B-17 Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the first mass-produced, four-engine heavy bomber. Used throughout World War II for strategic bombing, the plane earned a reputation for its toughness and versatility. Carrying a crew of ten, and 8,000 pounds of bombs on long range missions, the '17 wreaked havoc on Germany during the critical years 1942-45. The "Memphis Belle", the first B-17 to fly 25 missions over Europe, is perhaps the most famous plane to emerge from the European Theatre. Originally printed by the U.S. Army Air Force in December of 1942, this B-17 Bomber Pilot's Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know about the "Queen of the Skies." Originally classified "Restricted", the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text. This is an authentic WWII era document, reprinted here in its entirety with attractive color covers. Please note, due to the archival nature of this document, page quality can vary.