Warplanes of the USA: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(USAAF Photo)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Serial No. 238091) over the Pacific Ocean, leveling off for a run over target. This aircraft is equipped with a chin turret armed with .50 caliber machine guns featured in later models. The B-17 weighed about 60,000 lbs., carried a bomb load of 6000 lbs., at a speed of approximately 300 miles per hour.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). The B-17 is a fast and high-flying bomber, used primarily in the European Theater of Operations. B-17s dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during the Second World War. It is the third-most produced bomber of all time, behind the American four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the German multirole, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88. The B-17 was also employed in transport, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue roles.

From from its inception, the USAAC (from 1941 the United States Army Air Forces, USAAF) promoted the aircraft as a strategic weapon. It was a relatively fast, high-flying, long-range bomber with heavy defensive armament at the expense of bomb load. It also developed a reputation for toughness based on stories and photos of badly damaged B-17s safely returning to base.

The B-17 saw early action in the Pacific War, where it conducted air raids against Japanese shipping and airfields. It was, however, primarily employed by the USAAF in the daylight component of the Allied strategic bombing campaign over Europe, complementing RAF Bomber Command's night bombers in attacking German industrial, military and civilian targets. Of the roughly 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Germany and its occupied territories by Allied aircraft, over 640,000 tons (42.6%) were dropped from B-17s. (Wikipedia)

(USAAC Photo)

Boeing Y1B-17 in flight, 1937.

(USAAF Photo)

B-17G Fortress 'Mon Tete Rouge II' at 17,900 ft over Chateaudun, France, 28 March 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Flak bursts through the vapor trails from B-17 flying fortresses of the 15th air force during the attack on the rail yards at Graz, Austria, on 3 March 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

B-17 waist gunners.

(USAAF Photo)

During a 15 Oct 1944 bombing mission toCologne, Germany, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Serial No. 42-97880) "LittleMiss Mischief" sustained severe damage from flak  amidships as it approached its target.  The blast tore amassive hole in the left waist, nearly splitting the aircraft in two. Theflak wounded waist gunner Sgt Glenn Slaughter and ball turret gunner Sgt EdAdbo, and damaged control cables. Engineer T/Sgt James Hobbs spliced controlcables together and the B-17 returned to base at 100-110 mph. On approach, the landinggear was hand cranked down, before the aircraft was greased onto the field bypilot 1Lt Paul R McDowell. 9 returned to duty (RTD), two were wounded in action(WIA). Crew: Lt McDowell, Lt Herman Balaban [CP], Lt Ralph Barrett [B], LtWilliam Royle [N], Hobbs, Adbo, Slaughter, T/Sgt Ken Bush [RO] and Sgt HowellThomas [TG]. Damage was such that the rear of the aircraft was replaced by thatof B-17 (Serial No. 42-31405) 'Wallaroo Mk. II'. 40 days of repair work usingparts salvaged from 13 other damaged B-17 bombers, earned a reputation as apatchwork marvel of resilience. The end result was a B-17 with a silver Vegabuilt front end and an olive drab Boeing rear end!

(USAAF Photo)

1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group QB-17 Flying Fortress Drones over New Mexico, April 1946. Aircraft were in natural aluminum finish with red fuselage and tail stripes. Photo taken from accompanying DB-17G drone controller aircraft. Drone aircraft identified as: Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-85-DL Fortress  (Serial No. 44-83553), Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-90-DL Fortress  (Serial No. 44-83603), Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-90-DL Fortress  (Serial No. 44-83588), Lockheed/Vega B-17G-110-VE Fortress  (Serial No. 44-85819).

In 1946, surplus B-17s were chosen as drone aircraft for atmospheric sampling during the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests, being able to fly close to or even through the mushroom clouds without endangering a crew. This led to more widespread conversion of B-17s as drones and drone control aircraft, both for further use in atomic testing and as targets for testing surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. One hundred and seven B-17s were converted to drones. (Wikipedia)

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing B-17F-130-BO (Serial No. 42-30934), San Francisco, California, March 1946.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing B-17G (Serial No. 42-97123), coded Triangle U, L, Kingman, Arizona, c1946.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing B-17G (Serial No. 46315), square P, coded 4F, Kingman, Arizona, c1946.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing B-17G (Serial No. ), triangle S, Kingman, Arizona, c1946.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing/Douglas B-17H-DL (Serial No. 44-83719), Hayward Airport, California, 20 April 1947.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-17 carrying two JB-2 Loon missiles.

