In the mid- 1930's the United States Air Corps was searching for a bomber plane which could have a significant bomb load to help reinforce all other air forces throughout the country during an attack. Boeing was contesting against Martin and Douglas aircraft manufacturers and it also was determined that for the Air Corps to settle on a manufacturer there'd must be a "fly-off" concerning the Martin, Douglas, plus the Boeing models.

Boeing's model, the B-17 reached a cruising rate greater than 250 miles per hour and surely could carry nearly 5000 pounds of bombs. What also really helped placed the Boeing craft apart was it was entirely possible that the B-17 to still operate if one of its engines happened to be lost for whatever reason. Right after the "fly-off" the Boeing was the obvious winner. The Air Corps was pleased about the long range capacities of the B-17, granted on account of the designers at Boeing who had geared up their plane with four engines not like the Martin and Douglas versions relied on twin engines.

The B-17, even though costly to create as compared to its Martin and Douglas alternatives, soon became a well liked tool of the Air Corps due to its capability to fly long flights, capability to carry hefty loads, and how it can defend its own self from attack as a result of plenty machine guns positioned onboard. It was these expensive traits that obtained the B-17 its renowned moniker: The B-17 Flying Fortress.

As the United States turned its attention to World War II in 1941, the B-17 Flying Fortress turned its attention as well. The very first deployments of the plane were unsuccessful also it was not until 1942 that the Air Corps' current weapon turly made an impact on the war.
Involved in mostly daylight operations, the B-17 Flying Fortress was implemented mainly as an effective weapon versus German U-Boats, warehouses, air fields, and aircraft factories. It was an incredibly tough aircraft to bring down that the German Luftwaffe determined that is would take roughly twenty hits to shoot just one out of the sky. The Germans were very impressed by the B-17 Flying Fortress that they found and renovated numerous B-17s that had crashed for their personal use during World War II.

The B-17 bomber was an amazingly successful plane that combined with the Germans, the Soviet Union, Japan, as well as Great Britain have also obtained or reconstructed the aircraft for their own use. Even though its combat time was confined to the second World War. The B-17 bomber will be remembered as among the greatest wartime creations ever. The aircraft permitted the United States to execute long missions which were previously impossible because of fuel and weight power. A fleet of B-17s could erase entire airfields as well as enemy warehouses in a single attack and keep damage well enough to hold their pilots to essential safety. The B-17 Flying Fortress unquestionably deserves recognition as being the plane that won the war.


B-17 Flying Fortress, B-17 Flying Fortress