sorry lads the lancaster is still my pick as heavy bomber just because it did what it said, that is, carried heavy bombs. a heavy bomber that only carrys the same weight as a medium bomber is just a four engined medium bomber so you have to get 1 1/2 B17s to the target to match the delivery of the lanc. however flying half a plane takes some doing . as for losses i believe you will find that even with guns sticking out in every direction and mustang escorts the B17 losses where about the same as the lancs (30,000 crew approx) for each model. Obviously having a large crew the loss of one B17 was equvelent of 2 lancs in terms of fatalites. I have to agree though the lanc was not exactly pretty but the only aicraft i would describe as pretty in the whole war must be the spitfire in my opinon the most elegant plane ever built.