Subject: Bomber Series--Boeing B-17 Fortress (16 of 27)

From: [email-masked] (joseph.f.baugher)
Date: 25 Aug 94 01:17:20 GMT

The B-17G was introduced onto the Fortress production line in July of 
1943, and was destined to be produced in larger numbers than any other 
Fortress variant.  The most readily-noticeable innovation introduced 
by the B-17G was the power-operated Bendix turret mounted in a 
chin-type installation underneath the nose which was equipped with two 
0.50-inch machine guns.  This installation had first been tested in 
combat by the YB-40 and was found to be the only viable innovation 
introduced by the unsuccessful escort Fortress.  Another innovation 
was having the waist guns being permanently enclosed behind windows 
instead of being mounted behind removeable hatches.  This made the 
rear fuselage somewhat less drafty.  

The cheek nose guns introduced on the late B-17F were retained, but 
were staggered so that the left gun was in the forward side window and 
the right gun was in the middle side window, which reversed the 
positions used on the late Fs.  The cheek gun mounts bulged somewhat 
outward into the airstream, which helped to improve the forward view 
from the cheek gun positions.  The forward chin installation and the 
associated cheek guns were first tested out on B-17F-115-BO 42-30631.  
Originally, the Bendix turret was to be introduced on the Boeing 
production line with F-135, but the changes were sufficient to justify 
a new series letter, and the F-135s became G-1.  

The B-17G now had the defensive firepower of no less than thirteen 
0.50-inch machine guns--two chin guns, two "cheek" guns, two guns in 
the dorsal turret, two guns in the ventral turret, two guns in the 
waist, two guns in the tail, and one gun in the roof of the radio 
operator's position.  

The B-17G entered service with the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces in 
late 1943.  

Camouflage paint was deleted from production B-17Gs starting in 
January of 1944.  B-17Gs were delivered in natural metal finish 
starting in (but not at the beginning) of production blocks G-35-BO 
(Boeing), G-20-VE (Lockheed-Vega), and G-35-DL (Douglas-Long Beach).  

The so-called "Cheyenne" tail gun mounting modifications were 
incorporated in the B-17G-80-BO, -45-DL, -35-VE and subsequent 
batches.  These tail gun mountings also had a reflector gunsight 
instead of the previous ring and bead.  With this installation, these 
B-17Gs were five inches shorter than the earlier versions.  

On later production versions, it was found necessary to stagger the 
waist gun positions so that the two gunners would not get in each 
other's way.  

On the last production batches (B-17G-105 and -110-BO, B-17G-75 to 
-85-DL, and B-17G-85 to -110-VE), the radio compartment gun was not 
installed.  The ammunition capacity of the waist guns was increased to 
600 rpg.  

When production terminated in 1945, a total of 4035 B-17Gs had been 
built by Boeing, 2395 by Douglas, and 2250 by Lockheed-Vega.  

The last Boeing-built B-17G was delivered on April 13, 1945.  

B-17G-1-VE 42-38940 was redesignated XB-17G when assigned to test 
work.  It was not a prototype.  

B-17G serial numbers:

