The YB-40 was born out of a desperate attempt by the US Army Air Corps to protect their bombers from attack from vicious German fighters. While the results were mixed at best, the YB-40's legacy was huge, as it served as an experimental platform from which many upgrades to the B-17 were created. Though it may have failed as a gunship, it's success came well after it was grounded. This is the story of the YB-40 - the US's attempt at turning a B-17 into a gunship.



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Sources:
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/my-brilliant-mistake-the-yb-40/

https://www.fairchild.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/239051/boeing-yb-40-flying-fortress/
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1758
https://www.britannica.com/technology/P-47
https://www.historynet.com/how-allied-air-attacks-evolved-during-world-war-ii.htm
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/ww2-aircraft-index.php
https://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/variants/p51d
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-boeing-yb-40-how-the-b-17f-strategic-bomber-was-turned-into-a-four-engined-escort-fighter/
https://www.boeing.com/history/products/b-17-flying-fortress.page


#yb40 #b17 #ww2history