The B-17G was the latst production model of the “Flying Fortress” and was manufactured in the greates numbers.
![B-17G mit Kinnturm // Wikipedia Commons [Public Domain]](https://b17flyingfortress.de/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/B-17G_Nose_in_Detail-762x1024.jpg)
B-17G mit Kinnturm // Wikipedia Commons [Public Domain]
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.
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.
Delivered Hunter 15/6/44; Dow Fd 25/6/44; Assigned 353BS/301BG Lucera 3/7/44; Missing in Action Padua 11/4/45 with Walter Haaser, Cole, Sparks, King, Forche, Brillan, Gordon, Yates, Gamble, Fishleder (10INT); flak, crashed Morbegno, Italy; Missing Air Crew Report 13978.
Delivered Dorval 13/8/44; To RAF [KJ110]; 214 Sq BU-B RCM Oulton, Nfk.; 223 Sq 6G-P Oulton, Nfk.; Struck Off Charge 11/3/47.
Delivered Cheyenne 26/2/44; Kearney 12/3/44 (LT Edward H. Grossheim crew, as “Little Stinker”); Dow Fd 5/4/44 (LT Edward H. Grossheim crew, as “Little Stinker”); Assigned 708BS/447BG Rattlesden 7/4/44 (renamed “Fuddy Duddy”); Missing in Action Misburg 30/12/44 with Wylie Leverett, Bob Mihovich, Jim Tiffany, Bob Hildebrandt, Roy Davis, Edwin Haynia, Earl Danhour (7 Killed in Action); Larry Adler, Harry Hunt (2 Prisoner of War); mid air coll, crashed Unterneudorf (57km SE of Darmstadt; 57km SW of Würzburg), Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 11228. LITTLE STINKER (before UK) aka FUDDY DUDDY.
Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Grenier 30/4/44; Assigned 452BG Deopham Green 3/4/44; transferred 418BS/100BG [LD-T] Thorpe Abbotts 4/4/44, then 350BS [LN-S]; transferred 482BG Alconbury 20/5/45; {75m} Returned to the USA Bradley 1/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 4/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) KIngman 18/12/45. LADY GERALDINE.
Delivered Denver 9/11/43; Grenier 4/12/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-Q] Deenethorpe 21/1/44; Missing in Action Oschersleben 22/2/44 with Vernon Arneson, Co-pilot: Jerome Kleinburg, Navigator: John Dean, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clennie Shultz, Radio Operator: Fred Webb, Ball turret gunner: Armond Provender, Waist gunner: Dave Trambitsky,Tail gunner: Rich Schmidt{when about to bale out found his chute was damaged, (8 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: George Gilmore{baled out too low}, Waist gunner: Adrian Shutes (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, Schmidt found rest of crew had bailed so he went back to take controls and crash landed in potato field near Alvesse village 13 miles NW of Brunswick, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2661.
Delivered Tulsa 11/4/45; 4100 BU Patterson 21/9/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/11/45; re-ass 31/3/47; 4141 BU Pyote 21/7/47; 4112 BU Olmstead 29/12/47; 605 BU Eglin 7/1/48; AMC Brookley 12/4/49; 3203 MSU Eglin 13/4/49; 1 Experimental Guided Missile Group, Eglin 20/5/49; Recl Comp 17/10/49. (Used in ‘crack-up scene’ in film `12 O’Clock High.’)
Delivered Cheyenne 10/5/45; Hunter 29/5/45; WCW San Francisco 14/6/45; re-ass 30/4/47; 24 HBS Harmon 1/1/48; 6470 AB Harmon 16/4/49; 4 RES Sq North 12/7/49; 2 RCU Sq Anderson (Guam) 14/4/50; Recl Comp 12/10/50.
Delivered Long Beach 30/9/43; Gr Island 29/10/43; ass 533BS/381BG [VP-V] Ridgewell 13/1/44; {3m} MIA Frankfurt 2/3/44 Pilot: Eugene Shultz, Co-Pilot: Howard Plemmons, Navigator: Art Reeves, Bombardier: Bill Hearn, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: John Hulivinski, Radio Operator: Hugh McHaffey, Ball Turret Gunner: Bob Trapnell{died in hospital from appendicitis 2/3/45}, Waist Gunner: Nick Abramo, Tail Gunner: Chas Smith (9POW); Waist Gunner: John Farr (EVD); flak, crashed Nothomb, six miles N of Arlon, Belgium. MACR 2738.
Delivered Cheyenne 6/12/43; Kearney 8/1/44; Detroit 26/1/44; Grenier 30/1/44; Assigned 652BS/25BG Watton 31/1/44; Salvaged n/battle damaged 29/5/45.
Delivered Cheyenne 30/5/44; Hunter 8/6/44; Grenier 26/6/44; Assigned 836BS/487BG [2G- ] Lavenham 29/6/44; transferred 833BS/486BG [2N-C] Sudbury 11/44; with Lloyd Henry on 24/8/44 tg Walt Maximuk shot down an Me163 jet fighter; {53m} Returned to the USA Bradley 8/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 6/12/45.
Help preserve the archive: I invest a lot of time into these research results. If my work helps you, I would appreciate a small tip!
