The big Aero Vintage website update is that the eBook version of B-17 In Blue: The Flying Fortress in U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard service is now available as an eBook download for just $10.

The story of the B-17 as used by the Navy as the PB-1W and the Coast Guard as the PB-1G is usually just a footnote in the history of airplane. But, for the Navy, the PB-1W pioneered the early-warning radar systems and tactics that are still in use today, and the the Coast Guard PB-1G was a vital component of air-sea rescue in the post-war years.

The Navy PB-1W

The Navy developed the PB-1W for wartime defense of the fleet against Japanese Kamikaze attacks. The concept was to place a long-range radar onboard an aircraft and incorporate an airborne Combat Information Center. Though it was ultimately developed too late for the war, more than two dozen PB-1Ws were active with many more B-17s transferred from the USAF to provide parts support. The PB-1Ws were active until 1956, and many were sold surplus and made their way onto the civil register as air tankers or otherwise used.

The Coast Guard PB-1G

The Coast Guard, for its part, accepted sixteen late-production B-17s for conversion to the PB-1G air-sea rescue aircraft. Modifications similar to that done for the AAF B-17H (later SB-17G) with the search radar and droppable lifeboats added. The PB-1G was used by the Coast Guard from 1946 to 1959, and its last PB-1G was, in fact, the last manned use of the B-17 in U.S. military service. Many surplus PB-1Gs also made it onto the civil register, mainly employed as air tankers.

B-17 In Blue is 120 pages of information and photos about the Navy and Coast Guard B-17s. It contains the operational development of both the PB-1W and PB-1G and their subsequent service. Complete individual histories of each of the aircraft is included, as are twelve appendices with obscure but detailed information about markings, USAF transferred aircraft, and more.

This book has been out of print for years but is now available as an eBook for only $10…no shipping involved. When purchased, a download link and password are provided to obtain the book as a .pdf file that can be read on any computer or tablet.

Worth checking out. More to come in weeks ahead about some of the obscure things about the Navy PB-1Ws. One little interesting fact is that the Navy was so desperate to get new B-17 airframes that, as late as 1948, discussions were held about putting the B-17 back into production at Boeing! More to be posted on this later, but its in the book…and available for download for just $10.