Try reading slowly and enunciating the words - the B-17 really (again note the word really) was only used by the 8th AF in England.
1) There was 35 x B-17 units in England
2) There was 6 x B-17 units in Italy.
Majority of the B-17 units (really used) was over England
Don't be a Karen
You may be a flaming asshat, but I'll have to ponder more on the probability.
Couple of points. If you believe what you just stated and pose that you have written several books on the B-17, my first question is a.) how old are you?, b.) were your 'books' actually published and intended for adult consumption?, c.) were coloring books included?
1) It was in limited use in the Pacific until the end of 1942 then used as armed transports
The reason that B-17 BG assignment to all theatres was the extremely high priority to ETO/MTO for USSTAF and the task of destroying the LW and German industy base.
2) yes, I should have said Europe not the England (slip of the keyboard).
Brainfart from eating too many crayons.
3) B-17 systems was very much obsolete before WWII - do your homework on the B-17 structure. The systems, flight controls, defenses were all top of the line in 1938 and well surpassed by 1942.
Ah an airframe structures Expert. We can chat. As to defenses, 1938 armament was clearly Inferior to the task to be faced in ETO and major strides were made to improve - with power turrets and computing gunsights. Quick test - name other heavy bombers that match up? B-29, yes. But B-24 slightly inferior.
4) B-17 was definitely a medium bomber - just because you put balls on the queen does not change the original AAC specifications followed by Boeing when designing the B-17
Ohh, dirty talk and glib remarks. I sense a keyboard warrior in sunglasses and 50 mission hat with a stub of a cigar as you fight for control of a hostile 'ether'.
Name a medium bomber with range, defensive armament and bomb load comprable to 5,000 pounds at 600 mile combat radius.
5) the 15th AF had serious talks with the 8th AF to swap out the 5th BW's for B-24 groups that were inbound to the 8th.
So, what. The fighter threat in MTO was less severe for the lower ceiling capable B-24, so slightly less bomb load/but greater range was appealing to Eaker and Twining.
6) I noticed you did not disagree that RAF Bassingbourne was called the Country Club by the press !
That's the difference between being a B-17 historian vs being a B-17 fanboy, when you read several thousand combat reports, S-3 reports, accident reports, unit reports, engineering reports you learn how to find the truth vs somebody that only watches 12-o'clock high reruns.
So, what? And BTW someday when you learn to spell Bassingbourn (no 'e') you may graduate to student - level one. Is that above or below 'B-17 Fanboy'.
