B17 pilots.

**rogerwilko** · 28 Sep 11,, 04:17

Were there any comparison test flights by B17 pilots flying equivalent british four engined bombers? Lancasters, halifaxs,stirlings?

**BB61Vet** · 28 Sep 11,, 04:32

My grandfather would've been the one to ask, having been a bombardier aboard B17's as well as serving a tour or two aboard Brit Lancasters. Unfortunately, like 90% of the US World War II vets, he's deceased.

**Albany Rifles** · 30 Sep 11,, 15:30

A cursory check of the the websites for Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Maxwell Air War College records show no operational use of those aircraft by USAAF aircrews. I am sure there were evaluation flights but there was no real effort for the US to use Lancs, Sterlings or Halifaxs...the UK and Canada were doing all they could to produce what they needed for the RAF.

I am sure there were exchange officers, etc, but nothing which was a formal evaluation program.

**ArtyEngineer** · 30 Sep 11,, 21:46

The RAF Operated B17's from 1941 through to 1945 in varios roles. But had little success with using it as a Daylight Bomber. They flew too high with too heavy a load and in too small numbers to provide mutual defense from German Fighters.

I believe all B17s were transferred to COastal COmmand where they were much more sucessfull in Anti Sub and Search and Rescue Roles.

So I would be pretty sure the RAF had pilots with experience on B17 plus Lancs, Stirlings etc.

Regards

Arty

**rogerwilko** · 30 Sep 11,, 22:36

Thanks anyway everyone.

**zraver** · 03 Oct 11,, 07:37

Originally Posted by rogerwilko

Were there any comparison test flights by B17 pilots flying equivalent british four engined bombers? Lancasters, halifaxs,stirlings?

In the Pacific the few B-17's around proved to be superb recon aircraft and often worked with RAAF light and medium bombers to decimate Japanese shipping. In the Pacific the B-17 really was a flying fortress...