Inside the B-17 Flying Fortress

[@BluePawPrint]

Play War Thunder now for free with my link, and get a massive bonus pack including vehicles, boosters and more: playwt.link/bluepawprint Thank you War Thunder for sponsoring this video

[@pyeitme508]

M1 Abrams videos please.

[@raku492._.]

i know u get this all the time, and u planned all the videos already, but please can u make a video about the king tiger or the panther

[@user-history-nerd]

I am playing warthunder right now

[@amdasaba]

Can you do one for the Wizard War of WW2? Or Allied Bombing tactics such as bomber stream, sky marking and use of radio in night bombing?

[@bolech5221]

God no

[@BMF6889]

I'm 77 years old now. My dad was a B-17 pilot in WW II and was shot down over Holtland, Germany on July 26, 1943. Five of the crew were killed and five survived. My dad spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III (the site of the Great Escape) and Stalag VII A where he was liberated in April 1945 by the advanced units of Patton's 3rd Army. He was wounded by shrapnel from a 20mm explosive shell from a German FW-190. He very rarely said anything about his experiences in WW II. Total time was perhaps a minute or two until he died. Everything I learned about him in WW II was by my own research of US and German documents in my later life, and it took many years to piece everything together. For example it tool a long time going through the German records to learn that it was Senior Lieutenant Karl Decker piloting an FW-190 who shot my dad down after my dad's B-17 had been hit by flak and fell behind the formation on the way back from a successful bombing run on the Hanover Rubber Works, Hanover, Germany. Oddly, one of the very few things my dad mentioned about his time in WW II was that a German patrol that was sent to take him prisoner saved him from angry farmers that wanted to kill him. It was hard as a kid and a young adult to imagine what war was really like. My dad said that the movie "Twelve O'Clock High" came close to what it was like and the novel "Maybe I'm Dead" was a realistic depiction of what POW life was like. Well, I got my chance to imagine what war was like. In 1967 I joined the Marine Corps to avoid being drafted into the Army. I graduated from OCS an was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Then after 6 months of officer training, I arrived in Vietnam on December 15, 1968 and took command of an infantry platoon. I came home in December 1969 and I can definitely say I know for a fact what war is like. It's extreme physical and mental stress, death, horrible wounds, chaos, destruction, and survival when it didn't seem possible. A special thanks to all of the Marines who served in my platoon including the magnificent Navy Corpsmen and all the Marines, Navy, and Air Force supporting operations that saved our butts more than a few times. There is so much I can say about combat. First, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you are dead or wounded. Second, there were unimaginable tragedies and there were miracles on the battlefield. One day I had 34 Marines in my platoon (very much under strength) and when the sun set that day, only 4 of us were still alive and unwounded. That was the worst day of my life. On another day, we were in an intense firefight when were caught in the open by North Vietnamese soldiers. They had us dead to rights. I had to make a decision to try to fall back or to conduct an aggressive frontal attack. I only had a few seconds and I decided on an aggressive frontal attack. But I had no radio contact with my squad leaders and so I had to run up and down the line of assault shouting commands to coordinate the assault. If you've never been in a firefight, bullets travel faster than the speed of sound and so when they pass close by, you can hear a loud "snap" which is a small sonic boom. It's not an exaggeration that during that assault it soundly like a string of firecrackers going off around me. When my platoon reached the tree line, it was hand to hand for a very brief time with some of my Marines. It didn't last more than 30-60 seconds before the enemy quickly withdrew. After the battle, I asked my platoon sergeant to get a count of our dead and wounded. A few minutes later he returned and said, "Sir, you ain't gonna believe this, but we only have one Marine with minor wound to his hand from an enemy bayonet and he doesn't want to be evacuated." That was a miracle. And here is the really odd thing. I really can't describe this in a way you might understand, but I had this feeling while I was in Vietnam that there was something watching over me. I never had any fear in Vietnam except for two situations. It would take too long to describe them, but one was during a night ambush we established when I thought the enemy would discover us and they had way more soldiers than I did Marines. The other was when we were in a company defensive position in a valley at night and we were hit with our own 155 mm artillery after a Recon unit in the mountains above us mistook us for the enemy. If you have never been caught in barrage of artillery, it is the most terrifying experience you can comprehend. The shrapnel is mowing down saplings and small trees. There is the screams of the wounded but no one can get to them. Those were two moments where I didn't have the feeling anyone was watching over me. So what's my point? Well when I in my 60's I had a chance to pay for a ride on a B-17. I wanted to know kind of what my dad may have felt and saw. Obviously, there was no flak or German fighters, but I did have my experience of three years in combat. My first impression was just how small or really tiny the B-17 was and just how difficult it was to try to get from the rear to the front of it. And how hard it was to actually try to bail out when you may have only a few seconds or minutes while the plane began to spiral out of control causing centrifugal spin trapping the crew inside. Perhaps the worst position was the ball turret gunner who could not have a parachute. In order to exit the ball turret position, the turret had to be repositioned in order for the gunner to get out, and then he had to find a parachute to attach and then find a way to bail out. If the electrical systems were shot up, there was no way he could get out of the turret and bail out. I took two flights in the B-17 called the 909 in different years. Tragically, a year or two ago the 909 crashed during an emergency landing and was destroyed killing passengers and crew but with a couple of survivors. I'm glad I had the two experiences before maintenance problems caused a crash and deaths. RIP for the souls who perished. This video brought back so many memories of my dad and B-17's. I served 21 yeas in the Marines with two more years in combat. I shouldn't be alive today.

