The number varies from time to time as airframes enter restoration, or complete restoration or move to flight status. The current total of surviving B-17 bombers located in the United States stands at 40: Nine (9) B-17 planes are airworthy, such as “Texas Raiders”, “Sentimental Journey” and “Aluminum Overcast”.
In the same way How many crew members does a b17 have?
It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.
Subsequently, Where was the Swamp Ghost found? Discovery. The aircraft was rediscovered in 1972 in Agaiambo swamp, where it earned the nickname Swamp Ghost. In 1989, the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center planned to recover it. It was salvaged in 2006 and moved to Lae wharf where it lay waiting for permission to be transferred to the United States.
What happened to the B-17s at Pearl Harbor?
One B-17C was destroyed on landing and another damaged beyond repair, but all eight B-17Es and two B-17Cs were safely down by the time the Navy issued orders to “cease firing on B-17s attempting to land at Hickam.”
Were B-17s used in the Pacific?
While the B-17s were used in the Pacific, by 1944 the B-29 had replaced the B-17 for use in the Pacific Theater. B-17s were initially intended as a fast, land-based bomber, which could patrol at sea and intercept naval vessels. B-17Cs were the first of the series to see action.
How did B-17s get to England?
The aircraft purchased in the United States by Britain were flown to airports in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, partially dis-assembled and loaded on ships and transported to England where they were unloaded and re-assembled, a process that could take several weeks, not counting repairing any damage to the aircraft …
Why was the B-24 called the flying coffin?
Officially designated the “Liberator,” the square shaped B-24 could easily turn into a death trap. It was hard to fly with its stiff and heavy controls, and so earned its name by its crews as the “Flying Coffin.”
Where were B-17 bombers built?
They were built by Boeing in Seattle (BO), Douglas Aircraft Co. (DL) in Long Beach, CA and Vega Aircraft Corp. (VE) in Burbank, CA. Following the end of World War II, the B-17 was quickly phased out of use as a bomber and the Army Air Forces retired most of its fleet.
How did the Swamp Ghost crash?
The bomber was intercepted by Japanese Fighters after a raid on ships at Japanese-occupied New Britain. The airplane suffered numerous hits and eventually crash-landed in Papua New Guinea – not because of the damage to the airplane, but because it ran out of fuel.
Who found the Swamp Ghost?
Taylan said the name Swamp Ghost was coined when Australian troops “rediscovered” the plane on maneuvers 35 years ago. Spotting it from a helicopter, they landed on the plane’s wing and found the semi-submerged aircraft eerily untouched.
Has the Swamp Ghost been restored?
Here’s a ghost story that’s more than 70 years in the making: Visitors to Oahu’s Pearl Harbor can now visit a rare World War II bomber called the Swamp Ghost that was lost for decades but is now being restored. … The B17E was returning from a bombing raid in February 1942 and went after an enemy freighter.
Was the b24 better than the B-17?
The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. This wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long range. Compared to the B-17 it had a 6-foot larger wingspan, but a lower wing area. This gave the B-24 a 35% higher wing loading.
How many B-17 were built in ww2?
The B-17 Flying Fortress became a symbol of the power of the United States and its air force. There were 12,731 B-17s built between 1936 and 1945.
Why was attacking Pearl Harbor a huge risk for the Japanese?
Why Attack Pearl Harbor? As war was inevitable, Japan’s only chance was the element of surprise and to destroy America’s navy as quickly as possible. Japan wanted to move into the Dutch East Indies and Malaya to conquer territories that could provide important natural resources such as oil and rubber.
Was the B-17 pressurized?
The inside of the B-17 was not pressurized, so it was necessary for each crew member to wear an oxygen mask at altitudes above 10,000 feet. … Each B-17 was equipped with an autopilot and a Norden bombsight.
Was there a real Memphis Belle?
The Memphis Belle, a Boeing-built B-17F-10-BO, manufacturer’s serial number 3470, USAAC Serial No. 41-24485, was added to the USAAF inventory on 15 July 1942, and delivered in September 1942 to the 91st Bombardment Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.
Was the B-24 better than the B 17?
The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. This wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long range. Compared to the B-17 it had a 6-foot larger wingspan, but a lower wing area. This gave the B-24 a 35% higher wing loading.
How many US bombers were shot down in ww2?
By type, losses totaled 21,452 fighters, 12,037 bombers, 15,428 trainers, 10,221 twin-engine fighters, 5,548 ground attack, 6,733 reconnaissance, and 6,141 transports.
When was the B-17 invented?
Technical Specifications
| First flight |
July 28, 1935 (prototype) |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 287 mph |
| Cruising speed | 150 mph |
| Range (max.) | 3,750 miles |
| Ceiling | 35,600 feet |
What engines did the B-17 have?
The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engines, each producing 750 hp (600 kW) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m).
How many gunners does AB 17 have?
There were 5 gunners in the back of the plane, all enlisted men who were non-commissioned officers (NCO’s) during their mission. During takeoff, they all sat in the radio room behind the bomb bay—the strongest part of the aircraft where the wings intersect with the fuselage.
How many b17 were used in Memphis Belle?
Five airworthy B-17s were used in the filming of the 1990 British-American war drama Memphis Belle. Two were from the US (N-17W), both on display in Seattle: the Movie Memphis Belle (44-83546), and B-17G Sally B from the UK.
What is a ghost plane?
An aircraft in flight which, due to an event which has incapacitated the crew (usually uncontrolled decompression), flies on its last input heading on autopilot until it runs out of fuel and crashes. Examples include: A Cessna 441 which crashed in 1980 carrying Bo Rein. … Helios Airways Flight 522, 2005.
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