Музей Военно-Воздушных Сил США WWII Вторая Мировая Война. Часть 2

Boeing B‑17 Flying Fortress was the first mass‑produced all‑metal heavy four‑engine bomber of the United States Army Air Forces during World II. It was one of three primary strategic bombers used by the U.S., alongside the B‑24 Liberator and the B‑29 Superfortress, whose production began later. The nickname “Flying Fortress” came from its formidable defensive armament. Between 1936 and 1945 more than 12,000 units were built, and the aircraft operated on all fronts where the United States fought. Its defensive machine‑gun complement grew from four 12.7‑mm and one 7.62‑mm forward‑firing gun on the B‑17C to thirteen 12.7‑mm guns on the B‑17G. Although its range and bomb load were less than those of the heavier B‑24 and the British Avro Lancaster, the B‑17’s ruggedness compensated for these shortcomings. Numerous stories exist of returning crews with damaged wings, a single engine, or even with parts of the tail still intact. This durability, combined with its widespread use by the Eighth Air Force and the fame of the “Memphis Belle” that completed 25 missions over Europe, made the B‑17 one of the most renowned bombers in history.