[@turtle2720]

A long but good read! Thank you so much for sharing. ❤

[@joseros4454]

Interesting story, my respects for having survived the terrible experience of war. I have always been interested in the history of aviation since I was very young, especially the WW2 period and I would have liked to meet a pilot to be able to exchange at least a few words with him, but due to my age and the time that has passed since that conflict obviously this is very difficult. That is why I find it very interesting and I appreciate stories like the one he shared about his father. Thank you, greetings from Argentina.

[@davideslava4357]

Gracias por contar tu historia. Pone los pelos de punta!. Eso es una vida bien vivida. ❤

[@Kokopilau77]

Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service. Growing up, we had a substitute that subbed all my years of 6-12. I'm HS, he gave a speech about his time in WWII. He was a navigator on the '17, and his ship was shot down, ensuring his visit and German hospitality in one of the Stalags. Thing I remember most, was him describing how when they'd receive their bread rations, they'd have to slice it thinly to look for broken glass. He passed away about 20 years ago, but he was truly an amazing person. As for the '17s, I've always been drawn to them. Just... something about them. If there is reincarnation, I'd be surprised if I didnt serve on one or was involved with them in a prior life

[@timogeerties3487]

Just watched '12 o'clock high' here on YT and it's quite different to watch this plane 'in action' compared to this vid. But the bombardier never took control of the plane in the movie

[@luvtruckin]

David I have no idea what it takes to make these but I’ve been a WW2 history buff for a long long time and these videos are truly one of a kind thank you so much for the effort to bring this side of the war to light.

[@quantumhitechify]

Gracias por compartir tu experiencia de vida, es un honor leer tu relato, sin héroes como tú y tu padre la historia sería diferente y EEUU no sería lo que es hoy, gracias 👍

[@benjamin3658]

If you like series about WW2 bombers you should check out "Masters of the Air" and "Catch-22". Both are amazing but the second has way more comedy and is based on a book just as good.

[@outerrealm]

One of the existing flying ones came to an airport near me and I got to go inside it. The space is surprisingly cramped, you wouldn't know from the outside.

[@The_warthunder_guy]

Real, as a major history buff and a war thunder player, I love these kinds of vids and dang do you and the team make good ones. Also, love the bill crosby reference around the 19:30 mark. Great way to pay homage to one of the greatest b-17 navigators and group navigators to ever do it, and an original bloody hundredth member Edit: I’ve seen the Memphis belle, along with boxcar over in the Dayton air museum at wright Patterson air base and wow, are they amazing. Highly recommend going there to see them, and the other aircraft they have there, including a b-2 spirit, multiple iterations of aircraft that bore the designation Air Force one, including the one that carried president kennedys body back to Washington and Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office on, and and an f-22 with an aim-9x hanging out one of the weapons bays and a copy of one of the Pratt and Whitney fw-119 engines next to it. I won’t spoil the whole museum for people who haven’t been, even though I could considering how many times I’ve been, its truly an amazing place and I do recommend if you want to see the whole museum, make a weekend of it, cause I garuntee, as someone who has been there around 10 separate times over the course of the past 7 ish years, you will not see the whole thing in one day. Trust me, I tried.

[@Frogma985]

9:02 the bombardier reacting to the blast of flak and then rapidly blinking to lock in is CRAZY level of detail into your animation

[@Frogma985]

also much love to the voice acting in this video, hella high quality 👌

[@antraxxslingshots]

That exact moment reminded me of the scene in "Memphis Belle"

[@tommyli946]

i dont think it is his animation. it is from Yarnhub

[@tardigrademicro]

@Frogma985 it's insane how far ai voices have come

[@CadiasFinest]

David Webb is a human being. ​@@tardigrademicro

[@TheMujo333]

Crew be like: you get a machinegun, you get a machinegun, everybody gets a machinegun

[@CampingWithCats]

🎉

[@mustavogaia2655]

Engineer> How many machinesguns will we fir in a B17: Ait Force: yes

[@CH-ev2mm]

wait until this guy hears about ol 666

[@vanpenguin22]

"Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho!"

[@Spectre4913]

​@@CH-ev2mm Fat Electrician viewer?

[@charlesstribula3477]

A Luftwaffe ace once told me attacking a B-17 combat box was like standing in a bathtub & looking up at the shower-head, while trying to avoid getting wet.

[@deezboyeed6764]

Well fortunately for them the b17 was absolutely useless at killing fighters.

