History
Post War
After the Second World War, many B-17 were taken off from their employment federations and by replaced their large big sister, the B-29 Superfortress. Most were sent back into the states and landed at the scrap iron place. But only few remained in the U. S. Air Force, where further use for them was. In addition, abroad the B-17 prospective customer found.
After the war was over in Europe, were of 31 Bomber Groups 2118 B-17s flown to the USA and put down by Arizona in a desert between 19th May 1945 to 9th June 1945, many were scrapped and only some were bought by private people or organizations. Whether B 17 stand today certainly there isn't known to me.
Few B-17 converted the U. S. Air Force and during the Korea war as transport aircraft for its struggle-high officers (VB-17G) and distress rescue airplanes (SB-17G/B-17H) and used these during the Korea war 1951-1953. These machines started usually from the airfields in Japan. In addition used in the 50's superseded B-17 to atomic test purposes around to test like airplanes to an atomic pressure wave to react (see photo, MATS = US air transport command)
During the Second World War many B-17 landed more or less intact in the neutral countries such as Sweden. These used some B-17 during and after the war as transport aircrafts.
1948 succeeded to come it Israel into the possession of 3 B-17G. Two machines did not have cannons, which were tower holes openly or provisionally taken off, the navigation equipment was missing and nevertheless Cairo on the flight became to Israel bombarded. No machine was lost. But they all were unfortunately scrapped into the 50s.
| USAAF S/N | Civil-Registration |
| 44-83753 | N5024N |
| 44-83811 | N5014N |
| 44-83842 | N7712M, interned in Portugal |
| 44-83851 | N1098M |
Between 1951 and 1955 Brazil arrived into the possession of 13 B-17. 5 was SB-17G and 6 RB-17G. They were assigned to the Forca Aerea Brasilia (FAB). All this B-17 was used for search and rescue missions or for photographic clearing-up. These machines were deactivated in late 60's.
| FAB S/N | USAAF S/N | Comment |
| 5400 | 44-83663 | 1968 Returned to the US.Displayed in Air Force Base Hill |
| 5401 | 44-85567 | Retired from service in 1967 |
| 5402 | 44-85583 | Retired from service in 1968 |
| 5403 | 44-85602 | Retired from service in 1966 |
| 5404 | 44-85836 | Crash 1959 |
| 5405 | 43-39246 | Crash 1962 |
| 5406 | 43-39335 | Retired from service in 1966 |
| 5407 | 44-8891 | Retired from service in 1967 |
| 5408 | 44-83718 | Retired from service in 1968. Restored in a brasil air force museum. |
| 5409 | 44-83764 | Crash 1964 |
| 5410 | 44-83378 | Retired from service in 1965 |
| 5411 | 44-85494 | Retired from service in 1968 |
| - | 44-85579 | Crash 1952 |
In February 1947 two B-17 arrived into the possession of the Dominican Republic. They survived until 1954.
Between 1947 and 1960 five SB-17G were with the Portuguese in the employment.
US general Eisenhower handed over to France the B-17F 42-30177 special transport for the French general M.P. Koenning. It was scrapped 1973.