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Quiz about The Mighty Flying Fortress
Quiz about The Mighty Flying Fortress

The Mighty Flying Fortress Trivia Quiz


This quiz is about one of the most famous bombers of World War II, the B-17 Flying Fortress.

A multiple-choice quiz by barisax14. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
barisax14
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
273,156
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
3977
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 51 (7/15), Guest 2 (4/15), steepone (7/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. Who designed the B-17? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. How many crew members did the B-17 have? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. What where the two major differences between the original Model 299 specification and the original B-17? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. What significant event in Army Air Force history happened to a B-17 at Pearl Harbor. Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Once America entered the war B-17's made a huge impact. What was the main disadvantage of all the B-17 variants. Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Based on experience on the B-17F model, the B-17G had a chin turret for head on attack. Who fired this weapon? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. On the B-17G, who where the only crew member's who did not fire a defensive weapon? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. What type of weapons were fired by the waist gunners and navigator? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. What nickname was the tail gun position known as to the United States aviators? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. The nickname for the B-17 was not coined by the USAAF. It was coined by reporter Richard L. Williams. What phrase did the nickname come from? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. During the actual bombing run, the pilot was no longer in control of the aircraft. Who was in control of the aircraft at this time? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. What were the massive engines of the B-17 Flying Fortress? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. October 14, 1943 was a dark day for USAAF bomber crews. How many of the 291 B-17s sent to attack where shot down on "Black Thursday?"
Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Before the P-51D Mustang came into service, the USAAF decided to design a bomber escort based on the B-17 airframe. The aircraft had 16 machine guns, and the bomb bay was converted to a magazine. What was it called? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. The B-17 was used by many countries. Which one of these countries NEVER flew a B-17? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Today : Guest 51: 7/15
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 2: 4/15
Mar 24 2024 : steepone: 7/15
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 75: 10/15
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who designed the B-17?

Answer: Boeing

The original name for the B-17 was the Boeing Model 299. Boeing took a major gamble on the design of the B-17. There were no four-engined bombers in service in the United States at the time. Also, the idea of having the bombadier in the nose of the aircraft was a new concept for bomber aircraft.
2. How many crew members did the B-17 have?

Answer: 10

The B-17 crew members were as follows, bombadier, navigator, pilot, copilot, engineer, radio operator, left waist gunner, right waist gunner, lower ball turret gunner, tail gunner.
3. What where the two major differences between the original Model 299 specification and the original B-17?

Answer: Number of Engines, Top speed

The original requirement was a twin engined bomber with a 2,000 pound payload and a speed of 200 miles per hour. The one and only prototype that flew, designated Model 299,had four engines, a 4,800 pound payload and a speed of 250 miles per hour.
4. What significant event in Army Air Force history happened to a B-17 at Pearl Harbor.

Answer: First American aircraft shot down in World War II

A B-17 en route to Pearl Harbor was the first American Aircraft shot down in World War II. This was one of the original models with flush waist positions and no defensive turrets.
5. Once America entered the war B-17's made a huge impact. What was the main disadvantage of all the B-17 variants.

Answer: Small payload

The B-17's had a payload of 17,600 pounds. However in actual combat, the aircraft could carry much less, usually only 1600-6000 pound bombs. The B-29 had 20,000 pounds and the B-24 had 8,880. Both could carry this amount.
6. Based on experience on the B-17F model, the B-17G had a chin turret for head on attack. Who fired this weapon?

Answer: Bombardier

During the actual bombing raid the bombadier no longer controlled the weapon, all of his attention had to be focused on the actual run.
7. On the B-17G, who where the only crew member's who did not fire a defensive weapon?

Answer: Pilot, copilot, radio operator

In early model, the radio operator fired one machine gun out the roof (upper fuselage) of the aircraft. In the G model this was omitted, partially because the gun was ineffective in defence and the radio operator needed all his attention on the radios to stay in communication with other aircraft, home base, and the crew.
8. What type of weapons were fired by the waist gunners and navigator?

Answer: M-2 machine gun

The M-2 machine gun had a firing rate of 800 rounds per minute. On early models of the B-17 the waist guns where positioned to fire out of the open waist windows of the aircraft. Later the windows were sealed with Pexiglass, but this did little to counter the extremely cold temperatures.
9. What nickname was the tail gun position known as to the United States aviators?

Answer: Stinger

The tail gun position was known as the Stinger position. It housed two 50 caliber machine guns.
10. The nickname for the B-17 was not coined by the USAAF. It was coined by reporter Richard L. Williams. What phrase did the nickname come from?

Answer: "15-ton flying fortress"

Richard L. Williams was one of the reports that witnessed the unvailing of the B-17. Its design, offensive payload, and defensive weaponry prompted him to name it the "15-ton flying fortress".
11. During the actual bombing run, the pilot was no longer in control of the aircraft. Who was in control of the aircraft at this time?

Answer: Bombardier

The bombing run of the aircraft was the most dangerous part of the mission. During this time the bombardier controlled the aircraft with the M-15 bombsight. He could not make evasive maneuvres because the bombs needed to be released accurately. Because of this the aircraft's direction, speed and altitude where constant.
12. What were the massive engines of the B-17 Flying Fortress?

Answer: Wright R-1820 Cyclone

The R-1820 Cyclone generated 1,000 horsepower at 25,000 feet. The engine also was used on the SBD Dauntless, early Poliparkov I-16s, and even the M6 Heavy Tank under the name G-200.
13. October 14, 1943 was a dark day for USAAF bomber crews. How many of the 291 B-17s sent to attack where shot down on "Black Thursday?"

Answer: 59

Black Thursday was an extremely costly raid on the Schweinfurt ball bearings plant. The bombers, flying at extremely high altitude produced tell-tale contrails in the sky. This provided the anti-aircraft gunners and fighter pilots the opportunity to sight the vernable bombers. 18 aircraft where also forced to either ditch over the English Channel, crash landed, or where scrapped because of battle damage.

This day almost halted all daylight bombing raids.
14. Before the P-51D Mustang came into service, the USAAF decided to design a bomber escort based on the B-17 airframe. The aircraft had 16 machine guns, and the bomb bay was converted to a magazine. What was it called?

Answer: YB-40

The YB-40 concept proved to be a faliure. It could not keep up with standard B-17Fs. The aircraft still flew 14 combat missions and scored 5 kills and 2 probables. One of the kills was Italian ace Guido Rossi, who used a captured P-38 to attack returning B-17s. When he came under fire the P-38 was torn to pieces by all of the YB-40's weaponry.
15. The B-17 was used by many countries. Which one of these countries NEVER flew a B-17?

Answer: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia never used the B-17. The Soviets briefly tested them, and Nazi Germany used a few captured aircraft in evaluation.
Source: Author barisax14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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