[@joseortiz3582]

I wouldn't say that considering how several German cities were destroyed & causing 500,000 deaths!😮😮

[@ConChairman]

My father was one of those friendly fire casualties that you described in your video. His crew mates knew that he wouldn't survive the flight back to England so they tossed him overboard, pulling his parachute ripcord. The Germans took him to a hospital in Paris then after recovering from his injuries, spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 1.

[@coltranius]

That is truly amazing. I am continually amazed at the stories of these WW2 servicemen.

[@bigwebsite727]

Cap.

[@Gub-Gub24]

Stfu bro. How do you know it’s fake?

[@bigwebsite727]

@@Gub-Gub24 Glazing

[@Gub-Gub24]

It’s not glazing it’s respect.

[@MrLemonbaby]

It must take a staggering amount of effort to create one of these vids. Thank you it is greatly appreciated by many.

[@BluePawPrint]

It's a huge amount of work. thanks for noticing

[@MovieTicketRecaps]

@@BluePawPrint It's good work man. I'm amazed

[@Defender78]

yeah but the ball turrets are jutting too far out of the fuselage and it looks funny

[@CT5555_]

Fun fact about the b-17, the saying "give it the whole nine yards" is in reference to the fact that the waste guns of a B-17 held 9 yard ammo belts of 50 cal ammunition.

[@zaphodqi122]

I think ammunition belts should be measured in yards lol

[@TronBonneVonne]

The saying is "...and the whole nine yards."

[@michaelschulz4632]

Das ist ein hervorragendes Video zu diesem Thema. Ich möchte dafür an den Autor einen besonderen Dank aussprechen. Dieses hervorragende Flugzeug wird nicht umsonst“Fliegende Festung“ genannt und die deutschen Jagdpiloten hatten großen Respekt vor dem Flugzeug und der Tapferkeit der Besatzungen. Die Bauweise des Bombers war konstruktiv ein gelungener Wurf zumal insbesondere an das überleben und Sicherheit der Besatzung gedacht wurde. Das drückt die Philosophie der US-Strategen aus das Leben ihrer Truppen möglichst zu schützen was in allen Truppenteilen zu finden ist. Danke für dieses sachliche Video.

[@wahoo236]

I flew in a B-17 about 10 years ago. The Yankee Lady. I sat with the flight engineer for takeoff. It was an amazing experience.

[@codeman9145]

Lucky

[@Eds7570]

Sounds like a great experience, but imagine it wasn't cheap.

Seeing this after having finished the Masters of Air is just awesome.

[@Red-Magic]

Too bad the show bombed (literally too I guess). I expected better from the same folks that made Band of Brothers. If anything tho its cool to see the show has revigorrated WW2 interest

[@DaveSCameron]

If a little exaggerated regarding its robustness, defensive capabilities and absurd claims of accuracy.

[@DieEneVent]

Just noticed the navigator @ 19:15 is even called Crosby!!

[@guillermobetancourt1006]

@@Red-Magicthe show was good, it was rushed af cuz they wanted to be 9 episodes

[@peterclarke9859]

Special effects are better than master of the air as well!!.😂😂😂 only joking!.

[@nitt3rz]

This must've taken months of research & animation.

[@BluePawPrint]

It did. Thanks for noticing

[@Defender78]

2:50 the dorsal turret.. how did it move, manually or by hydraulic.. or electric? Also what is the music, it is hypnotizing

[@DoomFinger511]

@@Defender78 The dorsal turret was electro-hydraulic. Basically, it used a hydraulic system controlled by electric pumps.

[@NothinSnooty]

As a history fanatic I wanted to say that this is one of the most intricate and moving videos about the American Air Force and the B-17 bomber ever produced and your content and efforts are greatly appreciated

[@76629online]

I spent 9 years in the Navy as a aircraft mechanic. Seems like a lifetime ago. These videos bring back fond memories for me.

[@danpatterson8009]

Engine model shows a seven-cylinder pattern instead of the actual nine. Voiceover refers to guns both as "fifty cal" and "point five zero"- these are the same thing, viewers might be confused. Kudos for pointing out that waist gunner positions were staggered on the next model (G). Mentioning that head-on attacks were preferred by the Luftwaffe could lead into mentioning the addition of a chin turret on the next model as well.

[@einhalbesbrot]

thanks for correcting

[@worldsmostwantedkiller]

It's a 14 cylinder pattern

[@Pooneil1984]

The narration also says point five zero calibur. Which is complexly wrong. A calibur is 0.01 of an inch. So a 50 cal is one half inch. A 0.5 caliber is five thousandths.

[@snakeplissken2148]

exactly my thoughts, why giving the same gun different names? it sometimes smells a little bit like AI confusion.

[@worldsmostwantedkiller]

@@Pooneil1984 He was meaning 0.50 inches probably I know it's meant, but it's funnier that way

[@outerrealm]

My dad was a bombardier and waist gunner toward the end of the war, flying mostly reconnaissance. I have some great photos of him in the front nose cone and with his crew posing out front.

