It was not easy. From 1942 to mid 1944, Germany had the advantage: experience, years preparing for the inevitable air war, and great engineers behind extremely well designed machines. One plane however, was to overcome all of these odds and prove that persistence was much greater than fear. It had to be of rugged design, able to fly great distances, and carry a bomb load that could devastate the German war machine.

In 1934, the US Army commissioned an all metal multi-engine design airplane capable of carrying a two thousand pound bomb load at a distance of 2,200 miles. The airplane that ensued was like nothing else before it. It had a beautiful streamline design; its long wings were capable of carrying 10 passengers and armament. Versatile enough to haul cargo, and strong enough to endure unbelievable damage, it was an extremely durable airplane. It wasn't until the onslaught of German industry that the airplane gained its fame from the incredible stories of bravery and survival of their aircrews.

This airplane was the B-17 Flying Fortress, and the legacy it leaves behind is unmatched in the history of aviation.

12,731 B-17s were built during the war; sixty years later only 13 still fly. It is a labor of love, with volunteers that leave their jobs and families six to ten months out of the year, and operating costs that reach $2,000 dollars per hour of flight. Parts are often hard to find. Probabilities are that within the next twenty years B-17s will only be found in static displays. Unless a conscious efford is made to preserve these flying museums.