The Republic-Ford JB-2, also known as the Thunderbug, KGW and LTV-N-2 Loon, was an American copy of the German V-1 flying bomb. Developed in 1944, and planned to be used in the Allied invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall), the JB-2 was never used in combat. It was the most successful of the United States Army Air Forces Jet Bomb (JB) projects (JB-1 through JB-10) during the Second World War. Postwar, the JB-2 played a significant role in the development of more advanced surface-to-surface tactical missile systems such as the MGM-1 Matador and later MGM-13 Mace. (Wikipedia)

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(USAAF Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 42-97503) 'Princess Pat', 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group in flight. All changes made to the Flying Fortress were incorporated into the final production version, the B-17G. These included the Bendix remotely-operated chin turret, bringing the bomber's defensive armament to thirteen .50 in (12.7-mm) machine guns. The waist gun windows were staggered to improve the gunner's freedom of movement, another carryover from the YB-40 "gunship" variant.

About six B-17s remain in flying condition. About 50 survive in storage or are on static display, the oldest of which is The Swoose, a B-17D which was flown in combat in the Pacific on the first day of the United States' involvement in the Second World War. (Wikipedia)

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses preserved in the USA by aircraft type, serial number, registration number and location:

(Valder137 Photo)

Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress (Serial No. 40-3097), C/N 2125, the “Swoose”.  On loan to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, from the National Air and Space Museum. This bomber was built in 1940 at Boeing Seattle as a B-17D. In May 1941 it was flown to Hawaii. She was flown to the Philippnes in September 1941, and named "Ole Betsy." From December 1941 to January 1942 she was flown in combat. In January 1942 she flew to Australia for repairs and was renamed "The Swoose." Subsequently, she was flown as a transport for George Brett and others. After the war, she was flown to Kingman, Arizona, for scrapping. In April 1946, Frank Kurtz recovered the bomber and flew her to Los Angeles, California. "The Swoose" was donated to National Air Museum in Washington in 1949. She was stored outside at Andrews AFB until 1961. She was moved indoors in the mid-1970s. In July 2008 she was sent to Dayton, Ohio.

(PAM Photo)

Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-2446), "Swamp Ghost", Pacific Aviation Museum (PAM), Hawaii. This bomber was built at Boeing Seattle as a B-17E. She was delivered to USAAF on 6 December 1941. The aircraft's armament was installed at Sacramento Air Depot, California. She was flown to Hawaii on 17 December 1941, where she was attached to the USN as search plane. She joined the USAAF 19th Bombardment Group in Australia on 20 February 1942. During a 22 February raid on Simpson Harbor, she was forced to ditch after the attack due to a fuel shortage. All crew members survived. The wreck was discovered in 1972 by an RAAF helicopter pilot. She was given the nickname "Swamp Ghost," and was recovered in May 2006. The wreckage was impounded at Lae. She was finally shipped in January 2010 to Long Beach, California. "Swamp Ghost" was transferred to Hawaii in 2013.

(Scott Thompson Photo)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-2595), "Desert Rat", being restored, Michael W. Kellner, Marengo. Illinois.

(Author Photo)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-9032).   Built at Boeing Seattle as B-17E. Assigned to 342nd Bomb Squadron and named "My Gal Sal."  During a ferry flight on 27 June 1942, 41-9032 crash landed in Greenland.  All crew members survived and were rescued ten days later. Wreck discovered in 1964.  It was salvaged in the 1990s by Gary Larkins and stored at Tillamook Air Museum. Purchased by Bob Ready.  Restoration began in 2000.  In 2013 transported to National World War II Museum for display.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-9210), in storage with the Flying Heritage Collection, Everett, Washington.

(NMNUSAF Photo)

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-24485), DF-A, C/N 3170 "Memphis Belle".  National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

(Dick Smith Photo)

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress (Serial No. 42-3374), painted as (Serial No. 42-30230), "Homesick Angel", Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska.

(Goshimini Photo)

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress (Serial No. 42-29782), "Boeing Bee", Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 42-32076), C/N 7190, "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby".  National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF), Dayton, Ohio.

(kitmasterbloke Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 43-38635), c/n 9613, "Virgin's Delight", Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-6393), c/n 22616, "Starduster", March Field Air Museum, Riverside, California.

(The Liberty Foundation Photo)

(Marine 69-71 Photo)

(INyano Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-8543), "Madras Maiden", Erickson Aircraft Collection, Madras, Oregon.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83512), painted as (Serial No. 42-97328), "Heavens Above", Lackland AFB, Texas.

(Airwolfhound Photo)

(Author Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83514), Reg. No. N9323Z, U, 32155, “Sentimental Journey”, Commemorative Air Force, Meza, Arizona.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83525), painted as (Serial No. 41-2489), "Suzy Q", damaged in a hurricane, now in storage, Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida. Built at Douglas Long Beach as B-17G. Converted to DB-17G in 1950. Struck off 1959. Purchased by Flying Tiger Air Museum in 1972. In 1977 she was used in the film MacArthur and painted to represent 41-2489 "Suzy Q" of the 93rd Bombardment Squadron. Purchased by Kermit Weekes in 1983 and restored to airworthy status. During Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, the plane was thrown from its hangar and severely damaged. Since that time it has been dismantled and held in storage.

