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BOEING B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
Variants - B-17D

Though changes in the design made the Army Air Corps decide that the B-17D was worthy of a new subdesignation, the B-17C and B-17D were very similar. In fact, both were given the same subdesignation (299H) by Boeing.

Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress.
[Source: USAF Photo]

Several minor changes were made, both internally and externally. Outside, the engines received a set of cowling flaps for better cooling, and the external bomb racks were removed. On the inside, the electrical system was revised, and another crew member added. In the aft-dorsal radio compartment room just behind the bomb bay with a flexible mount, and the ventral bathtub turret — as well as adding the nose-mount, "cheek" guns for the first time, in a longitudinally staggered mount layout (the starboard "cheek" gun further forward in relation to the portside ordnance) the guns were doubled, bringing the total armament to one 0.30 in (7.62 mm) and six 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. The B-17D also featured more extensive armor protection. A total of 42 "D"s were built, and the 18 remaining B-17Cs were also converted to B-17D format.

First Flight: February 3, 1941
Produced: 42

Sources:
Wikipedia
U.S.A.A.F. RESOURCE CENTER > BOMBERS > FLYING FORTRESS > VARIANTS > PREVIOUS PAGE