This book gives a complete account of the B-17 Flying Fortress from its design in the mid-1930's through its WWII career, when it was the mainstay of the Allied bombing raids over Nazi Germany. The B-17 Flying Fortress gives a complete account of the aircraft from its appearance in response to a 1934 Army Air Corps specification to its retirement. From its original design and development history, which saw its armament steadily increase until it bristled with no less than 13 X 12.7mm machine guns, the full history is discussed here with complete specifications. The units that operated this legendary bomber, explanations of how the missions were flown and a full charting of the aircraft's wartime career. The final chapter details the B-17 variants, including the YB-40, a bomber converted to a 30-gun escort. Technical information is presented in three appendices and includes specifications of the B-17 and comparisons with its major rivals.