The B-17 Flying Fortress gives a complete account of the aircraft from its appearance in response to a 1934 Army Air Corps specification to its retirement. The book opens with the B-17’s design and development history. The B17 Flying Fortress then identifies the units that operated this legendary bomber, and explains how missions were flown, before going on to chart the aircraft’s wartime career. The final chapter details the B-17 variants, including the YB-40, a bomber converted to a 30-gun escort.