[@lennartwilde3600]

I love these kind of videos. You learn so much about these WW2 machines you didn't know about yet in such a nicely animated way. Keep it up.

[@JamesCraigWhoop]

Grandfather is Donald Bevan. He was a waist gunner. Flew 17 missions, shot down on April 17 1943 and survived to be POW Stalag 17. He wrote a play that became a film with William Holden, Stalag 17

[@GeorgeTropicana]

no one asked

[@ztevkonrad6329]

Great detailed information. Juts would like to add regarding the manoeuvring during flying through a flak barrage. The ground AA batteries werent firing at individual planes when they flew as a bomber stream. A battery of say 5-9 heavy guns were controlled by a central fire control unit with optical rangefinders to calculate range to the bomber stream. Radar could assist to give bearing and altitude which was set with the shells by fuzes ( no proximity fuzes for the Axis powers at that time) The guns were positioned to fire under command from the central fire control mechanical 'computers' ensure the shells would match the actual box where the bombers were predicted to be and fill a 'box in the sky with lethal shrapnel, and follow up firings moved with the bomber stream with a new box. Violent manoeuvres didnt help unless a fighter was being evaded. In night bombing raids, searchlights would guide the fire control based on optical rangefinders and speed measurement feedback to the mechanical firing fire control

[@bigwebsite727]

Cap

[@GearHeadedHamster]

Awesome video! The animations are top notch. I love how you transition between a clean aircraft in the void, explaining it's inner workings. And a dramatic reenactment of the crew flying on a mission. Seriously, the mission segments alone could be it's own short film. Amazing job.

[@The_JagerMeister]

When I was younger back in the early 2000s I remember playing a Nintendo DS game called B-17 Flying Fortress that let you play as all the gunner positions. Listening to the background callouts of “Bandits! 6 0-clock High!” and “Fighters coming around fast!” I knew it was the audio used in that game. Really takes me back to my childhood.

[@metalheadedswordsman]

I had the same game! It was really fun!

[@TTFerdinand]

Played the original game on my Amiga 500 in the '90s, it didn't even have a hard drive, just loading from floppy disks. Scratched a few bandits, hit a few targets, but mostly got beat up and blew the remaining engines just trying to stay in the air limping back home. They re-released the later version "The Mighty 8th" lately, but I'd be a sucker for a new remake with modern graphics and some added functionality.

[@LonesomeDove-dn8dk]

It's available as a modern remake on steam.

[@bigwebsite727]

​@@TTFerdinanddifferent game

[@RileyDonker]

I play this on my computer. It's on playminigames. It's online

[@ElCamacho05]

19:15 Pilot: Good job Crosby ❤

[@yamaharipper-rf5cu]

That's what one of the pilots in the TV show masters of the air said of apple TV. I think he uses all his pilots sayings from that. Crosby is the narrator in the show aswell

[@alanmurdock4319]

About 25 years ago, I had to clean out the house of an unassuming old man with dementia/Alzheimer's. After the war he was a hardware store owner until he retired and sold it. Anyway, there were multiple Army Air core manuals on gunnery for the 17 that he had in his basement, since he was a gunnery instructor after the war. I still have his crew jacket that he wore. I would donate it to a museum, but the unit no longer exists. I know the group, squadron, and tail number. His name is Paul A. Perkins . He owned the hardware store in Bonner Springs, Kansas. I even have pictures of the crew in front of the plane. I have 21 years service in the USMC and ARMY, he had a lot more balls than me.

[@bigwebsite727]

Cap 😂

[@garyj6223]

@@bigwebsite727 You are 100% not bussin' you should go cry and ask your mom to make you some mozzarella sticks.

[@Yrthwrym]

I encourage you to contact the Wright Patterson Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio if you are still interested in donating these materials.

[@Razielmn]

As a Warthunder 9 year experienced veteran player, these contests are priceless ... amazing explaining there. Well done lads

[@wkelly3053]

Fantastic series and effort. Obviously, the possibilities for this kind of presentation are almost endless. The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is literally true here. Just wonderful.👍

[@oskardumanski8538]

Magnificent work! Thanks a lot. I appreciate metric units, which let me watching with no pause for recalc.

[@Birdseieboy]

I CANT ESCAPE THE GOD DAMM SNAIL

[@flake1445]

Its an animation for now

[@alano9936]

I was honored to do some carpentry work on the “dragons tail” as a reward I got to fly in it!! It was surreal! To imagine being shot at and the chaos of combat. My buddy was with me and he was scared shitless. I thought, this ain’t nothing. Imagine flak and bullets flying! I got to walk across the open Bombay on a very narrow gantry. Great video

[@doggonemess1]

The amount of detail in your models is mind-blowing. Excellent work, as usual.

