B-17 Bomber: Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

The Boeing B-17 was the first mass-produced, four-engine heavy bomber. Used throughout World War II for strategic bombing, the plane earned a reputation for its toughness and versatility. Carrying a crew of ten, and 8,000 pounds of bombs on long range missions, the '17 wreaked havoc on Germany during the critical years 1942-45. The "Memphis Belle", the first B-17 to fly 25 missions over Europe, is perhaps the most famous plane to emerge from the European Theatre. Originally printed by the United States Army Air Force in December of 1942, the B-17 Bomber Pilot's Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know about the “Queen of the Skies.” Originally classified “Restricted”, the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

The name "Flying Fortress" was coined by a reporter. Boeing was quick to see the value of the title and had it trademarked. Aviation writer Martin Caidin reported that the B-17 was referred to as the "Queen of the Bombers."

The first use of the B-17 was against Wilhelmshaven on 8 July 1941. The B-17 was known for its ability to take battle damage and still bring its crew home. This was especially apparent in the William Wyler movie "The Memphis Belle" which profiled one of these bombers during its 25th mission over continental Europe.

The design of the B-17 went through eight major changes over the course of its production, culminating in what some consider the definitive type, the B-17G, differing from its immediate predecessors by the addition of a chin turret with two 0.50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns under the nose. This eliminated the plane's weakness in head-on attacks.