Boeing B-17G "Flying Fortress"

Best known and most revered for its ability to be severely damaged and still bring its crew home, the B-17 attracts many visitors and causes many excited and warm comments. In August 1942 B-17s of the 8th Air Force, stationedat Polebrook and Northants, England began the daylight bombing of the German war machine. According to Albert Speer, ead of the German war production of ball bearings, fuel, aircraft, and transportation. The B-17s, in their E, F and G variants dropped 640,000 tons of bombs compared to the 452,500 tons dropped by the more numerous B-24s. Besides service in Europe, B-17s served in the Pacific Theater, in Korea, and the Arab-Israeli war.

Our museum aircraft was manufactured by Douglas Aircraf, a subcontractor to Boeing, and was delivered to the USAAF on 1 May 1945. Since hostilites in Europe ceased on 7 May 1945 our aircraft did not see combat in WWII. The 38 bombs painted on the nose are decorations, not mission symbols. In June 1953 it was loaned to Brazil as a training aircraft. It was returned to the USAF in June 1968. Transferred to the Hill Aerospace Museum in 1987, it was disassembled, and flown the Hill in a C-5, reassembled, repainted, and decorated for your enjoyment. In 1942 Hill AFB was responsible for modifications and in 1952 for major overhaul, inspection, and modification. In 1956 HAFB assumed prime depot responsibilty.