As of November 2022, four aircraft remain airworthy, none flown in combat. Dozens more are in storage or on static display. The oldest of these is a D-series flown in combat in the Pacific on the first day of the United States’ involvement in World War II.
How much is a B-17 worth
The four-engine (1200 hp each) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber, which cost over $200,000 each in 1940 (the equivalent of about $3,000,000 in today’s market), was a key component of the United States Army Air Forces’ (USAAF) World War II strategy in Western Europe.
How many B-17 were shot down
In addition, air crews liked the B-17 for its ability to withstand heavy combat damage and still return its crew safely home. Between 1935 and ,732 B-17s were produced. Of these aircraft, 4,735 were lost during combat missions.
How many b29s are left
Doc, one of only two World War II B-29 bombers still flying, will be based at the Museum May 19-22, 2022 for rides and ground tours.
How many B-17 were lost over Germany
A total of 60 B-17s failed to return from the mission or reach the shuttle bases in North Africa: 36 from the Regensberg force and 24 from the Schweinfurt mission. Nearly all fell victim to fighter attack. It was becoming obvious that unescorted missions into Germany were too costly to continue.
What is the oldest bomber still in service
The B-52 has been in service with the USAF since 1955. As of June 2019, there are 76 aircraft in inventory; 58 operated by active forces (2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing), 18 by reserve forces (307th Bomb Wing), and about 12 in long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan AFB Boneyard.
How many B-17 completed 25 missions
In May of 1943, two B-17s (from two separate Bomb Groups) were the first two heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater.
How many B-17s are made daily
Eventually, over 12,000 B-17s were built. At the peak of this amazing production effort, 16 B-17s rolled off the assembly line per day at Boeing’s Plant 2 in Seattle. Much of this labor was done by women who filled jobs after men left for war.
Can a B-17 fly on 1 engine
It had a crew of ten and could carry 6,000 pounds of bombs at 300 miles per hour for a range of 2,000 miles. Its famous nickname came from the fact it carried 13 . 50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns for protection, and had a legendary toughness for carrying its crew home on one engine or even with the tail shot away.
What replaced the B-17
While the B-17s were used in the Pacific, by 1944 the B-29 had replaced the B-17 for use in the Pacific Theater. B-17s were initially intended as a fast, land-based bomber, which could patrol at sea and intercept naval vessels.
What was the toughest bomber in ww2
Avro Lancaster – UK
It was one of the heaviest and most powerful bombers used by the Allies, capable of carrying large payloads of bombs and flying long distances at high speeds.
How many b52 are still flying
The Raider and the B-52 will be the two-bomber fleet for at least the next three decades until the 2050s. There are currently 58 B-52s in service today, with another 18 in reserve and a dozen in long-term storage, from the total 744 that were built.
How many super fortresses are left
Many served during the Korean War and as aerial tankers during the 1950s. Only 22 complete B-29 airframes are currently restored in the United States. Two of these are airworthy.
How many B-29 shot down over Japan?
Fire Bombs
On , flying in darkness at low altitudes, more than 300 B-29s dropped close to a quarter of a million incendiary bombs over Tokyo. LeMay’s gamble was successful. Perhaps as many as 100,000 Japanese were dead, almost 16 square miles of the city destroyed, and a million people homeless.
When was the last B-17 made
There were 12,731 B-17s built between 19. Though most B-17s were scrapped after the war, we are fortunate to have one on exhibit at the Air Mobility Command Museum(This link opens in another tab/external link) in Dover, Del.
What year was the last B-17 retired
The Navy even chose the B-17 to perform as the world’s first AWACs system. By 1959, however, the very last B-17 had been retired by the military. B-17’s were built in seven different variants, with the “G” being the definitive model.
When did the U.S. stop using B-17
The last operational USAF B-17 mission was on , when DB-17P 44-83684 (Originally a Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-90-DL) directed QB-17G 44-83717 which was expended as a target for an AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missile fired from an F-101 Voodoo, near Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
What was the life expectancy of a tail gunner
The Rear-Turret Gunners were in the most vulnerable position on the Plane. The life expectancy of a WW2 Rear-gunner varied but was never high, mostly about just 5-Sorties.
Will the B-52 ever be retired
In September of 2021, the B-52 got another new lease on life in the form of a $2.6 billion Commercial Engine Replacement Program contract awarded to Rolls-Royce to replace its 1960s-era TF33 engines with new F130s that will keep it flying into the 2050s — meaning the B-52 will likely still be in service more than a
How many B-52 shot down in Vietnam
The devastating losses were not all one way. At the same time, the United States Air Force sustained losses that today would seem unfathomable. Fifteen B-52s – the pride of America’s fleet – were shot down, six in one day alone, and 33 airmen lost.
What is the most advanced bomber in the world
2, 2022. The B-21 will be a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. “We don’t really have a capability unless we can maintain it,” he said. “The B-21 is carefully designed to be the most maintainable bomber ever built.”
What was the life expectancy of ab 17 crew
Nothing in the peacetime lives of thousands of young Americans had prepared them for the violence that lay ahead. Although such statistics were not circulated among Army Air Forces crews, the average life expectancy of an Eighth Air Force B-17 in late 1943 was 11 missions.
What is the angel of death plane
They’ve been called Angels of Death: AC-130 gunships. The heavily armed stuff of nightmares for adversaries and the close-air support guardian angels of allies. For decades these titans of the air have dominated battlefields and provided peace of mind for service members on the ground.
How long was an average B-17 mission
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a World War II bomber used primarily in Europe. B-17s from the Eighth Air Force participated in countless missions from bases in England. These missions often lasted for more than eight hours and struck at targets deep within enemy territory.
How long does it take to build a B-17
The B-17 required 55,00 man hours to build in 1941. By 1944 it took 19,000 man hours to build. During World War II the Willow Run plant hit a peak production of 462 B-17’s built, that’s an average of 63 minutes per bomber. Today only 12 B-17’s still fly, out of the 12,732 that were built.
How many men in a B-17 crew
It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.
Which B-17 bomber completed the most combat missions
Nine-O-Nine was a Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress heavy bomber, of the 323d Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group, that completed 140 combat missions during World War II, believed to be the Eighth Air Force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew her.
How much fuel does a B-17 burn per hour
A B-17 will easily burn 200 gallons of fuel per hour, plus about 10 gallons of oil per hour. Consumables and wear items cost an estimated $3,000 per flight hour.
How did B-17s get to England
The North Atlantic air ferry route was a series of Air Routes over the North Atlantic Ocean on which aircraft were ferried from the United States and Canada to Great Britain during World War II to support combat operations in the European Theater of Operations (ETO).
Who made engines for B-17
Ultimately, the B-17 Flying Fortress would earn its reputation powered by Wright radial engines to the very end of combat.
Did the B-17 sink any ships
The first great success attributed to the B-17 was the sinking of the Japanese battleship Haruna off Luzon during the invasion of the Philippines, by a Fortress piloted by Colin Kelly, who thereby became one of the first American popular heroes of World War Two.
What does the B stand for in B-17?
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.
How long did it take to train a B-17 pilot?
Flight Training Aircraft
At the beginning of the war, flight training lasted nine months, with three months of primary, three months of basic, and three months of advanced training. Each pilot had 65 flying hours of primary training and 75 hours of both basic and advanced training.