Under military contract, the bomber went from design to flight test in just 12 months. Making its first flight on July 28, 1935, it was Boeing's first military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit and was armed with bombs and five .30-caliber machine guns. Boeing plants built 6,981 of more than 12,000 B-17's delivered during World War II. The Fortresses were legendary for bringing their crews home safely even when damaged.
The B-17 Bomber was also known as the Boeing B-17 and the Flying Fortress. In 1941, Boeing delivered the first of their modified B-17C to Britain's Royal Air Force, calling them "Fortress 1."
Caption on image: "Fortress 1" Bombers awaiting delivery to Britain's Royal Air Force. Built by Boeing Aircraft Company. Pacific Aerial Surveys Inc. Photographer's Reference Number: 5142
Caption information source: www.boeing.com Caption information source: "B-17C Flying Fortress Flying Over Dramatic Landscape," Boeing Images, https://secure.boeingimages.com/archive
ID Number: 1989.99.2
Date: Circa 1941
Physical Description: 1 photographic postcard : b&w ; 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.
