B24 faster than B17?

[joeblogs]

The B-24 was really a generation ahead of the B17. The initial design dates are nearly a decade apart. The B-24 benefited from a more efficient, but less rugged wing design, plus more advanced systems (many electric).

But the B-24 was somewhat hampered by its P&W engines, which were not initially turbosupercharged. Even when mated with turbosuperchargers, these engines just were not as good above 30k or so as was the Cyclone after ten years of experimentation with the GE superchargers. As a result, most B24 missions were flown at lower altitudes and this made them more vulnerable.

-Blogs

Originally posted by SunTracker
The B-24 had a higher cruise speed than the B-17, but the B-17 had a higher max speed.

B-24s were killed left and right when they were forced to fly at the same speeds and altitudes as B-17s.  The Germans either knew the B-24s carried a bigger bomb load or were easier to kill than the -17s.

[frank3]

B-24 was not easier to kill, it could not, like United said, witstand damage as good as the B-17, but it wasn't easier to kill.
Though it could fly faster and carried a bigger payload, it had the same armament and the B-17 could fly higher.

The B-24 was the equivalent of the B-17. There's been a research of which was better in which they asked former Axis pilots on which was easier to kill. "neither" they answered, fighter pilots disliked guns, and that's exactly what the B-17 and the B-24 both had alot!

Instead of looking at it's survivability, we can better look at the chances the crew had to get out.
When you'd had to ditch the B-17, you'd have to step back a couple of feet, clamper trough the tunnel and squeesh oneself trough the tiny hatch.
B-24 pilots on the contrary just had to step back, open the door on the side of the fuselage and jump out.

In these things one can't say "this aircraft is better". They were both put into action alot and both suffered a substancial deal of punishment.

[Howitzer]

A good book if you are interested in the B-24 was "The Wild Blue" by Stephen Ambrose (The guy who wrote Band of Brothers), there is a story in there about a B-24 catching up with a B17, and the 24 pilot shutting down the #4 engine and motoring past the 17 just to prove they were that much faster.  Anyways, just thought I'd add that.  

--Howitzer

[gripen]

AFAIK the main reason the B-24s flew lower altitudes than the B-17s was that it could not keep tight formations at high altitude due to some stability problems.  Late B-24 models had redesigned tall tail.

gripen

[frank3]

You're right howitser, a B-24 could overtake a B-17 going full power while cruising on 3 engines itself