Tag Archives: 8th Air Force

Putting the ‘Fortress’ into the B-17: A Look at the Guns

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It is no understatement to say that the B-17 bomber is one of the most famous airplanes to fly a mission. Today we look at the hardware that lived up to its well-deserved “Flying Fortress” name.

When it first flew in 1935, the original B-17 wasn’t very well equipped with defensive gun armament; after all, its main armament was its massive 5,000-pound bomb load.

The YB-17 prototypes had a single gun up front, two in side nacelles, one for the radio operator, and one below – just five all told, all with limited fields of fire. (National Museum of the Air Force)

Boeing YB-17 nose turret via National Museum of USAF 

Boeing YB-17 flex gun turret via National Museum of USAF

Wartime experience soon changed this, and by the time the B-17G model took to the air, it carried 13 .50-caliber air-cooled machine guns and almost 7,500 rounds of ammunition to keep them firing. While a few of the bomber’s crew were dedicated gunners, everyone save for the pilot and co-pilot had a gun at their disposal and were expected to use it if needed.

B-17G Flying Fortresses Drop Bombs On Berlin, Germany 26 February 1945. [91St Bg] 59348AC 342-FH_000123

For a closer look, head over to my piece at Guns.com that includes a walk around we did out at Pima. 

Monsters from Mars, or Forts from Seattle, either way

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Official caption: “Giving them the appearance of Monsters from Mars, the vapor trails left by these B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th AF leave their marls in the sub-stratosphere. Vapor trails left by Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th AF leave their marks in the sub-stratosphere. The curved trails were made by the fighters accompanying the B-17’s. The deadly .50 Cal. Machine guns, bristling from the leading Fortress, are plainly visible against the light reflected from the contrails.”

Note the fighter top cover. U.S. Army A.A.F. photo No. 26566 A.C. LC-USZ62-107648

A .50 cal gunner from the Meat Hound

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right-waist-gunner-staff-sergeant-frank-t-lusic-of-eighth-air-forces-meathound-a-boeing-b-17f-55-bo-flying-fortress-sn-42-29524-1943

Right waist gunner Staff Sergeant Frank T. Lusic of Eighth Air Force’s “Meat Hound” a Boeing B-17F-55-BO Flying Fortress (s/n 42-29524) assigned first to the 423th Bomb Sqn, 306th Bomb Group in early 1943 then chopped to the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303th Bomb Group at RAF Molesworth in England.

On her 25th mission over Oschersleben Germany on 26 January 1944, Meat Hound was hit hit by enemy aircraft over Durgerdam, and her crew bailed over the huge Ijsselmeer lake, Holland (the largest lake in Western Europe) while the pilot kept her in the air as long as he could.

Four crewmembers drowned. One who did not, co-pilot Clayton David evaded capture while another four fell into German hands and became prisoners of war.

The pilot, Jack Wilson, managed to coax the stricken bird back to England and crash landed near Metfield in Suffolk. Meat Hound was written off.

As for Cook County, Illinois-native Lusic, 23, he was a quest of the Reich and was sent to Stalag 7A near Moosburg, Germany where 8,209 other American POWs were held. In the end he was imprisoned for at least 382 days until he was liberated.

According to public records he died in Wisconsin in 1977.