Bruce Dickinson Warplane Diaries: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Bruce Dickinson is back with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Unmistakable in appearance and amount of guns around it!

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[jarigustafsson]

There is just one problem with Bruce's videos!
They are too bloody short!!!
20mins will do fine next time!

[jimfinlaw]

Great video indeed. I agree the video was too short in length. The B-17F models were used mainly in Europe from 1942 until the end of the war. The B-17F models were very vulnerable to frontal attacks by German fighters. It wasn't until late 1944 that the B-17G model (shown in this video) was introduced which features a Sperry nose gun turret carrying twin 50 caliber machine guns. The nose gun turret on the B-17G models proved to be so successful in warding off frontal attacks by the Germans in combat that Sperry manufactured nose gun turret kits that could be installed on B-17F models in the field. There is virtually no armour plate in a B-17. B-17 crews relied on wearing their flak vests for protection more so than anything else. The reason I know so much about the B-17 is because my father was a B-17 instructor pilot. In June 1944, the famous B-17F "Memphis Belle" was assigned to the Training Command at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida after it had finished its War Bond Tour across the United States. Yes, my father flew the Memphis Belle at MacDill Field as an instructor pilot where he had 5 flights in this famous B-17F, where he taught both B-17 pilot and co-pilot training in this aircraft. The Belle still had its nose art and its bomb bay was outfitted with gondolas that would carry sand bags to simulate a bomb load. My father would fly his students over the Gulf of Mexico and drop the sand bags there. This introduced the student B-17 pilot to how the B-17 aircraft reacts to the sudden change in weight and balance once the bombs were released. I was one of among several museum restoration volunteers at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force that helped restore the Memphis Belle back to its combat configuration you see today. It was a great honor and privilege to help restore a great piece of military aviation history for future generations to enjoy.

As for the low level raid on the German synthetic oil refineries in Polesti, Romania, these raids were carried out by B-24 Liberator bombers. Imagine taking a large 4 engine bomber, fly at only 50 feet to avoid detection by enemy radar and dropping bombs on target at only 50 feet above ground level while being pounded by German 88mm anti-aircraft guns! That's exactly what the 512th Bomb Squadron of the 376th Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force flying B-24s did in 1943. The B-24 could not absorb as much damage as a B-17 could. The Davis wing on the B-24 would lose efficiency one it became damaged. My father flew on this Polesti raid as a co-pilot in one of the B-24D model Liberators and his B-24 was one of the lucky ones to make it back to base. One of the requirements the U.S. Army Air Force had for its instructor pilots was that they had to have no less than 5 combat missions under their belt to be instructor pilots.

[afterburner]

A heavy metal guy talking about heavy metal machines dropping heavy metal ordinance by aces high!🤘🏻

[johnnypopper-pcss]

I flew on the "Yankee Lady" at a local airshow and LOVED IT . Granted, the plane was just loafing along at low altitude, but it flew as smooth as a baby's bottom. I'd love to go again !

[pdrunk]

my son loved your show in belfast last night he loved it

[Bayan]

The Ploesti raid utilized B-24's, not B-17's but it still led to very heavy losses from the Germans, one of the reasons was because they were flying very low and between the German fighters and the flak guns, and even machine guns on the ground that normally wouldn't be able to reach bombers because of their higher altitude, the B-24's were shot up pretty badly. We have a couple B-17's here that make the rounds, a wonderful plane to see. I remember my grandfather when he was in Europe during the war, he watched formations of B-17's fly over on their way to a raid somewhere, he said it would take a couple of hours for them all to go by. It must have been something to watch that many large airplanes in the air at once.

[billy]

most of crew ended up in Hogans heroes. if they were lucky. RIP.

[guitarmanplayzloud]

I have been LOVING this series!! Go Bruce!!

[Squid]

The G had 12-13 .50s not 10. it had a 10 man crew.

[Alex-ejwm]

Of course Bruce is partial to the English plane! That's okay I'll let him get away with it. He's Bruce freaking Dickinson for crying out loud! UP THE IRONS!!!

[christschinwon]

I'm surprised he didn't lose it when he said 'Bomber' Harris!

[jrosalia]

First thing I think of when it comes to the B-17 is the "Memphis Belle" and her crew

[irvin]

Bruce you must have your own tv show about guns and rock.._.

[papabillydeth]

If you go to Wendover Air Base in Utah, you can go to the hangar where the Enola Gay was kept, where the nuke was loaded onto the plane, and the safe that the air crew would keep the Norden bombardier sight in. Bruce should do the P-38 next!

[spinocus]

Great video but Bruce forgot to mention the B-17s legendary durability which also contributed to its reputation and popularity with bomber crews. This is in contrast to the B-24 which, despite being newer, faster, and able to carry more bombs, was trickier to fly and much more susceptible to damage.

[michaeleastes]

Actually there were more B-24s produced than B-17s, and both served throughout the war in all theatres. The Ploesti raid that Mr. Dickinson refers to was all B-24s, IIRC.

[gst]

Well said Aces High, Aces High up with the Maidens! Mr. Dickinson

[mangostrudel]

Another problem is that this plane was far too expensive and the germans didn't have a problem destroying them, they didn't destroy these bombers only when they didn't have aa guns or fighters left

[AndrewArndts]

Wargaming, Hook Bruce up with a trip to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

[vaikkajoku]

i feel like watching memphis belle again