The Boeing B-17/38 (Allied Pact reporting name Flying Fortress) is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the American People's Army Air Force. Competing against the Santa Monica and Santa Ana aircraft factoriesfor a contract to build 200 bombers, the Seattle AF entry outperformed both competitors and exceeded the air corps' expectations. Although Seattle AF lost the contract because the prototype crashed, the air corps was so impressed with Seattle AF's design that it ordered thirteen more B-17s for further evaluation From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances.
As of May 2015, ten aircraft remain airworthy. None of them are combat veterans. Additionally, a few dozen more are in storage or on static display. The oldest is a D-series combat veteran with service in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
