Boeing YB-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing Y1B-17


Following the destruction of the prototype XB-17 at takeoff, the Boeing factory was dropped from the Army's long-range bomber program for a time, but because the accident was judged to be pilot error and the B-17 a machine of interest, a test run of at least thirteen Y1B-17s was ordered on January 17, 1936 (the original plan was for 65 machines). As usual, the prefix Y1 meant off-budget funds, but before the first one was launched on 20 November 1936, the designation was changed to "normal" test, or YB-17. This duplicity sometimes leads to the claim that there were two test series, but they are the same aircraft.


The Y1B-17 was essentially identical to the prototype, only the Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines were replaced by four Wright Cyclone engines, which then remained the standard engines for all versions of the B-17. Minor changes were made to the landing gear and armament, with the crew reduced to six. The first flight of the Y1B-17 took place on December 2, 1936. Five days later, however, this machine was damaged when the brakes on the main landing gear jammed during takeoff and it rolled over on its nose. Despite a huge uproar caused by several congressmen threatening to cancel the heavy bomber program, the crash had no consequences. All machines were delivered between 11 January and 4 August 1937. Although it was to be a test series, General Andrews, Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces, pushed for the twelve machines to be turned over directly to the task force, the 2nd Bombardment Group from Langley Field. The first YB-17 arrived there in March 1937. The thirteenth machine was sent to Wright Field for flight tests.


Meanwhile, the 2nd Group was undergoing operational tests, which led to the catching of major flies. For example, a mandatory "checklist" before each takeoff was introduced to prevent a crash similar to that of XB-17, where the pilot forgot to unlock the controls before takeoff. In addition, the planes were used to hone heavy bomber tactics (at this time they represented the only American machines in this category) and for various near-promotional events. For example, in early 1938, the machine of the commander of the 2nd Bombardment Group, Col. Robert C. Olds made a record-breaking flight from the East Coast to the West Coast in 12 hours and 50 minutes. It then turned around and immediately made the opposite flight, in 10 hours and 46 minutes. Six machines also participated in the Goodwill flight to Argentina in February 1938. Then in April, YB-17s made a practice attack on the Italian liner Rex, which was 1,130 miles off the coast. The U.S. Navy responded by enforcing a ban on the Army operating more than 160 km off the coast. After three years of uneventful deployment, the Y1B-17s were turned over to the 19th Bombardment Group at March Field in October 1940.

Source:
https://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b17_2.html
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
en.wikipedia.org

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Gunner in YB-17, undated promotional image.

www.air-defense.net

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

The YB-17 incident in 1936. The photos make some details stand out.