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

44-8138

Delivered Dallas 19 August 1944; Langley 20 July 1944; Presque Isle 13 August 1944; Assigned 493BG Debach 15/8/44, then 349BS/100BG [XR-T] Thorpe Abbotts; Salvaged 9AF Germany 29/12/45.

44-8270

Delivered Dallas 27/7/44; Cheyenne 3/8/44; Kearney 10/8/44; Grenier 5/9/44; Assigned 863BS/493BG Debach 7/9/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 3/7/45; Sth Plains 6/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45.

44-6317

Delivered Kearney 1/7/44; Grenier 13/7/44; Assigned 840BS/483BG Sterparone 18/7/44; Missing in Action Regensburg 13/3/45 with Tom Parrish, Gregg, Bessolo, Bradley, Stone, Wallace, Spivey, Lovorn, Hammon, Fairbanks (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Ljubijana; Missing Air Crew Report 12945.

44-6428

Delivered Lincoln 31/7/44; Dow Fd 17/8/44; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 28/8/44; Missing in Action Szony oil refinery 14/3/45 with Fred Reed, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Laverne Chambers,Tail gunner: Henry Bullis (3 Returned to Duty); Co-pilot: Bentley Moberg, Navigator: Aubry D. Poindexter, Radio Operator: Ed Wagner, Ball turret gunner: Floyd Lechner (4 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Harry Hollinger, Waist gunner: Jim Hamilton, Waist gunner: Max Wilder (3 Prisoner of War); flak hit #2, aircraft on fire; four chutes seen with one ablaze; aircraft exploded, crashed Tata, Hungary; Missing Air Crew Report 12823.

44-6359

Delivered Hunter 14/7/44; Grenier 27/7/44; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 17/8/44; Missing in Action Moravska Ostrova 29/8/44 with Bill Bullock, Waist gunner: Joe Laratta,Tail gunner: Maurice Nelson (3 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Clarry Jackson (evaded capture); Navigator: Albt Smith, Bombardier: John Quinn, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Morien, Radio Operator: Wallace Clayton, Ball turret gunner: Jim Martin, Waist gunner: Morris Goldberg (6 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Ziln, Czecho; Missing Air Crew Report 8083.

43-39311

Delivered Lincoln 7/2/45; Grenier 19/2/45; Assigned 8AF 20/2/45; Salvaged 9AF Germany 10/5/46.

44-8755

Delivered – . Became a QB-17 drone and used until at least early 1950s. Wore overall red with white trim and AIR FORCE below cockpit.

42-97824

Delivered Denver 8/3/44; Hunter 16/4/44; Grenier 3/5/44; Assigned: 544BS/384BG [SU-U] Grafton Underwood 10/5/44; Transferred: (401BG Deenethorpe 24/5/44); tran with group to Istres for mapping duties, Salvaged. 9AF Germany. any 10/12/45.

42-97068 / Key Bird

Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/44; Gr Island 9/2/44; Presque Is 21/2/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-H] Horham 26/2/44; (41m) Missing in Action Hannover 18/6/44 with John Bullard, Co-pilot: Bill Moore, Navigator: Bill Holmes, Bombardier: Darrell Stevens, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Everett Casselman, Radio Operator: Pierre Bordelon, Ball turret gunner: Phil Reed, Waist gunner: J. Gioiosa, Waist gunner: Austin Herten,Tail gunner: Lorenzo Jarrett (10 Killed in Action); crashed North Sea, about 25 miles NW of Texel Is, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 5954 (?5956). KEY BIRD.

42-97628

Delivered Denver 11/1/44; 1SAG Langley 4/2/44; Grenier 7/3/44; slated 452BG Deopham Green, Assigned 413BS/96BG [MZ-U] Snetterton 11/3/44; destroyed at Poltava, Russia 21/6/44; Salvaged 2/7/44.

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

Improvements