Castles In The Air - The Story Of The B-17 Flyi... Apr 2026

The B-17’s journey began with a near-catastrophic failure. The prototype, known as , first took flight in July 1935. Despite outperforming its competitors in speed and range, the prototype crashed during a demonstration, nearly ending the program before it began. However, the U.S. Army Air Corps saw enough potential in the "15-ton flying fortress"—a name coined by a Seattle Times reporter—to order 13 more for testing. The Hammer of the Eighth Air Force

: After 1945, the aircraft found new life in search-and-rescue (as the "Dumbo" life-raft droppers), photographic reconnaissance, and even as "drone" aircraft for atmospheric sampling during atomic tests. Castles in the Air - the Story of the B-17 Flyi...

: By the time the definitive B-17G model appeared, it boasted 13 .50-caliber machine guns, including a "chin turret" to counter head-on attacks. Beyond the Bombing Run The B-17’s journey began with a near-catastrophic failure