Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

01First combat with the 8th Air Force in August 1942. Early unescorted raids went reasonably well until the Luftwaffe concentrated fighter defence. The missions against Schweinfurt and Regensburg in August and October 1943 cost roughly 60 bombers each — losses that were unsustainable.

02The B-17G introduced the chin turret to counter head-on Fw 190 attacks, and improved armour and armament reduced vulnerability. The real solution came with long-range escort — P-51s — from late 1943 onwards, which finally allowed the bomber offensive to grind down German industry.

03Famous for bringing crews home against impossible odds: "All Americans" returned to England after losing most of its tail to a collision; "Old 666" fought off twenty Japanese fighters over Bougainville. More than 4,700 B-17s were lost in combat, but the aircraft's reputation for survivability was well-earned.