LOCK ON N°24 AIRCRAFT PHOTO FILE Fa Pitas sata)B-17G FLYING FORTRESS Imperial War Museum Collection Duxford, England Tr(Cover & title page: = Finished In the colors of Captain Robert I. Morgan's famous B-17F' “Memphis Hele’ of the 91st GB, 32th BS, Sth ‘AF, this beautifully and airworthy B-17G touches Belgian soll after a ferry fight from its home base Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. The 8-17G is stil considered one of the most elegant and most important allied bombers of World War I. (Both photos by Marck DEBOECK) Centerfold The very same aircraft framed while displaying @ low altitude flypast with its bomb bay doors open. One can almost hear the roar ofthe four turbo-supercharged engines. 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Publstedin Beloun by \VERLINDEN PUBLICATIONS nv Ondememerstaat FNC Zora Mabokot 2500 LERIBELIUM Publish and trina in the United Sates by VLE CORPORATION 17, Lene star Dave ne Star indus Park Graton Mo 53986 Osa, Tel (s14) 281-5700, Fae (14) 284-5780, Project Manager & ‘Cve Eanor Francis VERLINDEN US or Bob fetrenian Fed Resserch Wily PEETERS Layout ity PEETERS, Phowgawe —_ SCANBOYBeerz01 Bem Pontes oy Druktony Oe PEUTER Te eee ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Photographic coverage of the B-17G in this Lock On was made possible by the commitment of several people at the Duxford War Museum. ‘Therefore I would like to thank the following persons for their efforts: Mr Frank CROSBY, Deputy Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Duxford, Mrs Carol A. Stearn, Publicity Assistant and Mrs Christine CAMPBELL who was on standby in case I needed assistance. "Action shots” were taken at the Flying Display in Qostmalle, Belgium thanks to Mr Ronny VAN SANT, who deserves a word of thanks. Finally, | would like to express my gratitude to Capt. Marck DEBOECK for sharing his slides to be printed in this book. To those, unintentionally forgotten, my sincere apologies. Willy PEETERS Readers are invited to send in slides and/or clear color photographs on illitary subjects which may be used in future LOCK ON publications. Adaitional information on military aircraft of any kind is also welcomed. Material used will be pald for upon publication and unused material will be returned upon request. Original slides and photographs will be handled with extreme care. Clearly state name and address when sending in your material.INTRODUCTION Several B-17's are stil flying today and even more have been preserved in museums, most in prestine condition like he one covered in this Lock On, What eventuslly emerged in the late 30's as the YIB-17 project from Bowing, « longe range bomber no one actually heeded at that time, soon becarne one of the backbones of the at war over Europe and Nazi Germany. B17 went through a h time. changh 3. It was only after journalist, re like 2 became offi The B-17G was certainly the most proliferate type produced with 8,680 exa which 4,035 alone were assembled ould not cope with the 35 B-17G's were li citheed Vea, « simply modified B-17 F's with a chin turtet added. The tions willbe covered on the following pages Fuselage side detail of the N°3 engine nacelle and the inner wing section, forward n of the engine in relation to the wing Also note how the cowl flaps imost completely enci the engine nacelle exhaust mantold collector nd exhaust duct, Note the ine of the greenThe below-na ult atthe rear ling intakes. The A firewall seperates engine tnd wheel wel. ail bulkheads hold the ‘Two carburator intakes ar located in the wing root nex to the engine nacelles.left) The starboard wing's most N'4 engine an this model uiboard view o gi Teading edge Pipe on top ofthe Feetangula slot in th fag_The starboard waist gun position was formerly further aft on the early G rmodel but the side by side configuration proved unsatisfactory with both waist gunners constantly blocking each ‘other's movements in the heat of the battle ‘Moving forward one of the gun positions was 3 simple but effective solutlon. Several cover designs were tied out to protect the waist gunners from the cold at high Slttudes, like sliding plexiglas windows which ‘could be kept closed during the en-route Might (but which needed to be opened to install the 50 cel guns), The enclosed plexiglas covering ‘wos introduced from early 1944 Below can be seen the inside detall of the waist entrance door introduced on the B-17E,nally replacing the early gun rng, bely gun tub and Ben mote control belly turret (all rather unsatisfactory design was the manned Sperry ball turn iy introduced on the 113th The whole electricall rated assembly wa supported on a yoke and gimp hich can be seen on A ded 2 and was highly effecti inet attacks from Below, 2 comfortable place to by alest membe ducing |Aiming the guns was by means of a the gun The ball turret had a drawbacks. One was the unabilty to romped inner space. The ture forted the gun side the turret, 0 evere domage ‘aie be Gr inerest in the photo at right are both foot rests aside of the circular winds Overall view of the central y with the bomb bay in closed position, The mai drawback Of the B-17 was i relativessir Wright Rl I position wer HP In wer emergen: ‘vider propeller blades resulting in the wings d er ). Note the Olive Drab upp ‘the engine couling leading edge.Detail not revealed in the lange photo on page 15 is apparent inthis view of the propeller hub and cylinder arangerment. Note the red markers ‘on the yellow propeller rings, [At bottom right can be seen the inside of the temergency exit door at fronton port side.B-17G FLYING FORTRESS Imperial War Museum Collection Duxford, England (Photo by Marck DEBOECK)Further af are lator. Note the neat fuse lining,compartment with twin 50 cal Browning guns, mtral spar. The seat installed here Is very simple I tis known the tail qunner had armor plating int of hin and thatthe windows of the enclosure we Tegulator and wooden ammo box ‘ Side (not shown here}. Poe ar emg trie te herpes reed rear econo sliding window to the lefttails ‘defintely one of the most familiar bombers WW an certainly one of the m fl aircraft that ever few