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.

On June 27, 1942, horrendous weather conditions forced this early “E” model B-17 to make an emergency landing on a Greenland ice cap. The entire crew survived the 10-day ordeal by getting the aircraft’s radio into operation again and transmitting an SOS, which resulted in their rescue.

Old 666 was a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress heavy bomber, serial number 41-2666, assigned to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 19th and 43rd Bombardment Groups in 1942–1943.

The B-17E was not used in great numbers for combat because the F model was so different in performance that it made joint operations, using both planes unlikely. The B-17E took a back seat and was eventually esed as a trainer, a transport and a target-tower.

The B-17E was the first "offensive" model of the Flying Fortress family. It first flew on September 5, 1941, and in the ensuing year many hundreds were produced at Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed. Among the major changes were a longer fuselage, increased fin area, dorsal and ventral power turrets, tail gun position and increased nose armament.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 were the United States' two standard heavy bombers until the arrival of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in 1944. The B-17 served in almost every theater of World War II, but it was used mostly by the US Eighth Air Force, based in the UK, to bombard German targets.

Apr 8, 2024 · The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engined heavy bomber plane used by the air forces of the United States and Britain during the Second World War (1939-45). The B-17 had unusually heavy defensive...

Jan 22, 2013 · In service from beginning to end of the U.S. participation in World War Two, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was evolved in 1934 for a USAAC design competition for an offshore anti-shipping bomber.

In 1934 the Army issued a call for the design of a defensive bomber capable of striking an enemy fleet. The specifications called for a "multi-engine" bomber. The Boeing entry was fitted with four engines, and put up an impressive showing against its competitors.

Apr 30, 2020 · The first B-17E bombers were delivered to the 7th Bombardment Group that joined the 19th Bombardment Group in the Pacific theatre from December 1941, and others of the 512 aircraft were allocated to the units that formed the first elements of the 8th Army Air Force in the UK from May 1942.