Boeing Fortress Mk.III

Boeing Fortress Mk III KH999/BU-W, No. 214 Squadron, RAF.

Eighty-five B-17Gs were transferred to the RAF, where they received the designation Fortress Mk.III. Three were assigned to Coastal Command in the Azores and were fitted with radar before being reused by meteorological survey squadrons.

The rest were operated as Fortress Mk.III (SD) (Special Duties) from February 1944 by two squadrons of Bomber Command's No. 100 Group RAF, where they carried out electronic countermeasures to confuse or jam German radar in support of bombing missions.

These carried an extensive array of electronic equipment including airborne Grocer air-interception jammers, the Jostle VHF jammer, Monica tail-warning receiver, Gee and LORAN for navigation, and an H2S radar which replaced the chin turret. They were also used as decoys during night bombing attacks. Fortress Mk.IIIs were operational until the units disbanded in July 1945.

 

A Royal Air Force Boeing Fortress III HB796/G equipped for radio and radar countermeasures work, photographed in August 1944 at the Atlantic air terminal at Prestwick (today Glasgow Prestwick Airport), Scotland (UK), where aircraft were modified for service in this role. The Fortresses operated with No. 214 Squadron in No. 100 Group from January 1944 onwards. Note the RAF Coastal Command Consolidated Liberator on the right. (Imperial War Museum ATP 13090B)

Fortress III of 100 Group, RAF Bomber Command. The bulge under the nose houses the H2S ground mapping radar scanner.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB796 converted for radio counter measures work.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB796 converted for radio counter measures work.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB796 converted for radio counter measures work. HB796 went missing in February 1945.

Boeing Fortress Mk III KJ118, Coastal Command.

RCM-equipped Boeing Fortress Mk III KJ109/6G-F, No. 223 Squadron, 100 Group, RAF, 1945.

Boeing Fortress Mk III, No. 214 Squadron, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB767/BU-A, equipped with RCM, No. 214 Squadron, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk III, RAF.

A rare photo of a silver Royal Air Force B-17G HB809 landing at Denver, Colorado, in January 1944. Denver was a modification center for new B-17's before delivery.

Boeing Fortress Mark III, s/n HB762 'H', of the A&AEE, over Cornwall while flying back to Boscombe Down, Wiltshire.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB773.

Boeing Fortress Mk III HB786, No. 521 Squadron, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk III, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk III (Met) HB792/AD-D, No. 251 Squadron, RAF, 1945.

Boeing Fortress GR Mk III, RAF.

Boeing Fortress GR Mk III, RAF.