B-17 Flying Fortress External Bomb Racks

 

Armorers of the 390th Bomb Group shackle 1,000 lb. bombs to an external rack underneath the wings of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress at Station 153 in England. 29 September 1943.

Armorers of the 91st Bomb Group load 1,000 lb. bombs on the new external bomb rack, under the wing of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress at the 91st Bomb Group base in Bassingbourn, England. 14 September 1943.

To increase the load, two external bomb racks, carrying 1000-lb. bombs are added to this Boeing B-17 of the 303rd Bomb Group at Molesworth, England. 18 September 1943.

Armorers of the 91st Bomb Group load 1,000 lb. bombs on the new external bomb rack under the wing of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress at the 91st Bomb Group base in Bassingbourn, England. 14 September 1943.

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress "The Old Standby" LG-L serial number 42-5178 of the 322nd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group takes off from Bassingbourn, England on its first mission using the new external bomb racks. 16 September 1943.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5178 of the 91st Bomb Group takes off from Bassingbourn, England on its first mission using the new external bomb racks. 16 September 1943.

Beginning with B-17F-30-BO, B-17F-20-DL, and B-17F-20-VE, external bomb racks were fitted under the inner wings for the carriage of two 4000-pound bombs. This brought the maximum short-range bombload to 17,600 pounds. Under certain conditions, eight 1600-pound bombs could be carried internally and two 4000-pound bombs externally, raising the total load to 20,800 pounds. However, with such a load the effective range was quite small and all maneuvers were severely restricted. Consequently, external bombs were only rarely carried by the B-17F. Although all subsequent models had lugs and controls for their attachment, the under wing racks were not installed at the factory. The photo shows a B-17F with the bomb racks installed but not carrying any bombs.

B-17G 42-97286 'Skipper and the kids' carrying an two external bombs on June 11, 1944 to Pontaubault in France. She suffered the most tragic of endings on the Isle of Arran in December that year with the loss of 11 men in a flying accident.

External bomb hoisting diagram. They could carry a 1000, 1600, 2000 or 4000 pound bomb on each external mount.

 B-17F's of the 94th BG, 8th Air Force, fitted with external bomb racks. Nearest B-17 is Virgin's Delight 42-3352 94th Bomb Group, 410th Bomb Squadron flown out of Bury St Edmunds UK. She was hit by flak and enemy aircraft on 29 Nov 1943, nine crew members KIA, crashed in the North Sea, southwest of Borkum Island, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 1186.

Installation of External Wing Bomb Racks for B-17F (page 1 (of 4) from Technical Order No. 01-20EF-40, 24 Aug 1943).