Customer Reviews

The B-17 Flying Fortress

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The development and combat career of Boeing's four-engined wonder is nicely covered in this 2001 book from Robert Jackson and MBI Publishing/Amber Books. Though claiming to be an 'in-depth study' of the B-17, Jackson's book is actually a workmanlike, entertaining introduction to the Flying Fortress.

B-17 FLYING FORTRESS runs to 96 pages. Within those pages Jackson describes the origins and evolution of the B-17, Flying Fort ops in the Pacific/NW Europe/Western Europe, Foreign use of B-17s and Special Forts/Special Missions. Though Jackson has a wide canvas to cover, he relates the B-17 story in an entertaining, informative fashion. He also includes several interesting first-person accounts along with several tables and appendices comparing the B-17 to other WWII heavy bombers, 8th AF groups, etc. and detailed cutaways of the Flying Fort. Some 70 black & white and color photos along with color artwork complement the text; most have appeared previously in various Aerospace Publishing titles.

In summary, there's not much new in Jackson's book but it is a easy-to-read, nicely illustrated introduction to the B-17. Recommended.

I bought it for my son, but read it first. Its a great book, easy to read and it explains how and why the Fortresses were manufactured. Just a wonderful book with nice pictures and great stories.