The Boeing B-17 âFlying Fortressâ bomberâs first flight was on 28th July 1935. In total, 12,731 units were built between 1936-1945! The nickname âFlying Fortressâ was concocted by an American reporter, then the Boeing Company registered the name as a trademark.
The first 18 B-17E bombers arrived to equip the US 8th Air Force units in mid-1942Â and flew their first mission against rail yards in occupied France on 17th August 1942. With the newly devised Norden Bombsight, this mission was much more successful than the British experience earlier in the European War.
The B-17 was a fast, high-flying, long-range bomber that was able to defend itself. It carried a superb bomb load and was able to return home despite extensive battle damage. Its reputation quickly took on mythic proportions, and widely circulated stories and photos of notable numbers and examples of B-17s surviving battle damage increased its iconic status â B-17 âfortressâ fully deserved its nickname.
As of May 2015, ten aircraft remain airworthy. None of them are combat veterans. Additionally, a few dozen more are in storage or on static display. The oldest is a D-series combat veteran with service in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
Boeing Y1B-17 (pre-production version of the B-17) in flight [US Air Force].
B-17 carried General MacArthur to observe a parachute invasion of Nadzab. 5 September 1943. Bomber belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group 63rd Bomb SquadronÂ
US bombers B-17 âFlying Fortressâ during the bombing of Brasov, Romania .
Crews examine flak damage to B-17G Fortress at RAF Bassingbourn, England. Damage sustained on a mission to Munich, Germany, 6 July 1944. Note âMickeyâ Pathfinder radar dome in place of ball turret [United States National Archives].
US bombers B-17 âFlying Fortressâ on the airfield at Poltava
Burning B-17 âFlying Fortressâ was shot down by a direct hit from anti-aircraft missile over the RuhlandÂ
Bombers B-17F âFlying Fortressâ of the 390th Bomb Group (8AF)bombs their targets in FranceÂ
Boeing B-17G of the 95th Bomb Group Raid in 1944Â
Bombers B-17 âFlying Fortressâ under anti-aircraft fire over Debrecen, Hungary
Bombardier of the âFlying Fortressâ returns from a mission. In the background are visible other B-17s of the 96th Bomb Group US Air ForceÂ
B-17G Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are escorted by a P-51B of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Summer-Fall 1944.Â
B-17 bombers of the 303rd Bomb Group flying in the gaps of the German anti-aircraft fireÂ
United States planes in echelon formation. B-24 âLiberatorâ, Douglas DC-4 and B-17 âFlying FortressâÂ
B-17 Flying Fortress bomber at rest, silhouetted by the setting sun, Langley Field, Virginia, United States, July 1942.  Note B-18 Bolo and two A-20 Havoc aircraft in the background
Wreck of B-17C bomber at Hickam Field, US Territory of Hawaii. 7 December 1941 (United States National Archives).
Â
B-17E Flying Fortress converted to XB-38 with Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engines as an experimental testbed in the event the radial engines became unavailable, 1942.
B-17F âFlying Fortressâ aircraft âSpotted Cowâ, assembly ship of 384th Bomber Group, 547th Bomber Squadron, based in RAF Grafton Underwood, England. 1943Â
Â
B-17F âMary Ruth â Memories of Mobileâ and the 401st Bomb Squadron flying toward the German U-boat pens at Lorient, France. 17 May 1943. This photo was taken from B-17 âMemphis Belleâ on her last combat sortie (United States National Archives).
Â
B-17 Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group nearing the Dornier Assembly Plant at Meulan, France at dawn, Aug 13, 1943 (United States National Archives)
Â
Overhead view of the B-17H bomber in flight (US Air Force).
Â
B-17F Fortress flying over Monte Cassino as smoke rises from the abbey. 15 February 1944 (US Air Force)
Â
B-17G Fortress âMiss Donna Mae IIâ drifted under another bomber on a bomb run over Berlin, 19 May 1944. A 1,000 lb bomb from above tore off the left stabilizer and sent the plane into an uncontrollable spin. All 11 were killed (United States National Archives)