News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office

The New 8-17E, Latest Flying Fortress
Six new types of aircraft, ranging from a heavy
bomber to three different makes of" flying flivvers"
of the sport type, are undergoing tests by
Air Corps engineers, headquarters of the Army Air
Forces announced during the past month.
Most important of the new models is the B-17E,
latest version of the "Flying Fortress." Under
present plans the B-17E will be turned out in mass
production by three manufacturers--Boeing, Douglas
and Vega.
The new 8-l7E is approximately five feet longer
and has greater gross weight and firepower than
earlier models of the four-engined bomber. Power
turrets both on the top and bottom of the fuselage
and a stinger turret in the tail provide for resistance
to attack from any direction. Enlarged
horizontal and vertical tail surfaces make possible
the increased size and weight.
TWo New Cargo Planes
Two other new planes are the C-47, heavy cargo
plane and the C-53, designed to carry a light
cargo. Both are manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft
Company. They are low-wing, all-metal monoplanes
each equipped with two 1,200 horsepower
Pratt and Whitney engines and capable of carrying
28 soldiers in addition to a crew of three.
Other recently-delivered Army airplanes are the
YO-57, YO-58 and YO-59, all observation models.
Each of these is powered by a single four-cylinder
Continental motor developing 65 horsepower. All
three are being tested for use as liaison ships
for use in connection with ground units. The YO-57
is manufactured by the Tay Jorc ra f t Aviation Corpora-
14
The 0-59 Observation Plane
tion, the YO-58 by the Aeronca Aircraft COrporation
and the ¥a-59 by the Piper Aircraft Corporation.
Another In P-40 Series
Also undergoing Air Corps tests at the present
time is the latest model in the P-40 series--the
P-40F. This plane, manufactured by the Outiss-
Wright Corporation, is powered with a Rolls Royce
"Merlin" engine. It is similar in appearance to
the other planes of the P-40 series, all of which
are powered wi th All ison engines.
The "Merlin" which will be used in the P-40F is
a 12-cylinder V-type, liquid-cooled engine capable
of developing 1,105 horsepower at an altitude of
more than 20,000 feet. The plane itself will be
heavily armored, will carry heavy firepower and
will be equipped with leak-proof fuel tanks.
OCTOBER
19fT