Flying Fortress (film) one of the few British studios to operate during the Second World War, produced "Flying Fortress" as part of a series of patriotic films aiding the war effort. Warner received co-operation from the Air Ministry, with facilities at RAF Polebrook being provided, along with a Supermarine Spitfire, Bristol Blenheim, and three early Boeing B-17Cs (Fortess Is in RAF service) from No. 90 Squadron RAF, released for use in the production. A number of shooting miniatures were also created, including scale Fortress Is. The burning engine fire depicted at the conclusion of the film is based on an actual World War
Military history of the United States during World War II American bomber crew losses were high. One such example was the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, which resulted in staggering losses of men and equipment. The introduction of the revered P-51 Mustang, which had enough fuel to make a round trip to Germany's heartland, helped to reduce losses later in the war. In mid-1942, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) arrived in the UK and carried out a few raids across the English Channel. The USAAF Eighth Air Force's B-17 bombers were called the "Flying Fortresses" because of their heavy defensive armament of ten to twelve machine guns, and armor plating in