War History / Histoire militaire ⚔

WWII Flying Fortress Mission Over Europe

A riveting documentary showcasing the crew of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress completing their 25th and final bombing mission over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. Available through the U.S. ...Government Films Collection of the Library of Congress, this public domain film captures the bravery, camaraderie, and challenges faced by these young airmen, offering an authentic and inspiring look at wartime aviation.

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0:00 Introduction
2:10 The Workday Begins
3:57 The Briefing
5:26 The Crew
6:43 Leaving England Behind
15:10 The Plan
18:28 Over Enemy Territory
23:30 Getting Back Home
36:28 Recognition and Honors
39:10 Closing Thoughts

* Key Statistics on the B-17 Flying Fortress

Aircraft Production:
A total of 12,731 B-17 Flying Fortresses were built between 1936 and 1945 by Boeing, Douglas, and Vega.

Range:
Maximum range: 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) without external tanks. With auxiliary fuel tanks, it could extend up to approximately 3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers).

Payload:
Bomb load: Up to 17,600 pounds (8,000 kilograms), though typical loads ranged from 4,000 to 8,000 pounds depending on the mission.

Defensive Armament:
Equipped with 13 .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns for defense. These guns were mounted in various positions, including nose, tail, dorsal, ventral (ball turret), and waist positions.

Crew:
Operated by a crew of 10, including a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, engineer/top turret gunner, radio operator, two waist gunners, ball turret gunner, and tail gunner.

Performance:
Maximum speed: Approximately 287 mph (462 km/h).
Service ceiling: 35,600 feet (10,850 meters).
Average combat altitude: 25,000 feet (7,620 meters).

Bombing Campaigns:
B-17s dropped over 640,000 tons of bombs on European targets during the war, more than any other aircraft. Participated extensively in daylight precision bombing campaigns, a tactic pioneered by the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Survivability:
Known for its durability, the B-17 could sustain significant damage and still bring crews home. Some bombers completed missions with large sections of the airframe missing.

Combat Missions:
Many B-17 crews had to complete 25 missions to rotate out of active service. The Memphis Belle was among the first to accomplish this feat in May 1943.

Casualties:
Despite its durability, losses were heavy during the war, especially early in the campaign. For example, the 8th Air Force lost nearly 50% of its B-17s during missions over Germany in 1943.

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