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Claims to Fame: The B-17 Flying Fortress

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Every now and then, a writer comes up with a unique bent on an aviation topic and the result is something akin to CLAIMS TO FAME, THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS. In this 1994 Arms and Armour Press book, noted historians Steve Birdsall and Roger Freeman offer up a tribute to individual B-17s that compiled noteworthy combat careers. With Freeman and Birdsall's name attached to the project, aviation history doesn't get any better!

CLAIMS TO FAME, THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS is a who's who of famous B-17s which saw combat in World War II. Individual chapters give the reader the authoritative lowdown on 'Memphis Belle,' 'Blitz Buggy,' 'Five Grand,' 'Ruthie II,' 'Suzy-Q,' 'The Duchess' and other B-17 notables. Some of those bombers wracked up high totals of missions or enemy aircraft downed. Some barely staggered home in spite of incredible battle damage. Some were the site of Medal of Honor-winning actions. Most of the aircraft are long gone although Freeman and Birdsall devote a chapter to B-17E 41-9234, whose battered remains rest on a hill in New Guinea, and one to 'Black Jack,' a B-17F that rests on the sea bottom off Lae.

Birdsall and Freeman's book is wonderfully written and abounds with dozens of first-person reminiscences by crewmen that flew Boeing's masterpiece. Sixteen pages of photos depict some of the aircraft and aircrew described in the book.

CLAIMS TO FAME, THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS is aviation history at its best, a clever idea wonderfully realized by two of the best military historians extant. Though long out of print, anyone interested in bomber ops will want to add this first-rate volume to their collection! Highly recommended.