picture 189914

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the most famous American bomber of the Second World War. Introduced into service in 1938, it quickly became the primary USAAF bomber and was used primarily in Europe, where it dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during the war. The B-17E was developed in September 1941, this example belonged to the 11th Air Force and provided reconnaissance patrols during Operation AL. In the later period, B-17s also regularly appeared over Kiska and Attu, harassing the Japanese positions on both islands. (Artwork by Jean-Marie Guillou)