The Boeing B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ boasts a remarkable legacy, as both a strategic weapon and an enduring symbol of American air power during the Second World War. Designed as a large, multi-engine bomber with substantial defensive armament, the B-17 was introduced in 1938. First used in combat with the RAF in 1941, carrying out bombing raids in France, its poor performance suggested that improved defences and greater bombing accuracy were needed. Later variants like the B-17G were more effective

Flying Fortress Office. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flight deck, the iconic cockpit that would be familiar to thousands of young pilots and crew in the 1940’s as part of the Mighty 8th AAF and the 15th Air Force. #b17flyingfortress #B17 #warbirds #warbirdlovers #history #ww2 #wwii #mastersoftheair | The Warbird Coffee Company

After the carnage of WWI, the U.S. Army Air Corps saw the need for a new type of plane with the range, altitude, and speed to effectively bomb its targets. Boeing soon obliged with the powerful B-17. 🎥Memphis Belle in Color | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation