Aviation 101 Boeing B-17
In Aug. 1934 the US Army Air Corp. submitted a request for proposals from the aircraft industry for a multi-engine bomber to replace the Martin B-10. Three companies responded; Douglas with its DB-1, Martin and the Model 146 and Boeing with the Model 299. During the competition held in Sept.-Oct. 1935, the four engine Boeing entry was considered to be superior to the other two twin engine candidates. In spite of a price tag almost double that of the two smaller aircraft, and in spite of the crash of the Boeing prototype on 30 Oct, it was Boeing Aircraft Co. that eventually received small orders for the Y1B-17, and in July 1940 an order for 512 of the B-17s was placed by the USAAC.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 Dec 1941, production of the B-17 quickly accelerated, and by the time production ended in May 1945 a total of 12,731 of the "Flying Fortresses" had been built by Boeing, Douglas and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed).
At the conclusion of the war, thousands of aircraft were ferried back to the USA and most were sold as scrap and melted down. Some were used by the USAF in secondary roles, with most of those being phased out by 1959. Some were sold or donated to many countries around the world, including many to South America and 25 to Bolivia. Twelve of these were operated by Lloyd Aereo Boliviano; the last B-17 was sold to a private freight company in 1971.
As of Aug. 2013, 46 intact B-17s were known to exist; on static display, being restored or air-worthy. And by 2015 only ten aircraft are now considered air-worthy.
One of those survivors still flying is the "Sentimental Journey", operated by the Commemorative Air Force and based in Mesa, AZ. An extensive photographic tour of this special aircraft can be seen by clicking "A Classic B-17G..." on the top left side of this page.
| Various views of B-17 variants |
| Cut-away view of B-17 |
Specifications (B-17G)
http://google.com/+Markspersonalfiles
Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft
General characteristics
- Crew: 10: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier/nose gunner, flight engineer/top turret gunner, radio operator, waist gunners (2), ball turret gunner, tail gunner
- Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
- Wingspan: 103 ft 9 in (31.62 m)
- Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
- Wing area: 1,420 sq ft (131.92 m2)
- Airfoil: NACA 0018 / NACA 0010
- Aspect ratio: 7.57
- Empty weight: 36,135 lb (16,391 kg)
- Loaded weight: 54,000 lb (24,500 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 65,500 lb (29,700 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-1820-97 "Cyclone" turbosupercharged radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 287 mph (249 kn, 462 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 182 mph (158 kn, 293 km/h)
- Range: 2,000 mi (1,738 nmi, 3,219 km) with 2,700 kg (6,000 lb) bombload
- Service ceiling: 35,600 ft (10,850 m)
- Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
- Wing loading: 38.0 lb/sq ft (185.7 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.089 hp/lb (150 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 13 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in 8 positions (2 in the Bendix chin turret, 2 on nose cheeks, 2 staggered waist guns, 2 in upper Sperry turret, 2 in Sperry ball turret in belly, 2 in the tail and one firing upwards from radio compartment behind bomb bay)
- Bombs:
- Short range mission > 3,600 kg
- Long range missions (≈800 mi): 4,500 lb (2,000 kg)
- Overload: 17,600 lb (7,800 kg)
| Variant | Produced | First flight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 299 | 1 | 28 July 1935 | |
| YB-17 | 13 | 2 December 1936 | |
| YB-17A | 1 |
29 April 1938. | |
| B-17B | 39 | 27 June 1939 | |
| B-17C | 38 |
21 July 1940 | |
| B-17D | 42 | 3 February 1941 | |
| B-17E | 512 | 5 September 1941 | |
| B-17F (total) | 3,405 | 30 May 1942 | |
| B-17F-BO | 2,300 |
| |
| B-17F-DL | 605 |
| |
| B-17F-VE | 500 |
| |
| B-17G (total) | 8,680 | August 16, 1943 | |
| B-17G-BO | 4,035 | ||
| B-17G-DL | 2,395 | ||
| B-17G-VE | 2,250 | ||
| Total | 12,731 | ||