[@tfogelson3139]

Really good description of how a b-17 is put together. I am an A&P mechanic that put in 4000 hours over 7 years working on the CAF Texas Raiders a b-17G. With a copy of blue prints I built lots of the parts that were made of unobtainium in trying to make the aircraft as authentic as possible. Two things I noticed being incorrect, the length of the tail gunners area, and no front sights on the manual guns. Also the barrels do not stick our much from the barrel shroud.

[@marcseclecticstuff9497]

My dad was a bombardier on a B-17 in the 8th AF late in the war (44-45). He was a 1st Lieutenant. After 1942, most bombardier's were officers, typically 1st Lieutenants like my father. Thankfully, he made it to the end of the war without any injuries. He wouldn't talk about combat, but had some fun stories and photos from his days in training in Colorado. He also wouldn't ever talk about the Norden bomb sight in any detail, even though it was no longer classified. He did say that it was very accurate, but like a fine musical instrument, it took a lot of skill and intelligence to use effectively, and many of his counterparts struggled with it. In the 1970's you could purchase them surplus from my favorite store of all time: American Science and Surplus, but they were relatively expensive for a kid mowing lawns. They even had a US Navy gunnery computer computer there, the coolest, most intricate chunk of mechanical goodness I've ever seen in my life. Couldn't afford that one either :(

[@outerrealm]

My dad was also a bombardier, a tech sergeant. I have a picture of him at his post seen through the nose plexiglass. Fortunately he came in late in the war and didn't see combat, they flew reconnaissance.

[@gdownz1044]

The B17F was amazing. They did a lot of work in the early days with so much loss unfortunately. If the Mustangs only had the Merlin engines earlier it would have been a lot of help. Timing is everything in life. I think the only airworthy B17F is the Sally B over in France. Most of the B17G planes around today are great and I encourage anyone if you can to take a ride in one if it's available in your area. I went for a 40 minute ride on The Yankee Lady from Teterboro airport in New Jersey and we flew over the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty etc.. it's really an experience and makes you appreciate the Awesome plane she is and especially you get a good idea of what those brave men endured. God Bless em All. 👍 Great Video!! Fantastic job 💯

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

*_OK OK... Normally I would "Let It Slide" because of the OUTSTANDING High Quality of this Video. But it was stated that the Captin was the most important man in the crew. Many may disagree. The ENGINEER/Top Turret Gunner would be the most important. He knew every inch of the 17 and its engines instructing the groundcrews in their daily duties. He knew the Electrics, the Hydraulics. And every crew member's position by heart. Even the guns and turrets themselves. And then if that's not enough he also carried a Full Pilot's Rating himself and could fly the plane home if and when both Pilots were wounded or killed. And often did. He was its Momma. Still. GREAT Video ... KUTGW_*

[@Gachaheathunter109]

Kutgw? Keep up the good work, quiaff? Aff! :D:]😎🙂🐌👍😌

[@devooski4751]

Most people who does animations only does it for 5 minutes. But you. You do it for 30 mins or more and I enjoy it. It’s a show of respect to our veterans. They don’t want us to be lazy. They want us to tell the truth and work hard. And to do it for your country and God. God bless and keep up the good work.

[@TheChrush3r]

i spotted an error and its the video being too short, this format is incredibly nice and informative to watch and cant get enough!!

[@mellowsunshine2724]

My uncle was a ball turret gunner. I’m very proud of him for what he did for America and helping to reduce German plane numbers. He protected his crew and the crews of other B17s. He fulfilled all of his missions. I really wish someone could have interviewed him like I see today with our remaining WWII vets. The stories he could have shared if he wanted to… Sadly I think the war really messed him up, he has been gone for a long time now. I pray for his soul and that he found peace.

[@LancelotChan]

I'll be honest. Just watching how thin the wing skin is has totally blown me away!

[@Mike_Greentea]

Flying Soda can with wings and guns.

[@screamingcactus1753]

It won't stop bullets, but so many different things need to get hit by bullets before it actually starts dropping out of the sky that almost doesn't matter

[@EricWakefield-ls9ph]

THE STUNNING animated detail and DIALOGUE in the background is through the roof! your narration is on point and the illustrations could not be any clearer! I LOVE THIS! this gives SO much insight into the B17, and not just stupid AI generic information found on other videos. I love this!!! I am subscribing now! :D

[@bindegalt]

This is my new favorite KZbin channel.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

I've been inside one. It was a museum piece. I was just a kid but I got to climb down into the ball turret. I was with my Grandad and he was in WW2, in the Army. It was a great experience.

[@hariaralumbangaol1814]

Its amazing how modern weapons evolved from a 4 engine 10 crew plane carrying 8000 pounds of ordnance to a twin engine jet plane with 1/2 crews carrying the same ordnance weight with much more self protection capabilities

[@darrelld.paveyjr.1477]

Your "Clear View" animation was amazingly well illustrated informative and narrated!! Thank You Very Much!! My Maternal Grandfather was a waist gunner and second engineer in the Pacific Theater with the 6th or 16th Bomb Group, unsure of unit.

[@CampingWithCats]

On a B-17?

