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5050 Santa Fe Drive • Atwater, California • 95301
Boeing B-17G Flyingfortress
Probably Boeing's most famous bomber, the B-17 flew mostly out of England, equipping 26 of the 40 bombardment groups of the 8th Air Force. Six B-17 groups were part of 21 groups of the 15th Air Force, which bombed targets in Germany, Austria, Romania and the Balkans from bases in Italy. It will be forever associated with the Allied effort to defeat Nazi Germany. Losses were very heavy in the early months of the bombing campaign against German targets. The heroics of many B-17 crews are legendary. The advent of the long-range fighter escort and a change in fighter tactics reduced the loss rate to a level deemed "acceptable". B-17's also served in the Pacific and Far East in the early days of World War II, but were soon phased out in favor of the long range B-24.
The original intent for the B-17 was the protection of the U.S. mainland from invasion fleets, hence the name Flying Fortress. The first B-17 flew in 1935 as the Boeing Model 299, but the program suffered due to a crash of the prototype aircraft in October 1935. B-17s entered military service prior to World War II, but the entry of America into the War presented a need for aircraft in a hurry. In all, 8,680 B-17G models were built. Total B-17 models built during the War, was 12,731. They were built by Boeing in Seattle, Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach, CA and Vega Aircraft Corp. in Burbank, CA.
The RCAF held six Flying Fortresses on strength from 6 December, 1943 to 27 December, 1946, three being Mk. II Model 299-Os (or B-17Es), and three were Model 299-Ps (or B-17Fs). All six belonged to 168 Heavy Transport Squadron which operated out of RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario and were tasked to fly mail to Canadian troops serving in Europe. B-17 #9204 was severely damaged at Rockcliffe on 17 September, 1944 and was never repaired, but it had contributed to the squadron's overall total of 636 trans-Atlantic mail flights (of which 240 were flown by the B-17s); 26,417 flying hours; 2,245,269 pounds of mail from Canada to U.K.; and 8,977,600 pounds from U.K. to the continent.
The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum is painted as an aircraft of the 94th Bomb. Group which was commanded by Colonel Frederick Walker Castle from June of 1943 to April 1944 when he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the 4th Combat Wing. General Castle lost his life in the skies over France on December 24, 1944 while serving as combat wing commander. After his aircraft was heavily damaged, he ordered the crew to bail out of the aircraft, while he and the co-pilot kept the aircraft under control. Before they could escape themselves, the aircraft exploded, killing both men. Six of the crew survived. For his actions and leadership, General Castle was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States highest military honor. It is for him that Merced Army Air Field was renamed Castle Air Force Base.
MUSEUM HOURS
April 1- September 30
9:00am - 5:00pm
October 1 - March 31
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round (weather permitting),
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
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Specifications
Country of Origin:
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United States
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Manufacturer:
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Boeing Airplane Company
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Role/Function:
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Bomber
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Serial Number:
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43-38635
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Model Number/Mk #:
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Model 299
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Crew:
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10 Crew
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Power Plant:
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4 - 1,200 hp Wright-Cyclone R1820-97 radial engines.
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Maximum Speed:
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287 mph
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Cruising Speed:
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n/a
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Service Ceiling:
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35,600 ft.
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Range:
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2,800 mi.
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Weights:
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Empty: 36,135 lbs.
Maximum: 64,500 lbs.
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Wing Span:
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103 ft. 9 in.
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Length:
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74 ft. 4 in.
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Height:
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19 ft. 1 in.
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Wing Area:
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n/a
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Armament:
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13 - .50 cal. machine guns and 6,000 lbs of bombs.
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Cost:
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$238,329.00 USD (at the time of manufacture)
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Number Built:
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8,680 G-models
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# in Current Service:
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None, few in private, flyable condition.
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