| Notes: B-17s were built at Boeing Plant 2 Seattle, Washington (BO) and starting with the B-17F also at Lockheed Vega, Burbank California (VE) and Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach California (DL) | |||
________________________________________
LAB Boeing B-17 Aircraft Fleet
Detailed Histories and Photos of Eleven Aircraft
__________________________________________________________________________________
CB-70
| A similar B-17F |
Boeing B-17F-50-DL
c/n 8296
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach CA 1943
USAAF 42-3360
- accident during "uneven taxiing" at Orlando FL Jul 1943 - SOC at Searcy Field, Stillwater OK 1944
War Assets Corp. Disposals abt.1945
Paul Mantz - Glendale CA NC67974 19 Feb 1946
- bought from WACD
Paul Mantz Air Services " Aug 1946
California Atlantic Airways " 8 May 1950
- St. Petersburg FL
LAB CB-70 1951
LAB CP-570 1953
- re-registered
- accident w/o in La Paz - no details 21 Sep 1955
Hollywood career: In 1946 this aircraft was purchased by Paul Mantz from the War Assets Corp. in a lot of 475 wartime surplus bombers and fighters that he bought for $55,000. Of this large "fleet" of aircraft, which included 78 other B-17s, he chose twelve to use in movie making; the rest he sold for scrap at a large profit. Forty-two year old Mantz, an air racing pilot, was also a movie stunt pilot and he could see opportunities in these almost new, but surplus aircraft. Later that year he formed Paul Mantz Air Services which provided planes and pilots to production companies for the filming of movies. This particular B-17F (c/n 8296) was used in several motion pictures including: 'The Best Years of Our Lives" - 1946; "Command Decision" - 1948; "Chain Lightning" - 1950; among others.
A great source of information (in Spanish) about the B-17's in Bolivia:
El mejor fuente de informacion sobre los B-17's en Bolivia:
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/art_fortalezas.htm
_________________________________________________________________________________
CB-79
| Aircraft on left: 41-24434 "The Mud Hen", Mount Farm,UK 1943 - Photo by Robert Astrella - Roger Freeman Collection |
Boeing B-17F-5-BO c/n 3119
History:
Boeing Co. - Boeing Model: 299 Built at Boeing Plant at Seattle WA 1941
USAAF 41-24434 1942
- delivered to RAF Middleton St. George Aerodrome, England 9 Jul 1942
- del. to Bolling Field, Wash. D.C. 28 Jul 1942
- del. to Westover Field, MA 3 Oct 1942
- assigned to 15th Photo. Recon. Squadron of the 3rd Photo. Recon. Group
- delivered to RAF Membury, UK 7 Sep 1942
- delivered to RAF Steeple Morden, UK 27 (Dec ?)1942
- transfered to US 12th Air Force in La Senia, Algeria 6 Dec 1942
- delivered to Algiers 25 Dec 1942
- delivered to Le Kroub, Algeria 5 Jun 1943
- delivered to La Marsa, Tunisia 28 Jun 1943
- returned to US - Homestead AFB 14 Jul 1943
- delivered to Tinker AFB 6 Aug 1943
- returned to Bari, Italy 28 Dec 1943
- returned to US
Sperry Gyroscope Co. NX60475 1945
- contract work on aircraft avionics, gun turrets, etc.
Charles Babb and Co. N60475 ?
- aircraft brokerage
LAB CB-79 5 Aug 1951
LAB CP-579 ? 1953
Frigorificos Grigota - leased from LAB " ?
- accident 29 Dec 1958
- w/o
Background: Before this aircraft arrived in Bolivia in 1951 as CB-79, it had seen action with the United States Army Air Forces in World War II, crossing the Atlantic six times between 1941 and
1944. It was registered as 41-24434 by the USAAF and was destined to fulfill its roll in the war effort as a long-range heavy bomber. It might have seen some brief action in July of 1942 when it was based in England, but fate had laid out a different path for this B-17F.
It was going to be assigned to the 15th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 3rd Photo. Recon. Group stationed at RAF Membury, England. Prior to beginning this new career, "The Mud Hen" as it would be called, briefly returned to the US. I assume this would have been for installation of new electronics and photographic gear. The mission of the 15th PRS was to provide photographic intelligence and surveillance of enemy forces in southern Europe during the Allied campaign.
After leaving England by Dec 1942, the 15th PRC operated out of Algeria, then Tunisia in northern Africa. After a short return to the US in July 1943, likely for equipment upgrades, aircraft 41-24434 was stationed in Italy, probably for the remainder of the war.
In 1945, following the war, this aircraft was registered as N60475 and went to work at Sperry Gyroscope in New York. This company continued work on a wide variety of aircraft systems and electronics including analog-computer controlled gun sights, airborne radar systems and automated takeoff and landing systems. Sperry also invented the ball turret gun used in the B-17 bomber. This involvement with Sperry continued until 1950 or 1951, when the aircraft was sold to the brokerage firm Charles Babb and Co. dealing in new and used aircraft and aircraft parts. From there N60475 found it's way to Bolivia and became CB-79.
Accident: On 29 Dec 1958 this aircraft was involved in an accident near Uncia and was written off as damaged beyond repair. No further information has been found.
_________________________________________________________________________________
CB-80
| Oklahoma Military Academy 1947 - Photo by Dick Phillips, et al. |
Boeing B-17G c/n 9300
History:
Boeing Co. built: 1943
USAAF 43-38322 Wright Field - (OH) 20 Jul 1944
Great Falls AAF -(MT) 23 Jul 1944
Mat Com Wright - Materiel Command or Air Corps Maintenance Command 27 Jul 1944
ATS Dayton - Air Technical Service 11 Jan 1945
Clinton County AAF -(OH) 30 Jan 1945
- incident ? 14 Feb 1945
Wright Field 5 Mar 1945
4142 BU Wright Field - base unit 19 Mar 1945
4000 BU Wright 20 Apr 1945
RFC Claremore - Reconstruction Finance Corps - (OK) - sold as scrap in US 18 Jan 1946
Oklahoma Military Academy - Rogers County OK 1946
Frank J Abel 5 Jan 1948
Alvin B Graff 11 May 1949
Owen W Williams / California Atlantic Airways - N66568 18 Jan 1951
- St. Petersburg FL
LAB CB-80 5 Aug 1951
LAB CP-580 1 Oct 1954
- crashed at La Paz 7 Feb 1965
- no details - stripped for parts for CP-627
- later rebuilt at La Paz
Frigorifico Reyes - La Paz CP-936 1971
- crashed at San Ignacio de Moxos 11 Feb 1972
- no details - stripped for parts for CP-627
- w/o written off
| At La Paz - late 1960's |
________________________________________
CB-88
No photograph found
Boeing B-17G-50-DL c/n 22555
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach, CA 1944
USAAF 44-5332 1944
- apparently this aircraft was built by Douglas for Boeing under a contract with the USAAF, but as WW II was winding down that military contract was canceled. It is sometimes identified as 44-6332. No other information could be found until the aircraft was registered in Bolivia as CB-88 in the early 1950's, and later in 1957 or 1958 as it was re-registered as CP-588.
LAB CB-88 early 50's
LAB CP-588 about 1958
Aerovias Moxos " ?
- accident - destroyed and written off at an unknown location 2 May 1963
_________________________________________________________________________________
CB-97
| CB-97 - Photo from Samuel Sambra Collection |
Boeing B-17G-65-BO c/n 8286
History:
Boeing Co. built: 1943
USAAF 43-37650 1943
Pyote Army Airfield, TX - B-17 crew training base 8 May 1944
Great Falls Army Airbase, MT 11 May 1944
Pyote AAF, TX 14 May 1944
Base Unit Biggs Army Airfield, TX 19 Aug 1944
225th Base Unit Army Airbase Rapid City, SD 22 Mar 1945
Base Unit Dalhart Army Airfield, TX 15 July 1945
4136th Base Operating Unit, Tinker Army Air Base, OK 9 Sept 1945
Base Unit Dalhart AAF, TX 15 Sept 1945
244th BU Harvard Army Airfield, NE 29 Oct 1945
Reconstruction Finance Corp. at Altus, OK 7 Nov 1945
- sold for scrap metal
- in storage at Altus
War Assets Administration 1947
- flown from Altus, OK to Russell Field, TX
- used as an airport marker (see photos below)
Owen W. Williams / California Atlantic Airways N66570 1952
- St. Petersburg, FL
LAB CB-97 Nov 1952
LAB CP-597 1955
Accident " 5 Sep 1955
The story of how it got to Bolivia: This aircraft was flown to Russell Field, TX from the WAA storage yards in Altus OK. It was used as an airport marker for several years with the airport name painted prominently on it's wings. It eventually was one of the surplus B-17s bought up by Owen W. Williams, possibly a bit illegally, and was assigned the tail number N66570. Williams evidently had trouble registering the aircraft as it turns out the seller didn't actually own it and, as with several other Williams' B-17s it was quickly sold out of the country to a Bolivian company. - Information taken from the Aero Vintage Books website.
| From the Nicholas A. Veronico Collection - abt 1947 |
| USAAF 43-37650 - from Nicholas A. Veronico Collection - about 1947 |
| USAAF 43-37650 at Russell Field, TX |
| CB-97 in CBB ? in 1952 - Part of the Ed Coates Collection |
The Accident: On 5 Sept 1955, LAB CP-597, on a cargo flight, collided in mid-air near Cochabamba with another LAB aircraft, the DC-3 CP-572, which was on a scheduled passenger flight. The B-17 crashed near Cochabamba taking the lives of the three occupants. The DC-3 was substantially damaged in the collision, but was able to make an emergency landing at the Trinidad airport; no injuries were sustained by the passengers or crew. The DC-3 was repaired and returned to service.
________________________________________
CP-620
| Photo from the Charles M. Daniels Collection |
Boeing B-17G-110-VE c/n 8749
History:
Built under contract with Boeing Co. by Lockheed / Vega in Burbank, CA 1944
USAAF 44-85840 1944
Used by the USAAF as a TB-17G Special duty training version
and as a VB-17G VIP transport
Delivered to Dallas-Love Field, TX 28 July 1945
Stored at South Plains Army Air Field near Lubbock, TX
One source states "as one of 20 set for United States Coast Guard", USCG records do not
include this aircraft. Either 17 or 18 B-17s were transferred to the USCG starting in July 1946
and were re-designated as PB-1W; the last B-17 was retired from Coast Guard service in 1959.
Accident as VB-17G at Amarillo AFB, TX 19 Dec 1951
In storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
Civilian conversion by Hamilton Aircraft of Tucson, AZ
Delivered to Government of Bolivia 22 Jun 1956
LAB CP-620 Nov 1956
Returned to the US 1968
Purchased by Aircraft Specialties of Mesa, AZ N620L Dec 1968
Flown to Hawaii 1969
Used in filming the motion picture "Tora Tora Tora" starting in Jan 1969
Damaged while landing during filming Mar 1969
Repaired; then converted to fire tanker by Aircraft Specialties of Mesa, AZ 1969 ?
Flown as Fire Tanker C-54; later as "54" 1969-1973
"Crashed and destroyed during fire bomber run near Elko, NV. Updrafts and downdrafts, 40 knot winds. Following steep turn downwind over downslope of mountain, pilot failed to maintain airspeed, stalled, two crew killed." - National Transportation Safety Board document.
| Photo from the Jeffrey L. Ethell Collection |
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-621
|
Late 1940's Tinker AFB, OK |
B-17G-105-VE c/n 8683
History:
Built under contract with Boeing Co. by Lockheed / Vega in Burbank, CA 1944
USAAF 44-85774 1944
Used by the USAAF as a VB-17G VIP transport
Based part of this time at Hamilton Army Air Field near Novato,CA
Accident at Great Falls Army Air Base, MT on landing due to icing 25 Mar 1952
In storage at Davis-Monthan Army Air Field, AZ
Converted to civilian use by Hamilton Aircraft, Tucson, AZ 1956
Delivered to Fuerzas Aereas Bolivianas - FAB 22 Jun 1956
LAB CP-621 Dec 1956
Returned to US N621L Sep 1968
Aircraft Specialties Mesa, AZ " Dec 1968
One of five B-17's flown to Hawaii for filming of "Tora Tora Tora" Jan-Mar 1969
Converted to fire tanker by Aircraft Specialties Mesa, AZ
Flown as Fire Tanker C-64 usually under contract with the US Forest Service
Destroyed in a crash - no details found Jul 1975
| Fire Tanker C-64 - Early 1970-'s |
| Photo by Brian Lockett - 1971 |
| Photo by Brian Lockett - 1974 |
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-623
| Runway activity at Albrook AAF including an unidentified B-17 and US Pres. Harry Truman's plane landing - Apr 1950 |
B-17G-95-DL
c/n 32391
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Long Beach, CA plant under contract from Boeing in 1944
USAAF 44-83750 1944
Converted to VB-17G VIP transport
Stationed at Albrook Army Air Field, Panama Canal Zone
Part of the Caribbean Air Command; protecting the Panama Canal
Assigned to the 5700th Air Base Wing
Accident: occurred at Albrook AAF - two killed in taxiing accident including the pilot John B. Wallace 15 June 1951
Aircraft repaired and later converted to civilian use by Hamilton Aircraft of Tucson, AZ
FAB - Fuerzas Aereas Bolivianas 1956
LAB CP-623 Nov 1956
Accident: aircraft was destroyed at El Alto / La Paz 28 Jul 1958
- no additional information has been found
I have not found any photos of CP-623
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-625
| Location unknown - late 1950's |
B-17G-110-BO c/n 10285
History:
Built by Boeing Co. at the Plant No. 2 near Seattle, WA 1943
USAAF 43-39307 1943
- sometimes listed as 43-39367 with construction number 10345
In storage at Davis-Monthan Army Air Field
Struck off charge - S.O.C. - removed from military inventory 1956
Converted to civilian use by Hamilton Aircraft, Tucson, AZ 1956
Delivered to the Government of Bolivia June 1956
LAB CP-625 Nov 1956
Accident: near San Lorenzo 17 Nov 1959
- no additional information has been found
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-627
rebuilt as CP-891
| USAF Ottawa Embassy Air Attache Boeing CB-17G Flying Fortress 44-6393 (1949) |
| Photo from "Roll Out" - airlinehobby.com |
| Photo from "Roll Out" |
B-17G-50-DL c/n 22616
History:
Built under contract with Boeing Co. by Douglas Aircraft Co. - Long Beach, CA 1944
USAAF 44-6393 22 Jul 1944
To Kearney Army Air Field, NE Jul 1944
Allocated to 15th Air Force, Italy - Mediterranean Theater of Operations Aug 1944
Used by Gen. Ira Eaker, - Commander of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Aircraft designated "Starduster" Spent ten months in combat
To 4112th AAF Base Unit (Air Technical Service Command) Olmstead AAF, PA Jun 1945
To 1st AAF Base Unit (Continental Air Force), Bolling AAF, DC May 1946
Converted to CB-17G - troop transport version
Deployed to Patterson AAF, OH and Twelfth Air Force
To 35th AAF Base Unit (Strategic Air Command) Bolling AAF Aug 1946
To 16th Special Air Missions Squadron (Bolling Field Command), Bolling AFB, DC Mar 1948
To 18th Maintenance and Support Group (Far East Air Forces), Clark AB Philippines Sep 1948
To 1134th Special Air Missions Detachment (HQ US Air Force), Nanking AB China Oct 1948
To 18th Maintenance and Support Group (FEAF), Clark AB Jan 1949
Converted to VB-17G - VIP transport
To 1130th Special Air Missions Group (HQ USAF), Nanking AB Jul 1949
To Middletown Air Materiel Area, Olmstead AFB, PA Sep 1949
Converted to CB-17G - troop transport version
To 1130th Special Air Missions Group (HQ USAF) Ottawa AP Canada Nov 1949
Converted to VB-17G - VIP transport Apr 1950 [see photo above]
To Middletown Air Materiel Area, Olmstead AFB Sep 1953
To 3510th Flying Training Wing (Air Training Command), Randolph AFB, TX Nov 1953
To 3040th Aircraft Storage Squadron (Air Materiel Command), Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
Sep 1956
Dropped from inventory by transfer to Mutual Defense Assistance Program Jun 1957
Converted to civilian use by Hamilton Aircraft - Tucson,AZ
Transferred to the Bolivian Government Jun 1956
LAB CP-627 Jan 1957
Accident: Belly landing following undercarriage failure at El Alto-La Paz 27 Aug 1968
Rebuilt using parts from CP-580 / 43-38322 1969
Re-registered CP-891 1969
Frigorifico Reyes, La Paz " Sep 1969
- used to carry freight, principally meat, from the northern and eastern lowlands
to the Altiplano; La Paz 1969-1980
- stored in La Paz late 1970's
Sold to the USAF to be restored and preserved at March AFB, CA 1981
Arrival at March Field Air Museum, CA from La Paz, Bolivia 10 Jan 1981
- following this flight the aircraft had approximately 13,000 hours of flight time
Originally restored and displayed as 42-30092 "2nd Patches" 1997-1998