[@puma1304]

nice! very didactic, and by listening to this script I was again reminded about the fact that when the firepower of a model or a unit is analyzed, most of the attention is focused on the people that fought with them, BUT very little is said about the people that had to maintain, rearm, refuel, repair such machines!!! Algo singular y sorprendente, ya que todos sabemos que la logistica es fundamental!! Servi un corto tiempo en el arma de Intendencia y aprendi a valorar este aspecto, el que ya era clarisimo para estrategas como por ejemplo Napoleon...

[@waldo197720]

As an independent documentary this is up there or even better than a BBC documentary. Just superb. 10/10…….i was gripped all the way through from start to finish. The self sealing tank explanation, brilliant. Can’t wait for the Ball Gunner video. As someone else mentioned, a huge amount of work. Total respect.

[@Al-P-Acca]

The animated engines are R1830 14 cylinder engines, but as you rightly said the B17 had 4 of the R1820 9 cylinder engines.

[@2neotrinity]

Thanks!

[@DMC_Oorah]

There were four (4) Officers on a B17. The Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator and the Bombiader. Probably a slip in research but something that should be noted.

[@BluePawPrint]

Yes thanks. There were occasions later that there were not bombardier officers in planes that were not lead planes but that was not the norm. It was an error.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

@@BluePawPrint Yes, later on another crew member, often the sergeant who was flight engineer, would release the bombs when he saw the plane at the front doing so, and this saved the need for complex reckoning by the bombardier. I believe it allowed many crews to dispense with a dedicated bombardier. The man in this role was called the "toggler". But it was not done in 1943.

[@iftearchowdhury7191]

Often 5 actually The reserve pilot

[@DonLondon]

Yes my uncle was navigator on a 17 and he toggled several time as did the tail gunner. Crews went down to 9 after the Luftwafe was destroyed. I found his Togglier certificate

[@bigwebsite727]

You saved the day (the day)

[@BlackLizrd]

Excellent, excellent video. Incredible detail and specificity. I got a chance to ride in a B-17 and use the Norden bombsight over my city -- a truly memorable and eerie experience. Thanks for this, I'm sure I'll watch it again.

[@joseros4454]

Excellent modeling and video! brief and very complete, precise and clear to explain the operation, the essence of the different systems that integrated it, and the context of use of this mythical WW2 aircraft. Greetings from Argentina.

[@indygeo4267]

No WW2 related topic fascinates me more than the air combat that took place during that massive conflict. The B-17 Flying Fortress is my favorite American heavy bomber produced during the Second World War. It is tied with the Avro Lancaster as my favorite bomber of all time, I just cannot decide which one I like more. Thanks for making this!

[@Petrol_Creek]

You probably didn’t realized this but around nineteen minutes you can hear the radio operator being called Crosby referring to the tv show Masters of The Air.

[@terrenceolivido741]

of course we are astonished at the detail and care put into these videos. truly mind-blowing.

[@Thaihandmade-wd9mh]

I'm always amazed at how much went into delivering such a small payload.

[@blackrifle6736]

*As did I. 4 engines and 10 guys to deliver 16, 500 pound bombs.*

[@davea556]

@@blackrifle6736 some missions were 1000 B17's most were 300 planes.

[@lewissavaidis]

This has to be one of the coolest channels on YT. The details are on another level. Love it

[@luisfiori]

Excelente y asombroso trabajo. Saludos desde Buenos Aires, República Argentina.

[@WilliamHerlihy-p4g]

My absolute favorite WW2 plane. The Monogram 1/48 scale model is my favorite kit. May have to make another one after viewing this. Well done!

[@stevehill6062]

Incredible video about an incredible airplane! The men are the heart and soul of the plane, thankfully, they had one that was built to give them the best chance possible of getting home. Unfortunately, pressing their luck by having to do this 25 times put the odds of survival pretty far away.

[@Daniel-wd4jg]

I walked thru " Sentimental Journey" Ba ker City Oregon. Flight crew detailed many maintenance issues with cracking in aluminum. Growing up in Portland I remember a service station with a B17 for rain cover. The flight engineer laughed and explained the whole nose section was from that ol' Girl on McLaughlin Blvd. Milwaukee Oregon!

[@alvaropstn]

An excellent description of the mythic B 17, thank you!

[@mso82]

Hey! You're the same person that does Yarn Hub! I love your videos and they are super informative and addicting.

[@ragnar_shortz]

its difficult to not get happy seeing new video plus this amazing voice ❤

[@J-Justice666]

Fantastic video. As you requested, I've got some critiques. I was flight crew in the Navy in the 90's so a few things caught my eye. First: In the video you mentioned that the props could be feathered when an engine needs to be shut down. But at 18:30 engines one and three are not running and their propellers have not been feathered... and they're not windmilling (turning because of air flow over them) which is common thing when they're not feathered properly. Technically, if they're not feathered, they should be turning in the Airstream. Secondly, upon landing (19:18), number one and number two engines are now running and engines three and four are not. This is inconsistent from a few minutes before. This is a very thorough, very interesting, technical, and educational presentation that must have taken hours and hours to produce. Very well done. Please keep them coming.

