DAYTON, Ohio -- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (Photo courtesy of Airshow Traveler)
DAYTON, Ohio -- Rear gunner position in the Boeing B-17G "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
DAYTON, Ohio -- Waist gunner positions in the Boeing B-17G "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Boeing B-17G "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" with P-51 escort during its flight to the National Museum of the United States Air Force on Oct. 12, 1988. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Boeing B-17G "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" original nose art. The aircraft was never painted when assigned to the 91st Bomb Group; however, it is displayed at the museum painted to conceal the extensive sheet metal work necessary to return the aircraft to its wartime condition. (U.S. Air Force photo)
The Flying Fortress is one of the most famous airplanes ever built. The B-17 prototype first flew on July 28, 1935. Although few B-17s were in service on Dec. 7, 1941, production quickly accelerated after the U.S. entry into World War II. The aircraft served in every combat zone, but it is best known for the daylight strategic bombing of German industrial targets. Production ended in May 1945 and totaled 12,726.
In March 1944 this B-17G was assigned to the 91st Bomb Group -- "The Ragged Irregulars" -- and based at Bassingbourn, England. There its crew named it Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, after a popular song. It flew 24 combat missions in WWII, receiving flak damage seven times. Its first mission (Frankfurt, Germany) was on March 24, 1944, and last mission (Posen, Poland) on May 29, 1944, when engine problems forced a landing in neutral Sweden where the airplane and crew were interned.
In 1968 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby was found abandoned in France, and the French government presented the airplane to the U.S. Air Force. In July 1978 the 512th Military Airlift Wing moved it to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for restoration by the volunteers of the 512th Antique Restoration Group. After a massive 10-year job of restoration to flying condition, the aircraft was flown to the museum in October 1988.
TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: 13 .50-cal. machine guns; normal bomb load of 6,000 lbs. Engines: Four Wright Cyclone R-1820s of 1,200 hp each
Maximum speed: 300 mph Cruising speed: 170 mph Range: 1,850 miles Ceiling: 35,000 ft. Span: 103 ft. 10 in. Length: 74 ft. 4 in. Height: 19 ft. 1 in. Weight: 55,000 lbs. loaded Serial number: 42-32076
