Hi everybody.
My favourite subject....history.
The B17's flew in the "Combat Box" formation, where each aircraft flew in formation with other aircraft so that their machine guns had overlapping fields of fire. The USAAF also subscribed to the theory of daylight bombing, and continued this even when the RAF had given up and switched to night raids. The bombers originally flew into occupied France and Germany unescorted, as no fighters with the range existed to accompany the B17's across the Third Reich. Losses were high, in 1942-43 chances of completing a tour of 30 missions were poor.
As an aircraft type the B17's absorbed battle damage better than the B24's. A B17 would fly on three engines, and under certain circumstances 2 engines, but a B24 Liberator would not fly on 3 engines. It took 20 - 25 hits from a 20mm cannon to bring down a B17.
The Messerschmitts started attacking the formations from the rear, but with the hail of lead coming at them tactics were soon changed, the fighters attacked from head on. The B17's were then up gunned, with a chin turret and cheek guns in the nose.
I count myself lucky that I wasnt born in a time where I ended up in a B17, and that if I did I was too tall to be a ball gunner (the bloke underneath) Climbing into one of those things, knowing that you may not come back, took some courage.
Graham
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