[@davidtenshu]

Hi David (Same name as mine), those renders are incredibly well made, i wanna just point out that the engine used for the render is from a Wright Cyclone R-2600-23 (or some variant), which have a double row of cylinders, while the info you described was from the Wright Cyclone R-1280-97, which is accurate, but is a single row of 9 cylinders, minding that a B-17 was able and running these kind of engines during the war, double-row engines were not used in B-17's (Only from B-29's).

[@bigwebsite727]

That is actually not the case but i can see how it might seem that way to the untrained eye!

[@asya9493]

Your expertise in making these videos is amazing.

[@chrisnyenya5233]

Ryt on it the moment it gets posted. Let me feast my eyes

[@JimRossCinematographer]

I have flown and filmed in several B17 models over my 25 year filmmaking career. I've met their crews and heard and recorded their stories. But your intricate details and 3D graphics gave me a view I have never seen in all my years of flights and filming. I have to tip my hat to your wonderful video. Thank you.

[@rbrtjbarber]

The main spanwise load bearing "longerons" in the wings are actually called SPARS.

[@bigwebsite727]

You are mistaken

[@Raptorx911]

@@bigwebsite727 He is correct, actually, if using todays terminology. Not sure which Boeing called them in this aircraft though.

[@bigwebsite727]

@@Raptorx911 no offense but your recollection of this terminology is skewed

[@Raptorx911]

@@bigwebsite727 No offense taken. But I work in the field, so you telling me and him we are "mistaken" or "skewed" means little to me.

[@bigwebsite727]

@@Raptorx911 ive been in the field since you were a twinkle in your papas eye

[@devonchin94]

I love the reference to Masters of the Air - "good work Crosby". Harry Herbert Crosby, the Lead Navigator of the 418th squadron of the 100th Bombardment group. Also known as the "Bloody 100th". An amazing show that I thought really did justice to the harrowing work these pilots and crew went through.

[@LancelotChan]

Man, I've learned so many things I didn't think of, such as full bomb load can't reach any targets.... I found myself so stupid of not thinking of these before!!

[@randallbeavers5284]

Fantastic video! 1 spotted error to correct. There was four officers on board the B-17, not three as stated. The Bombardier was an officer as well. Keep your videos coming! Love them!

[@Algedibarrios]

Underrated youtube channel, thanks for sharing 👍👍👍

[@RAUL110459]

Excellent animation and explanation in an optimal video duration. Congratulations! Since I was a child (sixties decade, I have been an admirer of the B17. Greetings from Mexico. Excelente animación y explicación en un óptimo tiempo de duración del video ¡Felicitaciones! Desde niño (década de los sesentas son admirador de los B17. Saludos desde México.

[@RickMiddleton-1]

Is this channel yarnhubs brother???? No matter because more of yarnhub style media is always a great thing!!!

[@BluePawPrint]

Yes. It’s the same team

[@RickMiddleton-1]

@BluePawPrint keep up the amazing work! Everything yo and the team create is outstanding! I am 51 and an Army Veteran myself. I am a huge WWll buff, and I have learned so much from the videos you have all made over the years. Thank you for all that you guys make for we fans.

[@SaiTaX_the_Chile_boi]

@@BluePawPrint on god, yall could have all together, is any other channel related?

[@ildeuraimundodasilva8230]

B -- 17 , It was an aircraft spectacle . Thanks for the vídeo . Congralutations from Brazil .

[@koa6820]

My great grandpa was a tail gunner on a B-17 from 1942 to the end of the war and even had a couple encounters with some 262s during the war i still have his mission logs and medals and i was lucky enough to meet a very nice man who was a waist gunner and talk to him for a bit so this kind of stuff is very very interesting to me

[@zitronex]

Very interesting this video. I hope this channel becomes more successful and uploads more videos about similar topics.

[@RobloxianPilot457]

Yippee a dedicated video for the ball turret!!!

[@Chillity99]

Thank you for all the weekly uploads on your main channel and the amazing videos here.

[@robertacott2671]

Wow what a great video 🎉.. apart from the engine error that's already been pointed out. The Tail Number was 124485 for the Belle, so not sure where the extra 2 came from.. but that's just me nit picking 😂. IMO the most iconic and probably the most beautiful aircraft ever made ❤

[@mattpozniak8287]

Impressive work and knowledge. Hope for more in the future bearing in mind that each episode takes a lot of time. Keep up the good work !

[@jeffrobeson3167]

The video correctly states that the B-17 used a 9-cylinder Wright Cyclone R-1820 but the closeups clearly and erroneously show two-row 14 cylinder engines with 7 cylinder in each row. Probably the Wright Cyclone R-2600.Cyclone 14. Incredible detail & overall find no problems except this glaring error. A great accomplishment!

