Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) was the second-largest user of the B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. There were a total of six combat groups (twenty-four squadrons) equipped with the bomber assigned to the Theater. Initially equipped with the B-17F Fortress, two bombardment groups (97th and 301st) were flown from airfields in England to Algiers and Oran in Algeria in November 1942 after the Operation Torch landings. They were assigned to the 5th Bombardment Wing, XII Bomber Command, Twelfth Air Force. The initial two combat groups were
B-17G "Flying Fortress" No. 44-83690 and in 1961, flown to Grissom Air Force Base (then known as Bunker Hill) for permanent display. The Heritage Museum Foundation, established in 1981 as part of the Air Force Museum Program, maintains 44-83690. In 2015 the aircraft was moved to the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Georgia and is currently undergoing a lengthy restoration. B-17G "Flying Fortress" No. 44-83690 is a reasonably intact example of a World War II aircraft type of which only 50 exist in the world. It is also an example of an experimental craft, which participated, in military tests shortly after World War II.