Inside the B17 Bomber-Gunner Seat

The Flying Fortress With Heavy Defensive Firepower

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a heavy bomber which was a formidable weapon against its enemies. Construction techniques for the Boeing 247 were also used during the building of the B-17 prototype. Of all the other bombers during World War 2, this is possibly the most popular. Over the course of its ten-year production run, it has undergone several changes and improvements. It has been refined time and again which earned it the respect of all the other combatants.

• Long-range bomber that can survive extensive battle damage and still come home.
• Mostly used for daylight raids.
• Typical mission can last up to eight hours.
• Per 1,000 raids; it can take down around 23 enemy aircraft.
• Used in three more wars after World War 2.
• Dubbed by the Japanese as “four-engine fighters.”

Even from the start, this was conceived as a strategic weapon and could withstand heavy damage. Instead of an open cockpit, B-17 was built with a flight deck.