A Strange B-17 flying fortress

Receive an Amazing New Player Pack, only available for the next 30 days! Thanks to Call of War for sponsoring this video!

Please subscribe to our channel and Support our work for $1 or more via Patreon

Every little bit helps keep the memories of long lost heroes alive through our videos

NOTE : The Footage and Thumbnail of this video is the best closest representation to what happened. It is not the actual footage.

#b17 #history

Music Source

Background history on the Bomber

B-17, also called Flying Fortress, U.S. heavy bomber used during World War II. The B-17 was designed by the Boeing Aircraft Company in response to a 1934 Army Air Corps specification that called for a four-engined bomber at a time when two engines were the norm. The bomber was intended from the outset to attack strategic targets by precision daylight bombing, penetrating deep into enemy territory by flying above the effective range of antiaircraft artillery. Turbo-supercharged radial engines (a uniquely American development) were to give the necessary high-altitude performance, and heavy defensive armament was to provide protection against attacking fighters. Accuracy was to be achieved with the Norden bombsight, developed and fielded in great secrecy during the 1930s. The Norden consisted of a gyroscopically stabilized telescopic sight coupled to an electromechanical computer into which the bombardier fed inputs for altitude, atmospheric conditions, air speed, ground speed, and drift. During the bomb run, the sight was slaved to the automatic pilot to guide the aircraft to the precise release point. In the hands of a skilled bombardier, the Norden was a remarkably accurate sight. The first prototype bomber flew in mid-1935, and the B-17 entered small-scale production in 1937. Early versions proved to be more vulnerable to fighter attack than anticipated, but, by the time the B-17E version began to go into service shortly before the United States entered the war in 1941, the plane was equipped with turrets in the upper fuselage, belly, and tail. All but the last turret were power-operated, and each mounted a pair of 0.50-calibre (12.7-mm) machine guns. This increased firepower made the B-17 a formidable opponent for enemy fighters, particularly when flying in tightly stacked defensive formations for mutual protection. The basic element of a typical formation was a squadron “box” of 9 or 12 aircraft; three squadron boxes staggered vertically and horizontally formed a group, and three groups in trail formed a combat wing. In the event, the need to keep such tight defensive formations over Europe compromised the accuracy of the Norden bombsight, since individual bomb runs were not possible without breaking the formation. Whole bomb formations had to drop their loads on the lead bombardier’s command, and the inevitable small differences in timing and heading led to dispersed bomb patterns.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 were the United States' two standard heavy bombers until the arrival of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in 1944. The B-17 served in almost every theater of World War II, but it was used mostly by the US Eighth Air Force, based in the UK, to bombard German targets. The first missions were in daylight hours to improve accuracy, but this strategy plus a lack of adequate fighter coverage, resulted in very heavy losses of aircraft and crew. Its first bombing mission was with the RAF as Fortress Is, but it was hardly ready for war. As refinements progressed, along with better pilot training and tactics, it became a formidable weapon in the Allied war against Germany.

The Flying Fortress was designed in response to a USAAC competition, announced on August 6, 1934, to find a modern replacement for the assorted twin-engine Keystone biplane bombers and greater performance than the Martin B-10. While the performance of the B-10 was considered adequate at the time, the Keystones lumbered along at about 115 mph (185 km/h), were very unmaneuverable, lightly armed and carried only a limited bomb load.1 The requirement was for a multi-engine bomber to be used for coastal-defense.

Specifications required were:

Range of at least 1,020 miles (1,640 km).
Speed of 200 to 250 mph (322 to 402 km/h).
Bomb load of 2,000 lb (907 kg).
A Boeing design team began work on the Model 299 prototype in June 1934 and construction began in August of the same year. The most significant rival to the Model 299 was the Douglas DB-1, which was based on the Douglas DC-2. The third competitor was the Martin 146.

The Strange B-17 that terrified the Luftwaffe
#b17

[jkevinf]

My father flew C-47’s as a troopcarrier pilot. During Market Garden, dropping pathfinders, his plane received a direct hit from flack. A 8X4’ hole was in the fuselage opposite the cargo door. 5 troopers were wounded badly. The rest jumped. He could only maintain 100’ over the channel on the return to England. With the copilot and my father pulling the controls as hard as possible, they cleared the cliffs and upon landing at a reserve RAF field, the tail of the plane came off. He received the DFC, air medal with 3 bronze clusters, the N Africa- Italy campaign, invasion of France, Invasion of Holland, Crossing of the Rhine, and European Victory medal, and presidential unit citation. He also received the French order of Merit in 1995. I never saw his medals until he passed away, and his ribbons were displayed on his casket with his American flag.

