In 1939, Boeing wanted a very highly defensive, stratigic bombing plane, so new engineers went to work. They came out with the AYB-17A/ version 299. The military bought six planes for testing. There were different results and different blind spots for each plane, so they never let it see combat. The designers and engineers went back and worked out the discrepancies and even improved the engine. Their results developed into the B-17A. The Army and the Air Force bought some. Also, the B-17A was prone to overheating which caused the engines to explode. One out of every two planes would explode. After that, creators went back to work and their results became the B-17B Then Boeing asked the engineers to make a bottom turret and came out with the B-17C. The model improved by the time the B-17D was manufactured. Designers wanted the turrets to have full range of motion and that's when the major improvements came with the B-17E. The B-17F was a small improvement on the E version with a radioman station and a front gunner. The front gunner assisted the top turret gunner which could not shoot low. The B-17G also included a small improvement which was the inclusion of a chin gun. This gun was below the front cab. The rare B-17H was used by the Coast Guard. Three inflatable rafts were part of the equipment of the B-17H for rescues at sea.
B-17G is my favorite because it was the most mass produce version and completed the most missions during World War II.
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