Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress The Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress was a modification for operational testing purposes of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft, converted to act as a heavily armed gunship for other bombers during World War II. At the time of its development, long-range fighter aircraft such as the North American P-51 Mustang were just entering quantity production, and thus were not yet available to accompany bombers all the way from England to Germany and back. Work on the prototype, Project V-139, began in September 1942 by converting the second production B-17F-1-BO (serial number 41-24341) built. Conversion work was
Bomber Aircrew in World War II Bomber Aircrew in World War II "Bomber Aircrew of World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat" () is a book by military historian and author Bruce Barrymore Halpenny. It is about the aircrew of RAF Bomber Command in World War II. This group had over 300,000 operations flying over enemy territory during the war, losing 50,000 airmen and 8,000 British aircraft. The book has first hand accounts by veteran RAF aircrew and their support staff, giving an insight into life in RAF Bomber Command as well as the creation and development of the bomber airfield for a new