[rogerrendzak]

Richards returning the plane and crew intact, is nothing short on the definition, of a hero!!! We may use the word hero quite often, but here it's warranted 👍!!!

[willielarimer]

A man that bagged groceries at the store I worked at was a waist gunner on a B17 and after the war worked at Boeing for 40 years. He was an artist that painted nose art on planes. He painted a B17 on my leather bomber jacket. He passed away in the late 90s. I'll cherish that jacket always

[sbvictory]

My cousin was a young B17 pilot in WW2 stationed in England. He told us several interesting stories about his service. One of them was when he and some of his crew members requisitioned a spare 50cal machine gun and mounted it in the front of his B17 to address the frontal attack vulnerabilities discussed in the video. His modifications were successful, but upon return from his mission, he was ordered to remove the machine gun by a short-sighted superior because it was non-standard. What a shame that was.

[robertpurinton]

Another Highly modified B-17 (19 fifty caliber Brownings) was "Ol' 666" captained by Jay Zeemer. His B-17 was literally saved from being scrapped due to battle damage. His crew of misfits got it flying and took on missions no other crew would touch. The story of their flight to Bougainville Island and Buka Island is edge of your seat excitement.

[StuckOnAFireHydrant]

Damn that was chilling. And to think they all survived after that ordeal as well?! I've never heard of this story, but it was a great one as always with you guys!

[johnnyblade]

Amazing how this guy got home with all crew to home Phenominal What a great story. Respect

[paulcarey]

Given the size of this guy's brass balls, it's remarkable the B17 could maintain altitude with 4 engines let alone 1!

[steveshoemaker]

WOW I am in my 80's and never new of this DONE MY from an old Navy flying Shoe🇺🇸

[dabking.]

Can't imagine how it felt being that first FW-190 being ripped apart head on by thoes 8 .50 Cals pointed in a straight line. Must have been one Hell of a flash, shudder, then lights out.

[stevebuffinton]

Man, they were just kids. As a veteran of the Air Force I'm so proud to have stood on these men's shoulders and hope that in my service to our country I made these men and all like them proud. We owe them a giant debt.

[infantryattacks]

Eighth Air Force used various models of B-17s as gunships for a brief period during the war. Extra guns and ammo meant extra weight. When flying in formation with B-17s loaded with bombs toward the target the extra weight did not prevent the gunships from maintaining formation with the rest of their assigned combat box. However, once the formation dropped its bombs, the more heavily laden gunship B-17s struggled to maintain formation with the lighter bombers. Combat studies showed the gunships actually suffered heavier losses that normal B-17s. Accordingly, the gunship concept was ended without fanfare. However, the chin turret used on the original gunships was deemed a success and was introduced to combat in the G series production models.

[brucemacallan]

People tend to forget how very young these boys were. Turned in to men at an early age.

Some of the BoB pilots in combat against the Luftwaffe were teenagers, 18 & 19 year olds!

[jonburgess]

This man was a true hero, keeping calm and staying at the controls of his aeroplane in the most extreme danger. Making sure his crew safe and free from becoming POWs.
His score with the 8 fifty calibre machine guns would have made many a fighter pilot envious. This type of officer leads his men by example, playing his part to the full
In keeping the world free for us all in two wars.

[loddude]

Would seem this boy had read of Earnest Shackleton & then followed his example in the sky. Excellent airmanship.

[mouser]

All B17G models had the front chin turret however, maybe this particular B17, in the story, inspired that. Great story, thank you for sharing that with us.

[JesseKnight]

Thanks for the upload, the Strange B-17's story, that I never heard of

[mana_btwww]

Bro turned the plane from a b-17, to a b-47 FlyingBolt. Great vid Flak!❤

[DomXereX]

My deepest respect to the captain for bringing all his crew back to base alive. I admire him because my experience of the war in the former Yugoslavia was unfortunately much bloodier. I was in the 3rd ZNG Guards Brigade and we held positions in eastern Slavonia, usually where it was the most difficult. We were "firemen" who prevented the penetration of our defense. We fought for Osijek, Vinkovci and Vukovar. We lost every third fighter (1500 dead) but our positions never fell. A very high price for freedom, but we Croatians know that freedom has no price.
Once again my full respect to the captain for bringing back all the crew members alive. That's a real commander.

[baldeagle]

A great story i've never heard of, returns a damaged b-17 with all the crews survived was not so easy.. It take some great skills, Richard is undoubtedly a hero and his name are synonymously with the amazing b-17 that can return home safely even with just 1 engine left or even with the tail shot away