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

42-102839

Delivered Cheyenne 9/4/44; 346BG Drew 24/4/44; 222 BU Ardmore 22/1/45; 332 BU Ardmore 16/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 11/12/45.

44-8590

Delivered Cheyenne 29/10/44; Hunter 16/11/44; Grenier 20/12/44; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-Y] Molesworth 17/1/45; crashed on take off for Dresden 15/2/45 with Werner Goering, Don Waltesz, Herb Hanson, Jim Buckner (ex nav), Bill Condor, Ray Eckert, Paul Johnson, Joe Blinebury, Joe Gordon (9 Returned to Duty); Salvaged 16/2/45.

44-6993

Delivered Oklahoma City 8/1/45; Boca Raton 16/2/45; Hunter 17/3/45; Grenier 28/3/45; Assigned 482BG Alconbury 1/4/45; transferred 338BS/96BG Snetterton 1/4/45; Salvaged 9AF Germany 6/11/46.

42-107014 / Lucy

Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/44; Kearney 15/2/44; Assigned 527BS/379BG [FO-K] Kimbolton 30/3/44; Missing in Action Zeitz 30/11/44 with Bob Puckett, Don Childes, Chas Ingraham, George Reedy, Bob Salley, Roman Yriarte, Alvin Hirschi, Jarvis Williams, Attilio Tirapelli (9 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Zeitz, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 11057. LUCY.

42-31761 / Rotherhithe’s Revenge

Delivered Denver 11/12/43; Gt Falls 17/12/43; Denver 20/12/43; Kearney 30/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 14/1/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-O] Ridgewell; 73+m Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 9/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 13/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45. ROTHERHITHE’S REVENGE.

42-97612

Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Yuma 21/1/44; 3017 BU Hobbs 4/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 28/12/45.

42-31259

Delivered Cheyenne 12/10/43; Las Vegas 25/10/43; Salt lake City 1/4/44; Dalhart 2/4/44; 241 BU Fairmont 26/7/44; 504BG Fairmont 16/9/44; 225 BU Rapid City 28/12/44; 2137 BU Hendricks 18/8/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 9/11/45.

43-37619 / Flack Shack

Delivered Cheyenne 4/5/44; Hunter 18/5/44; Grenier 3/6/44; Assigned: 369BS/306BG [WW-S] Thurleigh 12/6/44; MIA Oranienburg {100+m} 10/4/45 Pilot: Allen Babin, Gil McGuff, Bill Ferguson, Henry Deutsch (4EVD-found by US Army unit); Donovan Clementson, Bill McKillop, Bob Zamiska, Bill Quinn (4POW); Tail Gunner: Theo Rickerl (KIA); flak, crashed Hannover; MACR 13878. FLACK SHACK.(last group loss.)

43-39077

Delivered Hunter 25/11/44; Grenier 4/12/44; Assigned 8AF 7/12/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/7/45; 613 BU Phillips 24/3/46.

44-6618

Delivered Lincoln 22/9/44; Grenier 11/10/44; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-U] Bassingbourn 4/11/44; ground looped at base with Edwin Whitton 20/1/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 31/5/45; Sth Plains 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 13/12/45.

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

Improvements