Flying Fortress, which often refers to the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. This American bomber became an iconic symbol of the air war over Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Here are some key historical points:
- 1. Development and Introduction
The B-17 was developed by Boeing in the late 1930s as a medium-sized, four-engine bomber that could travel long distances and carry heavy bomb loads.
The first flight was in 1935, but the B-17 was not officially commissioned by the U.S. Air Force until 1938.
De B-17 werd vooral bekend door zijn rol in de Strategische Luchtbombardementen van Duitsland, vooral tijdens de Slag om Engeland en de Bombardementen op Duitsland.
- 2. Role in World War II.
The B-17 was designed to bomb deep into enemy territory, especially Nazi factories, transportation hubs and other strategic targets.
It was referred to as the "Flying Fortress" because of its strong armor and armament, which gave the crew some protection from enemy fighters.
The B-17 was an essential part of the U.S. 8th Air Force, conducting operations from Britain.
The B-17 was known for its resilience: despite heavy damage, some aircraft were still able to return to their bases with great difficulty.
- 3. Characteristics
The B-17 had a range of more than 2,000 miles and was equipped with 10 to 13 machine guns for self-defense.
The crew included a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, gunners and radioman.
The design was quite robust, but the B-17 was relatively slow and vulnerable to well-trained enemy fighters.
T-shirt Flying Fortress
Gildan T-shirt, 100% cotton, 144 g/m2 (white) and 153 g/m2 (color)
S (width 46 cm), length 67 cm
M (width 51 cm), length 71 cm
L (width 56 cm), length 74 cm
XL (width 61 cm), length 77 cm
XXL (width 66 cm), length 79 cm
