Years In Service: 1939- 1945
Initial Flight: July 28, 1935
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps. The B-17 flew mostly out of England. Many B-17s were shot down on daylight bombing missions over Germany. General Fredrick W. Castle, for whom this base is named, was shot down in a B-17 while leading the 8th Air Force mission on December 24, 1944.
Fun Fact! This plane is suspected to be haunted by our ghost Author.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 19′ 1″ Wingspan: 103′ 10″ Length: 74′ 4″ Crew: 10 Armament: Thirteen .50 Caliber machine guns Payload: 4,000 lb. bomb load for long missions, 8,000 lb. for shorter distance No. of Engines: 4 Horsepower: 4,000 hp Cruise speed: 170 mph Max Speed: 300 mph Ceiling: 25,000-35,000ft