revealed an estimated 25mph increase in airspeed with the improved streamlining. In this period of the war flak batteries were a greater hazard than fighters and unneccesary gunner armor plate was removed to be replaced with laminated steel and canvas plates called “flak curtains”.

In total, the 8th Air Force received 6,500 B-17G’s. In March 1945, it could send 2,370 of them into combat operations. At the end of the war a total 1,301 B-17G’s had been shot down or reported missing in action.

Random B-17G from database

43-39432

Delivered Hunter 14/3/45; Grenier 27/3/45; Assigned 8AF 27/3/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 11/6/45; Sth Plains 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 11/2/46.

42-102716

Delivered MacDill 31/3/44; 327 BU Drew 4/5/45; 301 BU Drew 22/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 5/11/45.

42-102851

Delivered Cheyenne 10/4/44; Hunter 24/4/44; Dow Fd 11/5/44; Assigned 346BS/99BG Tortorella 19/5/44; Missing in Action {18m} Brasov, Rom 4/7/44 with Gerald Elliott, Marquith, Jolley, Clanton, Lattin, Montague, Carmignany, Henderson, O’Brien, Fulton; mech fault, one engine out, 10 chutes seen; Missing Air Crew Report 6397.

42-37849

Delivered Denver 20/9/43; Gr Island 30/9/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 11/10/43; damaged in taxi accident with Ken Kuehl 15/2/45; sal 31/5/45. MISS FORTUNE.

42-97691

Delivered Denver 28/1/44; 1SAG Langley 11/3/44; Dow Fd 17/5/44; Assigned 803BS/305BG RCM Chelveston 19/5/44; transferred 384BG Grafton Underwood 1/8/44; transferred 427BS/303BG [GN-Y] Molesworth 4/8/44; sent to 803BS Alconbury for installation of Mandrel RCM equipment; Missing in Action Misburg 26/11/44 with Capt Dick Healy, W. Walstein, Joe Robertson, Phil Smith, Bill Mylan Ex nav (5 Returned to Duty); Norman Stuart, Ramon Sooner, Paul Sandhagen (3 Killed in Action); Ray Leal, Vincent Deliso (2 Prisoner of War); force landed continent, Salvaged 29/12/44; Missing Air Crew Report 11193.

44-8028

Delivered Tulsa 16/5/44; Dallas 13/6/44; Boca Raton 1/7/44; Key Fd 5/7/44; 3501 BU Boca Raton 7/7/44; 4006 BU Miami 18/8/44; 3501 BU Boca Raton 24/8/44; 3539 BU Langley 14/10/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 8/1/46.

42-40052

Delivered Long Beach 13/11/43; Gr Island 21/11/43; Bangor 4/12/43; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-X] Podington 30/12/43; Missing in Action Berlin 6/3/44 with Wallace Upson(326bs), Navigator: Bill Thompson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Maurice Hargrove, Radio Operator: Bill Bishop, Ball turret gunner: Lewis Schultz, Waist gunner: Reece Walton (6 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Frank Hilger, Bombardier: Bob Dorgan, Waist gunner: Neal Persons,Tail gunner: Bradley Standlee (4 evaded capture); flak, crashed Te Kiefte Farm, Ruurlo, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 2905.

42-102703 / Pella Tulip

Delivered Cheyenne 26/3/44; Kearney 14/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned: 532BS/381BG [VE-M] Ridgewell 22/5/44; {30+m} battle damage Cologne 16/10/44 Pilot: Chas Reseigh; Salvaged. 2 SAD 16/10/44. PELLA TULIP.

42-102394 / Down N’ Go

Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Kearney 15/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-C] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 24/8/44 with Parker Finney, Co-pilot: Virgil Price, Navigator: Dale Scott, tog-Brown Bralley, Waist gunner: Burton Miller,Tail gunner: Bill Duling (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Woodrow Snyder, Radio Operator: Ed Smith, Ball turret gunner: Golden Hill (3 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft damaged ship before exploding, crashed Brockhofe, NE of Fassberg Afd, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8202. DOWN ‘N GO.

43-39396

Delivered Hunter 1/3/45; Grenier 12/3/45; Assigned 8AF 15/3/45; Salvaged 9AF Germany 5/11/46; re-ass 10 HBS Oberpfaffenhofen 30/4/47; Recl Comp 6/12/48.

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies B-17G

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