The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II, used primarily in the European Theater of Operations.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress The following is an extensive catalogue of the variants and specific unique elements of each variant and/or design stage of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II.

The Swoose is a Boeing B-17D-BO Flying Fortress, USAAF serial number 40-3097, that saw extensive use in the Southwest Pacific theatre of World War II and survived to become the oldest B-17 still intact.

The NMUSAF is beginning the restoration/conservation of the B-17D known as The Swoose. The aircraft is the only early "shark fin" B-17 known to exist and is the only surviving B-17 to have seen action in the Philippines in the opening days of World War II in the Pacific.

Aug 3, 2022 · The Swoose is the oldest surviving, intact B-17, the only surviving example to have seen combat during the Philippines Campaign, the only surviving shark-fin tail D-model, and perhaps the only surviving U.S. aircraft to serve the entirety of WWII.

Feb 11, 2025 · The restoration of “The Swoose,” one of the most renowned surviving Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, is ongoing at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) in Dayton, Ohio. James Church recently visited the museum and shared the latest updates.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the then-United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry outperformed both competitors and more than met the Air Corps' expectations.

Sep 1, 2023 · Back in April, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF) announced that they would resume the restoration of Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress 40-3097, nicknamed The Swoose, one of the most storied survivors of its breed. Being the oldest intact Flying Fortress extant, this is both a restoration and conservation project.

Nov 21, 2021 · In September 1941 nine B-17D Flying Fortresses became the first heavy bombers to arrive in the Philippines via the “Pacific Route.”

Described by General H. H. Hap Arnold, as the backbone of our worldwide aerial offensive, the B-17 Flying Fortress served in every World War II combat zone.