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A site dedicated to my favorite WWII aircraft
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| Bomber Series--Boeing B-17 Fortress (10 of 27) (next) or (back to facts) | |
| compliled by [email protected]
In mid-1942, 45 B-17Es were turned over to the RAF as Fortress IIA. RAF serials were FK 184/213, FG 449/460, and FG 462/464. Since this transfer took place following the transfer of a batch of later model B-17Fs to the RAF as Fortress II, these planes were designated Fortress IIA. Because of its unhappy experience with the Fortress I, the RAF did not attempt to use their Fortress IIAs in the daylight high-altitude bombing role. Instead, they were turned over to Coastal Command for use in antisubmarine patrol work in the war in the Atlantic. The Fortress IIA entered service with No. 59 Squadron based at Thorney Island in August of 1942. One Coastal Command Fortress IIA (FK 185) was fitted with an experimental Bristol B.16 nose turret in place of the normal transparent fairing. This turret housed a 40-mm Vickers "S" gun which was remotely-controlled from a position just underneath the turret. The gun had a traverse of 30 degrees in azimuth and 40 degrees in elevation. It was intended for use against surfaced submarines. A few Fortress IIAs were issued to RAF Bomber Command, although I am unaware of their service history. Go on to Boeing B-17 Fortress (11 of 27) |