Iconic Aircraft | Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Up until February 1942, RAF Bomber Command strategy had been to try and hit specific military or industrial targets, munitions factories, naval installations, and the like. To be truthful, they hadn’t been very successful, only about 1 in 5 aircraft managed to drop it’s bombs within 5 miles of its target. The cost in men and machines had been too high, and something had to change. The change came with the order to area bomb civilian targets. Having seen the devastating effects of fire during the Blitz, the RAF began to drop mainly incendiary bombs on Germany’s own towns and cities.
What part did the Americans play in this great offensive? They came to England committed to a campaign of precision bombing to be carried out in daylight, the champion of this strategy was General Ira Clarence Eaker.
To carry out the daylight raids the Eighth Air Force needed great aircraft, and they had one, the famous B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. It became an icon of the war in the air, B-17s dropping more bombs on Germany than any other aircraft in WWII. It was able to fly high, defend itself, and its ability to get home badly damaged gave it almost mythical status.
Clip from “The American Invasion” documentary that provides a powerful record of a momentous period in American and British history. The memories and experiences of surviving US airmen from the mighty 8th Air force and the recollections of the local population form the backdrop to a programme that weaves fascinating personal tales around the story of one of the most costly military campaigns of World War Two.
Watch the complete documentary here - • The American Invasion ...
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