Wingleader Photo Archive 48. Boeing B 17 Fortress in RAF Service (EXPECTED October 2026)

Before America declared war, Churchill was keen to get US aircraft into the RAF, if only for propaganda. In the autumn of 1940 the British tried to buy some B-17s, but were told that the few B-17s available were all earmarked for the USAAC. However, they were persuaded to part with 20 B-17s for operational trials, the results of which would be reported on by American ‘Observers’ based with the squadron. The B-17Cs were used by 90 Squadron to trial high-altitude bombing, but were not a success.

The B-17 was next tried with RAF Coastal Command as a long range maritime patrol aircraft. By this time the more advanced Mk.II was available (Based on the B-17E and F), with the distinctive dorsal fin fillet and redesigned armament. Again, the B-17 didn’t suit this role very well, but it saw more widespread service than in the bomber role.

The final RAF use of the B-17 was with 100 Group in the Radio Counter-Measures role. This time the airframes were mainly based on the B-17G and known as the Fortress Mk.III. Their task was to fly above the bomber stream over the target area and disrupt the enemy radio communications via a wide array of electronic devices. This they did very well from spring 1944 right up until the end of WW2.