Wingspan 103 ft 9 in. Length 74 ft. Height 19 ft. Speed 300 mph. Range 2000 miles. Ceiling 35,000 ft. Crew 10. Engines four 1200-hp 9-cylinder Wright Cyclone.
The Fortress was the most often requested aircraft for weather reconnaissance in WWII.
Before the advent of dropsonde equipment, the aircrews flew their aircraft from 500 feet
to 10,000 feet, stopping at various levels to "sound" (measure) the atmosphere.
In Sept. 1945, the 53rd was the first squadron to intentionally fly a B-17 into a hurricane.
Hurricanes soon became their primary mission, and henceforth the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance
Squadron has been known as the Hurricane Hunters.
Wingspan 103 ft 9 in. Length 74 ft. Height 19 ft. Speed 300 mph.
Range 2000 miles. Ceiling 35,000 ft. Crew 10. Engines four 1200-hp 9-cylinder Wright Cyclone.