Description
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Before America declared war, Churchill was keen to get US aircraft into the RAF, if only for propaganda. In the autumn of 1940 the British tried to buy some B-17s, but were told that the few B-17s available were all earmarked for the USAAC. However, they were persuaded to part with 20 B-17s for operational trials, the results of which would be reported on by American ‘Observers’ based with the squadron. The B-17Cs were used by 90 Squadron to trial high-altitude bombing, but were not a success.
The B-17 was next tried with RAF Coastal Command as a long range maritime patrol aircraft. By this time the more advanced Mk.II was available (Based on the B-17E and F), with the distinctive dorsal fin fillet and redesigned armament. Again, the B-17 didn’t suit this role very well, but it saw more widespread service than in the bomber role.
The final RAF use of the B-17 was with 100 Group in the Radio Counter-Measures role. This time the airframes were mainly based on the B-17G and known as the Fortress Mk.III. Their task was to fly above the bomber stream over the target area and disrupt the enemy radio communications via a wide array of electronic devices. This they did very well from spring 1944 right up until the end of WW2.
