Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry (prototype Model 299/XB-17) outperformed both competitors and exceeded the air corps' performance specifications. Although Boeing lost the contract (to the Douglas B-18 Bolo) because the prototype crashed, the air corps ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances, becoming the third-most produced bomber of all time,
80th Flying Training Wing (World War II) 80th Flying Training Wing (World War II) The 80th Flying Training Wing was a training wing of the United States Army Air Forces. It was last assigned to the Central Flying Training Command, and was disbanded on 16 June 1946 at Ellington Field, Texas. There is no lineage between the United States Air Force 80th Flying Training Wing, established on 13 January 1942 as the 80th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) at Selfridge Field, Michigan and this organization. The wing controlled three navigation schools in Texas, and also supported the AAF Glider Pilot School at South Plains. After graduation, Flying Cadets were