B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the MTO

by William N Hess
B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the MTO
Author: William N Hess
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2012-12-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1782008373
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Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess has written the definitive account on 'his air force', featuring photographs and illustrations throughout. Although the Fifteenth Air Force was dismissed as 'minor leaguers' by the Eighth Air Force, strategic bombers from this outfit had done a 'major league' job on Axis targets in southern Europe following its formation in Italy in November 1943. And the heavy bombers employed by the Fifteenth were of course the venerable B-17 and B-24. At its peak strength, the Fifteenth's B-17 force comprised six groups of four squadrons each, all controlled by the 5th Bomb Wing.

B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force (part 2)

by Martin Bowman
B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force (part 2)
Author: Martin Bowman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2013-01-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1472800524
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The Boeing B-17, which has come to epitomise the American war effort in Europe, took the fight to Germans from the late summer of 1942 through to VE-Day. Its primary operator in Western Europe was the 'Mighty Eighth', who controlled 27 bomb groups for much of the war. This second of two volumes covers the 14 Bomb Groups of the Third Air Division. First hand accounts, period photography, profile artworks and nose art scrap views bring to life aircraft from each of the groups within the Third Air Division.

B-17 Flying Fortress

by H. P. Willmott
B-17 Flying Fortress
Author: H. P. Willmott
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Total Pages: 64
Release: 1983-01-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780130567130
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Describes America's most famous bomber in World War II, and explains how the plane influenced the outcome of the war and its role in the devastation of Germany by the Allies

Boeing B-17

by Graham M. Simons
Boeing B-17
Author: Graham M. Simons
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 443
Release: 2011-12-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1783461012
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“Fascinating insight into the early development of the B-17 Flying Fortress . . . undoubtedly outshines other books on this significant WWII aircraft.” —Air Mail The Boeing B-17 was the first American heavy bomber to see action in World War II when it was supplied to the RAF. The design originated in 1934 when the US Air Corps was looking for a heavy bomber to reinforce air forces in Hawaii, Panama and Alaska. For its time, the design included many advanced features, and Boeing continued to develop the aircraft as experience of the demands of long-distance flying at high altitude was gained. When the United States entered WWII, production of the aircraft was rapidly increased and it became the backbone of the USAAF in all theaters of war. This book describes how it was built and utilizes many hitherto unpublished photographs from the design studio and production lines. It illustrates and explains the many different roles that the aircraft took as the war progressed. Heavy bomber, reconnaissance, antisubmarine, and air-sea rescue operations; there were few roles that this solid design could not adopt.

B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces

by Jerry Scutts
B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces
Author: Jerry Scutts
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1997-05-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781855326378
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The medium bomber 'workhorse' of the Ninth Air Force, Martin's much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed 'the widow maker', a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews' chances of survival – indeed, by war's end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe during World War II (1939-1945), featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed.

Building the B-17 Flying Fortress: a Detailed Look at Manufacturing Boeing's Legendary World War II Bomber in Original Photos

by Bill Yenne
Building the B-17 Flying Fortress: a Detailed Look at Manufacturing Boeing's Legendary World War II Bomber in Original Photos
Author: Bill Yenne
Publisher: Specialty Press
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2021-03-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9781580072717
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This new book reveals rare original photos and full manufacturing details of America's greatest multi-engine combat aircraft flown in World War II. Contents cover building the Flying Fortress from wingtip to wingtip and from the bombardier's Perspex nose to the tail-gunner's twin-Browning cannons. Significant aspects of B-17 production include exterior views of each model variant from various angles, all crew stations in each B-17 type (including the entire flight deck), defensive gun turrets used in every B-17 model, fuselage interiors, exteriors, engines, nacelles, and even control surfaces. Factory-original color cutaway drawings as well as reproductions of original specifications sheets and other information-packed documents created by manufacturers during the 1940s are also included for the reader. As a research asset, the book's appendices feature a detailed survey of every production block of the 12,731 B-17 bombers produced during the war in an unbelievable time span of only three-and-a-half year--an industrial phenomenon unlike any the world had ever seen. What sets this book apart from all others in the crowded B-17 field is literally hundreds of factory-original close-up detailed photographs and illustrations accompanied by comprehensive high-resolution reproductions of original Boeing drawings, and all are explained in detailed yet easy to understand descriptive text. This book provides valuable data for the serious Boeing B-17 aficionado as well as a compelling story of America's aircraft manufacturing prowess for the dedicated aviation enthusiast.