Fortresses of the Big Triangle First

It is now over fifty years since the B-17 first took to the air and over forty years since the Eighth Air Force departed from the airfields in the British Isles at the end of World War Two.
In the years since these events took place, the B-17 has become the most well known U.S. World War Two combat aircraft and the 'Mighty Eighth' the most well known of the U.S. Air Forces that took part in that conflict so long ago.
In parallel with this popularity among World War Two historians, there has been a steady flow of books dealing with the B-17 and the Eighth Air Force.
This book is, however, the first to deal exclusively with the aircraft assigned to a major section of the Eighth. In this case, the First Bombardment Wing and its successor, the First Bombardment Division, from the arrival in England of the first B-17Es in July 1942 through to March 1944. Thus covering approximately one fifth of the total Heavy bomber assignments to the Eighth Air Force.
Starting with Part One there is a chronicled history giving details of all operational missions, statistics on missing in action, crashed and salvaged aircraft. Included is a monthly aircraft and crew status listing.
Part Two covers the units and their aircraft. The following are the units included: The 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) and the following Bombardment Groups (Heavy) 91st, 92nd, 93rd (1942), 97th, 301st, 303rd, 305th, 306th, 351st, 379th, 381st, 384th, 401st, 457th and 482nd. Tables give details of the units' original aircraft. All aircraft assigned and their location on 31st March 1944. Statistics of 'Missing in action and Salvaged'. Long and short serving aircraft. Specially prepared graphical charts show every plane assigned in serial number order with dates of assignment, how long served and how they were lost.
Part Three is a listing of all aircraft by serial number. Included are all the B-17Es assigned to the Eighth Air Force as well as nearly 2,000 B-17Fs and B-17Gs, B-24s, normally associated with the Second Air Division, also flew with the First Wing/ Division and these are included as well as all the non operational and training types. Also listed are the aircraft transferred to the Twelfth Air Force in 1942 and the B-17Fs assigned to the Fourth Bombardment Wing occupying First Bombardment Wing airfields in 1943.
Finally there is an appendix which includes details of all Atlantic Ferry route losses and a listing of over 800 named aircraft with serial numbers.


by Cliff T. Bishop
Published by East Anglia Books 1986 1st edition. 320pp profusely illustrated, index, appendix. 22x30 bottom of spine bumped, otherwise near fine, including d/j.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

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