YB-40/Escort B-17

[vipers]

The Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress was a modification of the United States B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft, converted to act as a heavily-armed escort for other bombers during World War II. At the time of its development, long-range fighter aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang were just entering quantity production, and thus were not yet available to accompany bombers all the way from England to Germany and back.
I think this would be a great touch to bomber mission??







Armament


Guns: 18 (or more) × .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns. Typically used 14-16, with room for up to 30.[citation needed]
Location Rounds
Nose 2200
Front top turret 2500
Aft top turret 3300
Ball turret 300
Waist guns 1200
Tail guns 1200
Total 10,700
<info and pictures from Wikipedia>

[Ack-Ack]

It was a failure.


ack-ack

[321BAR]

just to ask ackack why did it fail?

[Volron]

After the main bombers dropped their ords, they would fly faster than the YB-40's.

Don't get me wrong, I drool at the idea of having this available.  But you would see a good chuck of it's use in SEA with AvA being the distant 2nd place runner.  Remember, the YB-40 carried no bombs so it's use in the MA would be token at best.  Me, I'd up a set of them just for the hell of it.    I do believe the ball turret carried a bit more ammo than that though....  Can't remember where I read it though...

[Guppy35]

There is a reason the YB40 went in and out of combat so fast.  It couldn't keep up.  Too heavy, no bomb load.   About the only thing of  value to come of the YB40 was the chin turret added to the late F and then the G model Forts.

[smoe]

Include this model and allow the guns to fire before take-off and you got yourself one major anti-vulch weapon.

[Plazus]

Nonsense! Give the YB-40 to 999000 and just watch all the whines on Channel 200 after he owns them.

[Beefcake]

Granted it was an overall failure it would make a nice low perk buff ride. 

[SectorNine50]

Wasn't most of the reason it was pulled out of service so fast because of what was stated earlier, the development of long-range support fighters?

Would be kind of cool to have the tag say "B-17" and the only reason you knew it was a YB-40 was because hundreds of rounds ripped your fuselage apart...

[HawkerMKII]

Sorry but it will never be, just like the B-29 will never be.......but we can only wish. If we had this in here it would be the only thing I would fly

[Wildcat1]

just to ask ackack why did it fail?

it was too slow, it could not keep up with the main bomber groups, and were still in essence sitting ducks in a heavy attack. they did get a number of kills, i believe, but overall it was a tactical and logistical failure

[jay]

search bar is your freind

[Tupac]

I would like this, I love gunning in buffs.

[Beefcake]

You know when it comes down to it I think Aces High needs the YB-40. Yes I know that overall it was a failure but so was the Me-163. This plane would be a blast to fly in the MA and I would love to take it up mixed in with a group of normal B17Gs.