The Story of Japan’s Captured B-17 Bombers in WWII and Their Secret Use

Early Capture in the Philippines

Just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japanese forces launched air raids on American bases in the Philippines. One of their key targets was Clark Field, where several B-17 Flying Fortress bombers were either destroyed or abandoned. While most of the planes were too damaged to fly again, at least one B-17C was found in repairable condition.

Japanese engineers carefully restored the bomber, making it airworthy once again. They also salvaged parts from other wrecked aircraft to complete the repairs. This marked the start of Japan’s effort to study the American heavy bomber, hoping to learn more about its capabilities.

Technical Study and Test Flights

The repaired B-17 was sent to the Tachikawa Airfield in Japan. There, aviation experts took it apart and studied its systems. They paid close attention to the plane’s defensive features, including its gunner positions and thick armor. Though the secret Norden bombsight had been removed before the plane was abandoned, the Japanese still learned a lot from the bomber’s layout.

In 1942, the Japanese began test flights with the captured B-17. Painted in Japanese markings, it flew in the Pacific as pilots practiced handling it. This helped them understand how to fight against American bomber formations more effectively in later battles.

Deception Missions and Combat Influence

Japan didn’t just study the bomber—they tried to use it in real operations. In one case, they flew a captured B-17 marked with American symbols in an attempt to confuse Allied forces. However, alert gunners spotted strange flight behavior and exposed the trick.

The B-17’s design also influenced Japanese bombers, including the Mitsubishi G8M. Although not a direct copy, it shared some of the same design ideas—long range, a large bomb load, and heavy defense. Japanese engineers also used what they learned to plan better ways to attack bombers, targeting weak spots like engines and bomb bays.

The End of the Captured Bombers

As the war turned against Japan, these captured planes became less useful. By 1944, most had been destroyed or scrapped. After the war, Allied forces found B-17 wreckage in Japanese airfields. Though mostly forgotten today, this episode remains one of the war’s more unusual stories of reverse engineering and deception.