What was the B-17 used for?

What was the B-17 used for?

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.

How many B-17s were shot down?

Once the attack began, German defenses devastated the American bomber force. Most aircraft in the attacking force suffered some damage. Of the 291 B-17s in the attack force, 60 were lost, 17 were heavily damaged and most of the others incurred some damage, but were repairable.

How many bombs did the b17 carry?

It was a four engine, heavy bomber which first flew on July 28, 1935. 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 .

Are there any B-17 still flying?

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States.

Do planes really drop poop?

It is a mixture of human biowaste and liquid disinfectant that freezes at high altitude. Airlines are not allowed to dump their waste tanks in mid-flight, and pilots have no mechanism by which to do so; however, leaks sometimes do occur.

Who died in B-17 crash?

The passengers who died in the crash were: David Broderick, 56, of West Springfield, Massachusetts; Robert Rubner, 64, of Tolland; Gary Mazzone, 66, of East Windsor; James Roberts, 48, of Ludlow, Massachusetts; and Robert Riddell, 59, of East Granby.

What caused B-17 crash?

WINDSOR LOCKS — Investigators determined the deadly World War II-era B-17 bomber crash at Bradley Airport in 2019 was caused by the pilot’s actions, but maintenance issues, a lack of oversight and an ineffective safety management system were also contributing factors, a newly released National Transportation Safety …

How did the B-17 crash?

The pilot, Ernest “Mac” McCauley, reported a problem with one of the engines shortly after takeoff, and the plane crashed into a maintenance building and burst into flames during a landing attempt.

What happened to the B-17 crash?

Seven of the thirteen people on board were killed, and the other six, as well as one person on the ground, were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, with only the tail and a portion of one wing remaining…

How many engines can a 17 fly on?

Technical Specifications

First flight	July 28, 1935 (prototype)
Range (max.)	3,750 miles
Ceiling	35,600 feet
Power	Four 1,200-horsepower Wright R-1820-97 engines
Accommodation	2 pilots, bombardier, navigator, radio-operator, 5 gunners

What engine did the b17 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 was the b17 fatal flaw?

The plane that could hold a crew of 10 —pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, navigator, flight engineer and 5 gunners — and could take down the enemy in a rugged flying fortress, was unable to land without a strange phenomenon occurring. …

Which is better b17 or b24?

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.

How much fuel does a b17 burn per hour?

The B-17 burns 200 gallons of fuel per hour.

How much fuel did a b17 carry?

FUEL CAPACITY: 1,700 gallons RANGE: 1,850 miles. Range could be extended when equipped with “Tokyo Tanks” which provided a total capacity of 3,630 gallons. ARMAMENT: Thirteen Browning M-2 . 50 caliber machine guns.

Which ww2 bomber had the heaviest bomb load?

Avro Lancaster

How many pounds of bombs can a b52 carry?

70,000 pounds

Where did the Bombardier sit in a B17?

There are 2 seats in the nose section: The bombardier seat at the front of the compartment and the navigator seat immediately behind. Passengers are requested to swap seats during the flight so that each passenger may experience either takeoff or the landing in the bombardier’s seat.

How much does it cost to ride in a b17?

For about $425, they can buy a half-hour “flight experience.” The people who manage the bombers don’t like to use the word “ride,” because they say their purpose isn’t to entertain, but to educate.

How many gunners does a b17 have?

5 gunners

How many men are in a b17 crew?

It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.

What were long range fighters?

The escort fighter was a concept for a fighter aircraft designed to escort bombers to and from their targets. An escort fighter needed range long enough to reach the target, loiter over it for the duration of the raid to defend the bombers, and return.

How many b24 are still flying?

Of the 19,256 B-24, PB4Y, LB-30 and other model variants in the Liberator family produced, thirteen complete examples survive today, two of which are airworthy….Surviving aircraft by manufacturer.

Plant	Number produced	Number surviving
Douglas Tulsa (DT)	964	0
	19,256	13

How much did a b29 cost?

The $3 billion cost of design and production (equivalent to $43 billion today), far exceeding the $1.9 billion cost of the Manhattan Project, made the B-29 program the most expensive of the war….Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

B-29 Superfortress
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	21 September 1942
Introduction	8 May 1944
Retired	21 June 1960

How many fighter pilots died in ww2?

Related Resources:

	GRAND TOTAL	TOTAL OFFICERS
TOTAL DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES	12133	5563
DEATHS–ENEMY ACTION	3618	1602
Air Combat	2891	1425
Other Action	727	177

What engine was in the B-29?

Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone

Was the B-29 a failure?

Four hundred and fourteen B-29s were lost bombing Japan—147 of them to flak and Japanese fighters, 267 to engine fires, mechanical failures, takeoff crashes and other “operational losses.” Do the math and you’ll see that for every B-29 lost to the enemy, almost two were lost to accidents and crashes.

What was the problem with the B-29 engines?

One of the primary concerns was the overheating of the aircraft’s four engines as they struggled to reach high altitudes with their heavy payloads. The center employed several teams of researchers and test facilities to investigate the R-3350 cooling issue.