(Author Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83542), painted as (Serial No. 42-37994), "Picadilly Princess", Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, Florida.

(Tony Hisgett Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83546), painted as (Serial No. 41-24485), "Memphis Belle", Military Aircraft Restoration Corp (MARC), Anaheim, California.  This aircraft is currently on loan to the National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, New York.

(Aeroprints Photo)

Boeing B-17P (DB) Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83559), C/N 32200.  Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland, Nebraska.

(Airwolfhound Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83563), "Fuddy Duddy", Lyon Air Museum, Santa Ana, California.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83575), painted as (Serial No. 42-31909), "Nine-O-Nine", Collings Foundation, Stowe, Massachusetts.

(Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83624), VE, c/n 32265, "Sleepy Time Gal", Air Mobility Command, Dover AFB.

(brwhiz Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83663), c/n 32304 (-DL), "Short Bier", Reg. No. N47780, Hill Aerospace Museum, Roy, Utah.

(USAF Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83684), Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino, California.

(Chris Light Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83690), "Miss Liberty Belle", Museum of Aviation, Warner Robbins, Georgia.

(airforcefe Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83785), C/N 32426, "Shady Lady", Reg. No. N207EV.  Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83785), Collings Foundation, Stowe, Massachusetts.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83790), Crash landed on frozen Dyke Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador on 24 December 1947. Recovered in 2004. Under restoration at Brooks Aviation.  Don Brooks, Douglas, Georgia.

(Bubba 73 Jud McCranie Photo)

Boeing B-17G-95-GL Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83814), "City of Savanah".  32455. Reg. No. N66571, CF-HBP, XA-BEC.  This aircraft is on loan from the National Air and Space Museum, to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, Poole, Georgia.

(Steve Knight Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No.44-83863), Air Force Armament Museum, Valparaiso, Florida.

(Michael Barera Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83884), “Miss Liberty", D, Barksdale Global Airppower Museum, Bossier City, Louisiana.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85599), painted as  (Serial No. 42-38133), "Reluctant Dragon", of the 337th Bombardment Squadron, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas.

(USAF Photo, Master Sgt. Michael A. Kaplan)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85718), c/n 8627,  “Thunderbird”,  Lone Star Flight Museum, Houston, Texas.

(Jóhann Heiðar Árnason Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85734), painted as (Serial No. 42-97849), "Liberty Belle" of the 570th Bombardment Squadron.   Largely destroyed in a fire on 13 June 2011, and currently being rebuilt using fuselage from (Serial No. 44-83387).  Don Brooks, Douglas, Georgia.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85738), "Preston's Pride", American Veterans Memorial, Medford Field, Tulare, California.

(Clemens Vasters Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85740), "Aluminum Overcast", Experimental Aircraft Association, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

(Lecody Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85778), "Miss Angela", Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, California.

(John Margolies Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85790), "Lacey Lady", B-17 Alliance Museum, Salem, Oregon. This B-17 was put up as an eye-catcher at Art Lacey's Bomber Gas & Restaurant on SE McLoughlin Boulevard in Milwaukie, Oregon in 1947. It stood on the west side of Route 99E. In this photo the faded name "Sky Chief" can still be seen on the nose, taken from Texaco's gasoline brand of the same name. Nearly 50 years later, in March 1996, the forward fuselage and the tail gun turret were removed for restoration, but the rest of the aircraft remained at the restaurant until also removed in December 2014. By 2023 the aircraft was still under restoration to flying condition by the B-17 Alliance Foundation in their hangar at McNary Field, Salem, Oregon.

(CAM Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85813), Champaign Aviation Museum (CAM), Urbana, Ohio.

(Gillphoto Photo)

(Author Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85828), painted as (Serial No. 42-31892), "I'll Be Around", Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

(D. Miller Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85829), "Yankee Lady", Yankee Air Force, Belleville, Michigan.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83872), "Texas Raider" lost in 2022, xwhen it was destroyed in a mid-air collision at an air show. Alan took this photo in 2019.

Surviving B-17s Outside the United States:

B-17G (Serial No. 44-85784), "Sally-B", Imperial War Museum, Airworthy, Duxford, UK.

B-17G (Serial No. 44-83735), "Mary Alice", Imperial War Museum, Static Display, Duxford, UK.

B-17G (Serial No. 44-83868), Unnamed, Royal Air Force Museum, Static Display London. UK.

B-17G (Serial No. 44-83718), Unnamed, Museu Aeroespacial, in storage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Alexandro Diaz Photo)

B-17G (Serial No. 44-85583), Unnamed, Recife Air Force Base, Static Display, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.

B-17G (Serial No. 44-8846), "The Pink Lady", La Ferté -Alais Airfield Hangar, Airworthy; currently in storage, La Ferté -Alais, France.

B-17G (Serial No. 44-8889), Unnamed, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, in Storage, Dugny, France.