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Image of Boeing B-17 ceremony, Seattle, 1945
1986.5.7449.1
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Boeing B-17 ceremony, Seattle, 1945

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A large crowd gathers at the Seattle Boeing plant to commemorate the conversion of production from B-17 to B-29 bombers. The Army Air Corps ordered the first B-17s in early 1936, and at the peak of its production in 1944, the Seattle Boeing plant would complete 16 B-17s every 24 hours. The heavily-armed Flying Fortresses were legendary for their ability to withstand enemy fire and make it home safely. In this photo, the 6981st and last Seattle built B-17 is honored while three planes fly overhead. Written on the aircraft are wartime destinations, including a large sign reading "Berlin".

Handwritten on sleeve: SEATTLE, Boeing aircraft, B-17 testing plane.
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): May 8, 1945.

Caption information source: www.boeing.com/history/boeing/b17
ID Number: 1986.5.7449.1
Date: 1945
Physical Description: 1 acetate negative : b&w ; 4 x 5 in.
Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 1986.5.7449.1
Copyright: All Rights Reserved
Subjects: World War II, 1941-1945 (WWII), Aerospace, Manufacturing

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