World War 2 In Review: RAF

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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. 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 Mk.II

Boeing Fortress Mk II FK184 (USAAF 41-2513), RAF.

Nineteen B-17Fs were transferred to the RAF, where they served with RAF Coastal Command as the Fortress Mk.II.

Ground crew deliver a trailer of 250lb depth charges for loading into a Fortress Mk. II before an Atlantic patrol from Benbecula in May 1943.

A Coastal Command Fortress Mk. II from Benbecula makes a low pass over the escort carrier HMS Vindex during an Atlantic convoy patrol.

With ASV radar aerials prominent, Fortress Mk. II FK190/1-J of 206 Squadron flies low over the sea.

Boeing Fortress Mk. II/FA706, Coastal Command.

Boeing Fortress Mk II FA706, No. 220 Squadron, Azores.

Boeing Fortress Mk II, Coastal Command, 1943.

Boeing Fortress Mk II, No. 206 Squadron, RAF, taking off from Lagens.

Boeing Fortress Mk II FA704, commanded by Wing Commander R. B. Thompson, No. 206 Squadron, Coastal Command, RAF Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Sank German Type VIIC submarine U-417 on 11 June 1943. (Gaëtan Marie)

Boeing Fortress Mk. II (B-17F), BU-N, Coastal Command, January-December 1944.

Boeing Fortress Mk II FA696 (US serial number 41-24595), No. 251 (Meteorological) Squadron, Coastal Command, Reykjavik, Iceland, Summer 1945. (Gaëtan Marie)

Boeing Fortress Mk.IIA

For much of 1943 the Fortress Mk. IIAs, such as FK186/S of 220 Squadron, flew Atlantic patrols from their remote outpost in the western isles of Scotland.

In the middle of 1942, 45 B-17Es were transferred to the RAF, where they served under the designation Fortress Mk.IIA. Because of the shortcomings experienced with the Mk.I, the RAF did not use the Mk.IIA in its intended role but instead they were operated by the Coastal Command for anti-submarine patrols.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA (B-17E) of No. 220 Squadron RAF flying from the Azores on long-range anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic.

A Royal Air Force Coastal Command Boeing Fortress Mark IIA (s/n FK186, "S") of No. 220 Squadron RAF based at Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, flying past a Hebridean island in May 1943.

A publicity shot purporting to show the captain of a Boeing Fortress of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command holding a final conference with his crew before taking off. The photograph was taken at Lagens, Azores (today Lajes Air Base), in front of a Boeing Fortress Mark IIA (s/n FL462, "W") of No. 220 Squadron RAF. The "crew" were, in fact, an ad hoc group drawn from No. 206 Squadron RAF, and the "captain" (3rd from right, wearing SD Cap) was Flying Officer L.W. Taylor RAAF, an Air Ministry public relations officer.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK198 M/59, arrives at RAF Chivenor. 23 January 1943.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK186, S/220.

Boeing Fortress 1-U, No. 206 Squadron, Coastal Command, takes off.

Protectively flying over a large convoy, Fortress Mk. IIA FK186/NR-K of 220 Squadron conducted its sortie from Ballykelly, Northern Ireland.

A handful of Fortress Mk. IIAs were flown by 59 Squadron for four months; here, FK202/B carries an ASV radar array on the fin fillet and is pictured while on patrol in February 1943.

Fortress Mk. IIA FL451/VX-D of 206 Squadron at Benbecula in late July 1942. It was fully armed to suppress the anti-aircraft fire from U-boats under attack. This Mark equated to the US B-17E.

Sqn Ldr Nigel Marshall (fourth from left) of 519 Squadron. His crew included a Met Air Observer, who wore a seldom-seen ‘M’ brevet.

In late 1943, Coastal Command Fortress IIs and IIAs were sent to the Azores, where these aircraft of No. 220 Squadron are seen parked at Lagens, Azores, from where they patrolled southern Atlantic convoy routes.

The nearest of these aircraft seen in 1943 is Fortress Mk. IIA FL459/J of 220 Squadron. It was the unit's most successful airframe, its crews sinking three U-boats and sharing a fourth.

For the meteorological reconnaissance role, the dorsal and ventral turrets were sometimes removed, as is evident on Iceland-based Fortress Mk. IIA FK197/AD-E of 251 Squadron.

Boeing Fortress Mk. IIA FK197, No. 220 Squadron, Scottish Aviation workshops at Prestwick.

Boeing Fortress Mk. IIA, No. 220 Squadron, based at Benbencula, Outer Hebrides.

Boeing Fortress Mk. IIA FK185, A&AEE, February 1944.

Radar-equipped Fortress Mk IIA FL462, No. 220 Squadron, Coastal Command, RAF Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FL4621, No. 220 Squadron, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK186, No. 220 Squadron, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA, RAF.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA with ASW radar, Coastal Command.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK185.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK185, Coastal Command.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK187 (USAAF 41-2516), A&AEE Boscombe Down. “P” in circle prototype markings on fuselage sides. Hit by aircraft on runway before becoming operational with No. 59 Squadron. Delivered Ogden 20/1/42; Cheyenne 2/3/42; RCAF Dorval 24/3/42; Gander 5/4/42; Prestwick 6/4/42 with Dick Stophet RAF [FK187]; not used on anti-sub ops, fitted with LRASV but not assigned to a squadron; A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wilts type trials as (P) 24/4/42;. then Thornaby, Yorks. Struck Off Charge 4/7/45.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK187 (USAAF 41-2516), A&AEE Boscombe Down. “P” in circle prototype markings on fuselage sides are still present but have been toned down.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK211 (USAAF B-17E 41-9199).

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK185, February 1944.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK185, February 1944. This aircraft had the ball turret removed, and a 40mm Vickers S gun mounted in the nose with a sighting position in a gondola beneath it.

Boeing Fortress Mk IIA FK185, February 1944.

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, USAAF 41-9203, being delivered to the RAF as Fortress Mk. IIA FK209 during a stop at Dorval Airport, Quebec. Note the ASV radar antennae under the wings and on the nose. This aircraft served with RAF Coastal Command, until it was shot down on 23 March 1943 by a German Junkers Ju 88C over the Bay of Biscay, 350 km southwest of Oussant, by Oblt Hermann Horstmann of 13/KG40. FK209 had an all Canadian crew. (DND Archives Photo, PL-11069)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, USAAF 41-9203 being delivered to the RAF as Fortress Mk. IIA FK209 during a stop at Dorval Airport, Quebec. (CFJIC-DND Photo, PL-1170)