[@bigwebsite727]

You are mistaken

[@RabbitSQN]

The engines are 14 cylinder and seem too long as a result you’re correct!

[@creativeearthian1702]

I just can't get over the UNBELIEVABLE and mind blowing quality of your videos! Don't tell me you're doing this by yourself only!

[@BluePawPrint]

No were the same team behind yarnhub

[@gpdustin]

Fantastic video, always enjoy your content. One point on narration, the M2 Browning machine guns are referred to multiple times as "point five zero caliber," the way to say this is simply "fifty caliber," which is true for almost all firearms using the caliber system, i.e. ".30" would be "thirty caliber." For some, like the .30-06 round fired by the M1 Garand, you would say "thirty aught six," instead of "point thirty dash zero six," etc. For firearms that use a millimeter system, you don't mention the decimal, and usually not the millimeter either. For example, the 5.56mm round fired by the M16, you would refer to as "five five six." A lot of rounds follow these sort of spoken conventions, which may be unintuitive if you're unfamiliar with firearms or have only read about them and haven't heard them spoken before. Once again, really great video, please keep them coming!

[@jgdooley2003]

Even more confusing when calibre also refers to the length of a gun barrel expressed in numbers of diameters for a particular gun. This is used in large artillery pieces especially naval guns.

[@dazhigh9208]

Top notch video, Really intresting and a must watch. Well done to Mr Webb. Many thanks from me and my dog Max over in the East coast of Lincs UK 🙂

[@todoshitakato2274]

Это супер крутое видео! В русских субтитрах на 25:01 ошибка. Memphis Belle - это Мемфисская красавица, а не Мемфисский колокол. Даже на рисунке девушка, а не колокол.

[@chrisambrose8838]

If you ever get the chance to ride in the EAAs b17 , do it! I even have .4 hrs B17 transitions time in my log book !! What a ride !!! 🇺🇸🙋‍♂️👍🖖🏻

[@magburner]

Fun fact, the B17 is only 2ft 6in longer than the SU27...

[@MaticTheProto]

thats insane

[@andrehak]

@5:34 that is a laaaarvely map. Haha! Great explanatory video man, thanks a lot, I know it takes a lot, editing and all. Keep it up brother!

[@Lovinburbs]

Spitfire when? The most popular spitfires in my opinion are the spitfire VC and XVI

[@firstsgt279]

Grew up around, near and time on 3 B-52 Bases 1960s-1990's. Grandpa and 2 Uncles served 60s-70's. Also been Fortunate be able ride on a B-17, B-24 and B-29 in last 11yrs at Airshows, cost couple grand but was worth it. Quite comparison size differences, wish B-39's still flew. Been buzzed by A-10, F-16, F-15 and recently had 6 F-35's doing touch and go's over my Vehicle. Much as I enjoy all these Air Force Planes actually did 28yrs in US Army instead

[@sandaledeagle1391]

Could you do a new animation about the BF 109, not a specific variant , but all the prototypes, production variants and even concepts? Wikipedia has done an incredible job of informing me about the 109 (which is my fav ww2 aircraft), but I am clueless on how the operated, whats under the hood and what the cockpit looks like. Also it doesn't help that I don't understand german. Could you do it? I have high hopes because these animations are amazing

[@stevehoade7867]

My grandfather was a ball turret gunner, 525th squadron of the 379th bg. The memphis belle is currently on display at the wright patterson air base dayton ohio along with the enola gay, a me163, me 262, bf 109 and a a6m zero, plus a mig 29.

[@MichaelJohnson-cm4wp]

I live near Tulare California and the CO for the 379th was Col.Maurice Preston..He grew up in Tulare..In 1958, he flew in a B17 to Tulare and it ended up being a static display.. But the vandals got to it and the local VA sold off most of the inside equipment..It is now a shell. The airplane is called Preston's Pride and sits next to the 99 freeway..

[@franciscodominguez6953]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but the spanish voice sounds like Gustavo Fring trying to speak spanish hahaha.

[@Eds7570]

To see a B-17 flying is quite a site. I saw a few of them flying at low altitude right in front of the crowds at airshows. Some of the crews who operated them at these airshows would offer rides to the public, but the cost was expensive because the B-17 guzzled alot of fuel per hour. It's a nice looking aircraft.

[@parttime9070]

My dad was stationed at Deopham Green in England during WW2. He worked on B-17's as a sheet metal repair specialist.. He told my lot's of story's of airplanes coming back with big chunks missing.. I have an altimeter from a B-17 my dad got from some kind of surplus store after the war..

[@casualslav5177]

Perfect :) I'd love to see U-boot in the same manner...

[@ricktaylor3748]

????

[@michaelpipkin9942]

Building these models is one of my favorites. Lots of see-through, open/ moving parts. I always melted bullet holes and oil leaking from the wings and engines. A scuffed-up B-17 looks better than a pretty, clean one.

[@Fr33zeBurn]

0:58 why not just give it in millimetres?

[@primal9076]

Bro thank god I've been waiting for this video for so long. You make such good content!