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

From from its inception, the USAAC (from 1941 the United States Army AirForces, USAAF) promoted the aircraft as a strategic weapon. It was a relativelyfast, high-flying, long-range bomber with heavy defensive armament at theexpense of bomb load. It also developed a reputation for toughness based uponstories 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 raidsagainst Japanese shipping and airfields. It was, however, primarily employed by the USAAF in the daylightcomponent of the Allied strategic bombing campaign over Europe, complementingRAF Bomber Command's night bombers in attacking German industrial, military andcivilian targets. Of the roughly 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Germanyand its occupied territories by Allied aircraft, over 640,000 tons (42.6%) weredropped from B-17s.

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

(USAAF Photo)

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

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.

(PAM Photo)

Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-2446), "Swamp Ghost", Pacific Aviation Museum (PAM), Hawaii.

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.

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.

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.

(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 (12.70 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.

(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.

(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.

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.

(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.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-83663), "Short Bier", 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.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (Serial No. 44-85790), "Lacey Lady", B-17 Alliance Museum, 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.

(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)

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).

(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.