How many crew does a b17 have?

10
Armed with no less than 13 0.50-calibre machine guns, including two in a new “chin” turret for defense against head-on attack, the B-17G fairly bristled with machine guns. It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners.

How many B 17 crews died?

Of the 3,885 crewmen aboard B-‐17 Flying Fortresses that went down, 2,114 (54.4 %) did not survive; 866 of the 1,228 on B-‐24 Liberators (71.3%) died; 190 of the 236 (80.0%) fighter pilots who went down perished.

How many B-17s were shot down during the Second World War?

In addition, air crews liked the B-17 for its ability to withstand heavy combat damage and still return its crew safely home. Between 1935 and May 1945, 12,732 B-17s were produced. Of these aircraft, 4,735 were lost during combat missions. At one time, more than 1,000 B-17s could be assembled for mass combat missions.

Why was the b24 called the flying coffin?

The four-engine aircraft was notorious among aircrews. Officially designated the “Liberator,” the square shaped B-24 could easily turn into a death trap. It was hard to fly with its stiff and heavy controls, and so earned its name by its crews as the “Flying Coffin.”

How many gunners does a B-17 have?

5 gunners
There were 5 gunners in the back of the plane, all enlisted men who were non-commissioned officers (NCO’s) during their mission. During takeoff, they all sat in the radio room behind the bomb bay—the strongest part of the aircraft where the wings intersect with the fuselage.

How much ammo did a b17 carry?

Additional armament included an additional dorsal turret in the radio room, a remotely operated and fired Bendix-built “chin turret” directly below the bombardier’s accommodation, and twin . 50 in (12.7 mm) guns in each of the waist positions. The ammunition load was over 11,000 rounds.

How many bombs could a b17 carry?

Technical Specifications

First flight	July 28, 1935 (prototype)
Ceiling	35,600 feet
Power	Four 1,200-horsepower Wright R-1820-97 engines
Accommodation	2 pilots, bombardier, navigator, radio-operator, 5 gunners
Armament	11 to 13 machine guns, 9,600-pound bomb load

What was the life expectancy of a WW2 pilot?

Life Expectancy The average life expectancy of a spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain was an astonishing four weeks.

Which is bigger b17 vs B-24?

The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. This wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long range. Compared to the B-17 it had a 6-foot larger wingspan, but a lower wing area. This gave the B-24 a 35% higher wing loading.

Was there really a 633 Squadron?

633 Squadron. THIS HISTORY IS FICTITIOUS, AS THE SQUADRON WAS NEVER FORMED. However it appeared in at least two films and the Museum receives requests for a history of this unit every time they are shown on television.