Download or read book B-17 Flying Fortress written by William N. Hess and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the Fifteenth Air Force was dismissed as minor leaguers by the Eighth Air Force, strategic bombers from this outfit had done a major league job on axis targets in southern Europe following its formation in Italy in 1943. And the heavy bombers employed by the Fifteenth were ofcourse the venerable B-17 and B-24. At its peak strength, the Fifteenth's B-17 force comprised six groups of four squadrons each, all controlled by the 5th Bomb Wing. Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess provides an account of his air force.