The Boeing B-17 was a four engined heavy bomber that entered service with the USAAF in the April of 1938.

The aircraft was originally designed to compete against

Douglas and Martin for a contract with the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) to build 200 bombers, the B-17 outperformed all its competition but did not get the contract as the prototype crashed. Despite losing the contract Boeing gained an order of 13 B-17s from USAAC and later entered full scale production.

The B-17 was mainly used during the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign against Germany but was also used to strike at Japanese shipping in the Pacific theatre.

The first foray into Europe was overshadowed by heavy losses due to the specific version ( B-17 F) vulnerability to frontal assault.

The Memphis Belle was the first B17F in the European theatre to complete a full tour of duty - due primarily to this deficiency.

The subsequent aircraft - the B17G - was rearmed with a chin turret and changes to the side windows to allow more forward defensive firing.

To date we have made three different B17 panels - two are B17F’s and one a B17G - all are based upon detailed drawings and photographs.

Panels are ca. 75 cm long and 50 cm high. The three windows are glazed. There are ca. 90 aluminium rivets.

Panels are priced at 170 GBP plus P&P.

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