Displayed as 44-6393 "Second Patches"
Restored and re-painted as Y-1, "Return to Glory" 1999
Restored to WWII identity as "Starduster" 2014
| March Field Air Museum - May 2016 |
| March Field Air Museum - May 2016 |
Interesting Link with photos:
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2013/10/una-fortaleza-boliviana-en-california.html
| Photo by Michael Baldock - 1993 March AF Museum |
| Photo by Dave Allport - 1997 March AF Museum |
| March AF Museum - Feb 2002 |
________________________________________
CP-633
This registration number refers to a B-17F-65-DL
aircraft with an interesting history,but which does not have any connection to Bolivia or Lloyd Aereo Boliviano. Some confusion comes from the fact that some photographs of this plane show a paint scheme with the letters LAB; this refers to the Nicaraguan
company Linea Aerea Borinquen, that registered the aircraft as AN-AMI in 1960 shortly before they went out of business. Another source of confusion comes from a registration of CP-633 or sometimes listed as P-633. Neither of these is correct; the company requesting
the new registration is listed as Empresa Eximas Ltda. - of Bogota, Colombia.
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-686
| 42-6073 visible among aircraft received at Hancock Field, CA Nov 1945 |
B-17F-45-VE c/n 6369
History:
Built under contract with Boeing Co. by Lockheed Vega at Burbank, CA 1942
USAAF 42-6073 13 Jul 1942
Long Beach Army Air Field, CA 13 Jul 1943 ?
Cheyenne Municipal Airport, WY (Joint military/civilian use during WWII) 17 Jul 1943
248 Base Unit Walker Army Air Corps Flying School, NM 4 Jun 1944
232 BU Dalhart AAF, TX 11 Jul 1944
248 BU Walker AAC, NM 25 Jan 1945
4112 BU Olmstead AAF, PA 23 Jul 1945
248 BU Walker AAC, NM 5 Aug 1945
Reconstruction Finance Corp. - sold for scrap metal in US 1945
RFC - Santa Ana AAF, CA 22 Sep 1945
Transferred by RFC to Hancock College, Santa Maria, CA Nov 1945
- Univ. of California, School of Aeronautics
- included in a group of 12 aircraft transferred to Hancock by the RFC
- as an instructional airframe for "non-flight training and experimentation"
Jack Lynsdale, St. Paul, MN N7942A 12 Apr 1954
Lynsdale Flying Service, St. Paul, MN " 1 Sep 1957
Minnesota Airmotive, Minneapolis, MN " 13 Sep 1957
L.B. Smith Aircraft Corp. Miami, FL " 8 Sep 1960
Sold to the Bolivian Government Sep 1960
Corporacion Boliviana de Fomento CP-686 15 Sep 1960
Struck-off US Civil Registry 21 Dec 1960
LAB " 5 Apr 1965
- used to carry freight
Accident: Crashed and destroyed in Trinidad 4 Nov 1965
- some sources list this date as 1968
- no other details of this accident have been found
_________________________________________________________________________________
Interested in learning more about Lloyd Aereo Boliviano and it's fleet of aircraft ? Check out -
"Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano" on Facebook
Good information about the B-17 in Bolivia (in Spanish) can be found at this link:
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/art_fortalezas.htm
Additional information about the World War II heavy bomber Boeing B-17 can
be found at the following links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress
Boeing B-17 variants:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress_variants
Latest comments
Los K-8 llegaron a Bolivia recién en 2011,no en 1993. La pista podría ser la de Tarija.
FRIMO= Frigorífico Movima, empresa de carga de los años 70- 80
Thank you for creating this website on the LAB fleet. I am writing a book, set in 1996, flight Riberalto, Bolivia to La Paz Bolivia & my research led me here. It was incredibly informative & helpful!
Steeling my pictures from La Paz 1973 they have my copyright, no permission is ask