Fortress in my town, back in '45
#2

What an interesting tale. It is often forgotten how involved a large bomber can be to operate. I had the privilege once of sitting near two B17's starting up their engines for an airshow back in the 90's. I can't help remembering that rumble. A suprisingly understated cacophony, but what a gorgeous soundtrack.

A part of me thinks the Russians were taking the mick (besides the B17 too), because there can't have been many with four engined bomber experience to begin with, never mind any qualified to fly B17's. Of course a lot of WW2 aeroplanes were flown ad hoc, without checkouts or training, such as ferry pilots or indeed captured aircraft, but wht exactly did the Russians stand to gain from their new acquisition? They certainly weren't going to fly it operationally. To study it? It seems interesting that German designs were largely discarded (the gossip about german research spawning the next generation of aircraft is a little exaggerated) and that the Russians eagerly grabbed hold of a B17. Why? They were already acquainted with them due to bomber formations operating from Russian airbases on long haul missions. They must have known B17's were not state of the art by 1945, and the only reason they could have had to do that (apart from perhaps just being larcenous or wanting to claim a prize) was in considering America as a potential enemy following the defeat of Germany.
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