42-3563			Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-5-DL Fortress
42-31032/31131		Boeing B-17G-1-BO Fortress
42-31132/31231		Boeing B-17G-5-BO Fortress
42-31232/31331		Boeing B-17G-10-BO Fortress
42-31332/31431		Boeing B-17G-15-BO Fortress
42-31432/31631		Boeing B-17G-20-BO Fortress
42-31632/31731		Boeing B-17G-25-BO Fortress
42-31732/31931		Boeing B-17G-30-BO Fortress
42-31932/32116		Boeing B-17G-35-BO Fortress
42-37716		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-10-DL Fortress
42-37721/37803		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-10-DL Fortress
42-37804/37893		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-15-DL Fortress
42-37894/37988		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-20-DL Fortress
42-37989/38083		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-25-DL Fortress
42-38084/38213		Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-30-DL Fortress
42-39758/39857  	Lockheed/Vega B-17G-1-VE Fortress
42-39858/39957  	Lockheed/Vega B-17G-5-VE Fortress
42-39958/40057  	Lockheed/Vega B-17G-10-VE Fortress
42-97058/97172		Boeing B-17G-40-BO Fortress
42-97173/97407		Boeing B-17G-45-BO Fortress
42-97436/97535		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-15-VE Fortress
42-97536/97635		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-20-VE Fortress
42-97636/97735		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-25-VE Fortress
42-97736/97835		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-30-VE Fortress
42-97836/97935		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-35-VE Fortress
42-97936/98035		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-40-VE Fortress
42-102379/102543	Boeing B-17G-50-BO Fortress
42-102544/102743	Boeing B-17G-55-BO Fortress
42-102744/102978	Boeing B-17G-60-BO Fortress
42-106984/107233	Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-35-DL Fortress
43-37509/37673		Boeing B-17G-65-BO Fortress
43-37674/37873		Boeing B-17G-70-BO Fortress
43-37874/38073		Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress
43-38074/38273		Boeing B-17G-80-BO Fortress
43-38274/38473		Boeing B-17G-85-BO Fortress
43-38474/38673		Boeing B-17G-90-BO Fortress
43-38674/38873		Boeing B-17G-95-BO Fortress
43-38874/39073		Boeing B-17G-100-BO Fortress
43-39074/39273		Boeing B-17G-105-BO Fortress
43-39274/39508		Boeing B-17G-110-BO Fortress
44-6001/6125		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-40-DL Fortress
44-6126/6250		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-45-DL Fortress
44-6251/6500		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-50-DL Fortress
44-6501/6625		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-55-DL Fortress
44-6626/6750		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-60-DL Fortress
44-6751/6875		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-65-DL Fortress
44-6875/7000		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-70-DL Fortress
44-8001/8100		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-45-VE Fortress
44-8101/8200		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-50-VE Fortress
44-8201/8300		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-55-VE Fortress
44-8301/8400		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-60-VE Fortress
44-8401/8500		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-65-VE Fortress
44-8501/8600		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-70-VE Fortress
44-8601/8700		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-75-VE Fortress
44-8701/8800		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-80-VE Fortress
44-8801/8900		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-85-VE Fortress
44-8901/9000		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-90-VE Fortress
44-83236/83360		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-75-DL Fortress
44-83361/83485		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-80-DL Fortress
44-83486/83585		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-85-DL Fortress
44-83586/83685		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-90-DL Fortress
44-83686/83863		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-95-DL Fortress
44-83864/83885		Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-95-DL Fortress
44-85492/85591		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-95-VE Fortress
44-85592/85691		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-100-VE Fortress
44-85692/85791		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-105-VE Fortress
44-85792/85841		Lockheed/Vega B-17G-110-VE Fortress

Specification of B-17G: 

Four Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone radials with general Electric B-22 
turbosuperchargers, each rated at 1200 hp for takeoff and 1000 hp at 
25,000 feet, with a war emergency power of 1380 hp at 26,700 feet.  
Maximum speed 263 mph at 25,000 feet, 300 mph at 30,000 feet (war 
emergency).  Cruising speed 150 mph at 25,000 feet.  Landing speed 90 
mph Initial climb rate 900 feet per minute.  An altitude of 20,000 
feet could be attained in 37 minutes.  Service ceiling 35,000 feet.  
Range 1850 miles with 4000 pounds of bombs at 25,000 feet with 2810 
gallons of fuel. Dimensions: Wingspan 103 feet 9 3/8 inches, length 74 
feet 9 inches, height 19 feet 1 inches, wing area 1420 square feet.  
Weights: 32,720 pounds empty, 55,000 pounds normal loaded, 72,000 
pounds maximum.  Normal fuel load was 2520 US gallons, but extra fuel 
tanks could be installed which raised total fuel capacity to 3612 US 
gallons.  Specified defensive armament was as follows: Thirteen 
0.5-inch Browning machine guns in chin, nose, dorsal, center- 
fuselage, ventral, waist, and tail positions.  Maximum short-range 
bombload was 17,600 pounds.  

Sources:

  Flying Fortress, Edward Jablonski, Doubleday, 1965.

  Famous Bombers of the Second World War, Volume One, William
  Green, Doubleday, 1959.

  Boeing Aircraft Since 1916, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute
  Press, 1989.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough
  and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913, Rene J. Francillon, Naval
  Institute Press, 1987.

  Boeing B-17E and F Flying Fortress, Charles D. Thompson,
  Profile Publications, 1966.

  American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Third Edition, Doubleday, 1982.

  Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Military Press, 1989.

Joe Baugher			**************************************
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