Interestingly, the B-17 had heavy M2 Browning machine guns deployed in as many as 8 seats per aircraft. The most conspicuous was the one in the very nose of the aircraft, which had a plexiglass cover and was so protruding that the machine gunner could shoot in virtually all frontal directions at fighters coming to meet the bomber.
On July 28, 1935, a US B-17 heavy bomber called the Flying Fortress took off for the first time. It is probably the most famous bomber from the period of the Second World War, which gained almost legendary status on the Allied side. It is estimated that B-17 bombers dropped an incredible 640,000,000 pounds of bombs during that war, more than any other type of U.S. bomber.
The B-17 Flying Fortress was manufactured by Boeing and was put into use several years before the United States entered World War II. The B-17 at the time had the ability to fly at higher altitudes than any other Allied bomber. He was nicknamed the Flying Fortress after Richard Williams – a Seattle Times reporter – said “Why, it’s a flying fortress!” Boeing recognized the value of such a name and registered it.
Interestingly, the B-17 had as many as 10 crew members. These were the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator and six other machine gunners who operated the M2 Browning machine guns. These heavy machine guns were deployed in as many as 8 places per aircraft. The most conspicuous was the one in the nose of the aircraft, which had a plexiglass cover (at that time the most modern material that appeared on the market only a little earlier) and was so protruding that the machine gunner could shoot practically in all frontal directions at the incoming fighters. to meet the bomber.
