Customer Reviews

Flying Fortress; the illustrated biography of the B-17s and the men who flew them

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Edward Jablonski's FLYING FORTRESS is a classic of aviation literature and is unique as the earliest, best-written "biography" of any aircraft. Sometimes imitated but never duplicated, FLYING FORTRESS is a wonderful read, less military history than memoir, and anyone who does read it comes away with love in their heart for the Boeing B-17, one of the most lethal, effective, rugged, and beautiful (if such a word applies to warplanes) flying machines ever built.

Jablonski takes us through the step-by-step evolution of this airplane, from its earliest wooden strut-and-wire precursors to its ultimate development into the B-29 "atomic" bomber of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The general design of the B-17 proceeded from Boeing's Model 299 to the wartime B-17G, of which almost 9000 were built. Although the "E," "F," and "G" variants were the most common of the more than 12,000 B-17s constructed, the Flying Fortress underwent literally hundreds of modifications and served variously as a heavy bomber, a command plane, a radar platform, an antisubmarine hunter, and even a kind of long-range superfighter during its decade-long career.

The B-17 was as widely distributed as it was modified. Although the Flying Fortress is most commonly associated with the Eighth Air Force based in England, Fortresses served in Italy, Africa and the Pacific theatre as well. The B-17 (along with the B-24) was the backbone of America's Strategic Bombardment program against Germany during World War II. Although the price was steep (about 25% of Fortresses never came home) Strategic Bombardment demonstrably shortened the war by destroying Germany's industrial plant. (Strategic Bombardment really came into its own only with the development of stealth technology and smart bombs, which allowed for pinpoint accuracy in targeting.)

Even more than the plane, Jablonski regales us with tales---some comic, some tragic---of the men who flew these planes and the dangers they faced. Jablonski rejoices in recounting the war stories of these now gray-haired old men (where they've survived), especially the exploits of the "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group (famous to this day as suffering from a Luftwaffe vendetta), and "Rosie's Riveters." Jablonski doesn't much credit the vendetta against the "Century Bombers" except as a pilots' legend, but he does do a wonderful job of bringing to life the exploits of the B-17 crews.

FLYING FORTRESS is rounded out with an extensive technical section (including the pilot's manual) and hundreds of photographs. (Nowadays the Web holds the actual pilot training films, a must see for anyone interested in the B-17.) The only shortcomings of FLYING FORTRESS are the lack of a table of organization for the Army Air Forces, the absence of a brief summary of the postwar history of a few of the more famous planes, and nothing regarding expanded information on insignia and nose art (which is an engrossing subject all on its own).

The Flying Fortress still fascinates, and is still beloved. Much of the continuing public fascination with the B-17 can be attributed largely to this book, which kept the B-17 alive before the Internet made esoteric information generally available.

A definite and definitive five star effort!

Anyone interested in a complete book on the B-17 Flying Fortress must have this one. It is a classic. I have been refering to this book for some 25 years. I used to check this book out at the library every chance I could as a kid. Now I own my own copy. It has copies of manuals from the planes. Complete documentation of the evolution of this magnificent bomber. Most men that flew this plane, loved it. Though this book was written many years ago, I don't think our history revisionists can add much of anything to it.

I must admit this is not the first time that I have owned this book. I had a copy of it in High School and enjoy it now as much as I did then. Goes into great detail about the development and use of the B-17 during WWII. It has some very nice black and white photos and an excerpts from the pilot training manual are an added bonus.

This fascinating book has it all. The crews, the missions, 400 illustrations, training manual, specs, amazing individual stories, all packed into 362 pages. The B-17 in America, the South Pacific, North Africa, and Europe, it is all here. In 1990, after seeing the film Memphis Belle in the theatre several times, I purchased a Cooper A2 flight jacket and began attending air shows featuring B-17 rides where you can roam the 75 ft fuselage, listening to the awesome fury of four 1,200 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines rumbling the 104 ft wingspan. During takeoff watch the ground fall away thru the tail wheel opening. When the removable window over the radio compartment is open, stand on your toes and stick your head out at 160 mph. Sometimes a Corsair or B-24 will be at wingtip for a Kodak moment. Check out the 10 locations of the tail gunner (whose average lifetime in actual combat was something like 17 seconds), 2 waist gunners, plexiglass ball turret, radio operator, flight engineer/top turret, bombardier (and the Norden bombsight), navigator and pilots; also the thirteen .50 cals. The manual section of the book explains the instrument panels, how to takeoff, how to feather, how to ditch, bailout, etc. There were only 12,731 of these 40,000 pound Boeings built, capable of 300 mph at 35,800 ft. altitude. With names like Hell's Kitchen, Hellzapoppin, Borrowed Time, Hang the Expense, The Eager Beavers, The Duchess, Damdifino II, Boomerang, Banshee, Bataan, All American, Alexander the Swoose, Just a Snappin, Laden Maiden, Miss Bea Haven, Red Gremlin, Rosie's Riveters, Ruthie II, Yankee Doodle, Skipper, Snoozin' Suzan, Sqawkin Hawk II, and Suzy-Q, the author covers all of the major engagements of WWII from the B-17's perspective, but the highlights are the individual stories of people like Major Robert Rosenthal's classic adventures, especially his 52nd bombing run. Born on September 6, 1944, actress Swoosie Kurtz is named after a plane her father Frank Kurtz flew and had accepted by the Smithsonian. The Swoose is the oldest surviving B-17. Named after a popular song The Swoose began her career on April 28 1941. She made the first non-stop flight by a land-based military aircraft from continental US to Hawaii, ran bombing missions against the Japanese forces and shot down several fighters. She made her last flight from Texas on Dec 3 1953 - to Andrews AFB, MD. Three engines failed by the time she touched down at Andrews. In April 1961 she was brought to the National Air and Space Museum Restoration Facility at Silverhall, MD where she is on display. The last flight I took was the Nine O' Nine in May 2001, so it is time to figure out the 2007 airshow schedule from the following list of airworthy B-17s: Aluminum Overcast, Boeing Bee, Chuckie, Flying Fortress, Fuddy Duddy, Memphis Belle*, Miss Angela, Nine O' Nine, Pink Lady, Sally B, Sentimental Journey, Texas Raiders, Thunderbird, Yankee Lady II. *some are named in honor of the original. The original Memphis Belle 41-24485, is at Memphis Belle Memorial Association Memphis, Tenn. Besides the 2 Memphis Belle dvds, others are: The War Lover (Steve McQueen), 12 O'clock High (Gregory Peck), B-17 Flying Legend (Mark Feijo, 2004).

As did other reviewers I got this book many years ago, I just read it again and still find it interesting and well written. It is one of the definitive books on the B-17 and it's history from drawing board to the end of it's service life and shows a true love of this airplane. Filled with great pictures (a few you may have seen but others are rare and awe inspiring) starting with the first model 299 along with all combat variations and lots of crew member shots too.Also short tales of combat along with a brief treatment of support units fills in some details that the beginning WWII student would like. Belongs in almost any air buffs library. Great first book for teens or adults interested in airplanes and WWII. I have met B-17 crew members who for reasons not given did not care for this account of the B-17, In honor of those valued opinions I must only give this book 4 stars not the 5 someone who was not there wants to.