suggestions for books on the B-17

[ZeamerB17]

As said above:

Half A Wing, Three Engines, and a Prayer by Brian D. O'Neill (expanded version) although the original is great, too - one of my favorites

Fortress in the Sky by Peter M. Bowers - fantastic reference!

Flying Fortress by Edward Jablonski - terrific overall view of the B-17 in combat

Flying Forts by Martin Caidin - not totally historically accurate, but very entertaining. This and Jablonski's book really fueled my interest (obsession? ) with the B-17

The B-17 Flying Fortress Story by Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne - thumbnail sketches of ALL 12,731 Forts built - Essential!

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Combat Crew memoirs:

A Wing and a Prayer by Harry H. Crosby

Those Who Fall by John Muirhead

Combat Crew by John Comer

Skip Bombing by James T. Murphy with A.B. Feuer - an excellent memoir of the somewhat overlooked use of the B-17 in the Southwest Pacific Theater

and many more ...

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Miscellaneous/Reference:

Plane Names and Bloody Noses by Ray Bowden - excellent study of the nose art and planes of the 100th Bombardment Group (H)

Or Go Down In Flame - A Navigator's Death Over Schweinfurt by W. Raymond Wood - excellent research some 50 years after the fact

Queens Die Proudly by W.L. White - vintage work on the very early days of the B-17 in the Pacific

B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Pacific War by Martin W. Bowman - a good view of the B-17 in the Pacific - this book is incorporated in
Fortress Of The Skies - The B-17 Flying Fortress in Combat which is a good overall reference

B-17 Flying Fortress (Enthusiast Color Series) by Jeff Ethell - lots of cool period color photos

Pride of Seattle - The Story of the First 300 B-17Fs by Steve Birdsall - excellent thumbnail sketches of these B-17s

Claims to Fame - The B-17 Flying Fortress by Steve Birdsall and Roger A. Freeman - excellent reference on the longest-serving B-17s

Any of Roger Freeman or Steve Birdsall's books are excellent.
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Nose Art:

B-17 Flying Fortress Nose Art Gallery by John M. and Donna Campbell

He!!'s Angels by Steve Birdsall

etc ...

There are a lot more at Steve Birdsall's B-17 Bookshelf:

http://users.beagle.com.au/stevepb/index.html

Last edited by ZeamerB17 on Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[rramblingsnj]

Hi,

I want to thank all for your wonderful list of books. I am in the process of going through the list now. Already on my to get list are:

Final Cut: The Post War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors: By Scott Thompson (because it deals with post WW II service of B-17s including but not limited to fire bombers

The B-17 Flying Fortress Story By Roger Anthony Freeman (for the history and the list of all B-17s)

Memphis Belle by Robert Morgan

Serenade to the Big Bird , Lt. Bert Stiles

Question on the Jablonski book, is this it:

http://www.amazon.com/Flyin-Fortress-Illustrated-Biography-B-17s/dp/B0006BN168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292429366&sr=8-1

The only title that seemed to fit is Flying Fortress: the Illustrated Biogarphy of the B-17s and the Men Who Flew Them (1965).

A couple are available on Amazon, which will cut down on my library loans.

Still have more to go through. I'll be back.

You all are great.

RR

[ZeamerB17]

Yes, that is the Jablonski book.

[Matt Gunsch]

Everything But The Flak,

[Richard W.]

I never realized how many of us grew up reading Jablonski's book.

When I was a kid, I'd check it out of the library and just keep renewing it until someone else requested it. Then I'd check it out again.

Got my own copy now. Don't think I've looked in it in 15 years, but I feel good having it on the shelf.

[bipe215]

I was a kid when I found one copy at the big department store downtown. I repeatedly hid it behind other books until I could scrounge up the ten bucks to buy it.

Steve G