Tactics and Formations

During the offensive of Germany and Japan, there were always enemy fighters swarming the skies, diving down and destroying American planes.  The B-17G had eight different gun turrets.  When planes would attack the bottom of the B-17s earlier versions, the gun could only turn at about a 23 degree angle.  It was ineffective at destroying fighters that attacked from this position.  After many bombers were shot down, a model E was created.  The ball turret on this version and other made afterward could rotate fully to address attacks from any direction.  When the Messerschmitt ME came along, they had thicker armor.  A colonel came up with the idea of a three-plane formation of B-17s to create more firepower.  They were more effective in destroying the Messerschmitts this way.  B-17s were very successful from this point on.