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How many B-17s were shot down?
1 B-17 was lost to unknown causes and 144 B-17s landed in the USSR, 73 at Poltava and the rest at Myrhorod. During the night, the 73 B-17s at Poltava were attacked for 2 hours by an estimated 75 German bombers led by aircraft dropping flares. 47 B-17s were destroyed and most of the rest were severely damaged.
How many bombs did B-17 carry?
Technical Specifications
| First flight | July 28, 1935 (prototype) |
|---|---|
| Ceiling | 35,600 feet |
| Power | Four 1,200-horsepower Wright R-1820-97 engines |
| Accommodation | 2 pilots, bombardier, navigator, radio-operator, 5 gunners |
| Armament | 11 to 13 machine guns, 9,600-pound bomb load |
How many crew does a B-17 have?
10
It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.
When was the B-17 used?
The rugged B-17 heavy bomber was developed as a strategic bomber in the 1930s. It proved efficient, enough to where it was used in every theater of the war.
How many B-17 made 25 missions?
The B-17 Hell’s Angels (41-24577) of the 303rd Bomb Group completed 25 combat missions on 13 May 1943, becoming the first to complete the feat, one week before the Memphis Belle.
What did the B-17 do in World War 2?
Developed by the Boeing Company in the 1930s, the B-17 was a four‑engine heavy bomber aircraft used by the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. It was a very effective weapons system, dropping more bombs during the war than any other American aircraft.
What engine did the B-17 have?
The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engines, each producing 750 hp (600 kW) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m).
What does the B in B-17 stand for?
Bomber
B-17 and General Aircraft Terms FAQs Answer: The B in B-17 and B-24 stand for Bomber and the P in P-38 stands for Pursuit.
Which is better B-17 or B-24?
The B-17 had a very large wing and ailerons (the moveable portion of the wing), while the B-24 used a smaller wing and ailerons for speed. Thus, the Liberator was faster, but the Flying Fortress could fly higher. Typical approach landing speeds for both planes, using full wing flaps was 120 miles per hour.
What was the flying coffin?
A World War II aircraft unofficially known as a “Flying Coffin” has been found in Italy. The heavy bomber Consolidated B-24 Liberator earned its nickname when crew members found it difficult to fly, thanks to its “stiff and heavy controls,” Discovery News reports.
What was the purpose of the B-17 bomber?
The B-17 was designed by the Boeing Aircraft Company in response to a 1934 Army Air Corps specification that called for a four-engined bomber at a time when two engines were the norm. U.S. B-17, or Flying Fortress Courtesy of Boeing Co.
What kind of plane was the B17 Flying Fortress?
For other uses, see B17 (disambiguation), Flying Fortress (film) and B-17 Flying Fortress (video game). The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).
When did the B-17 Superfortress start flying?
In late 1942 and early 1943 these bombers began to fly in what became known as the “combat box” formation, devised by Col. (later Gen.) Curtis E. LeMay. Boeing’s legendary bombers, the B-17 Flying Fortress (first flown in 1935) and the B-29 Superfortress (1942), played key roles in the Allied war effort in World War II.
How many B-17s are in the Air Force?
13) B-17s were flown all over the world in the air forces of various nations (shown in red) and as civilian aircraft (shown in blue). 14) Of the 12,731 originally produced, less than 15 B-17s fly today.