But the B24 couldn't take so much punishment and ISTR that the US air Force wanted a B17 only bomber force in Europe?
Sounds like Boeing propaganda to me ...
relative production figures from WRG...
B17 = total 12731
B24 = total 19203
Similar in the UK,the other manufacturers tried to get the Lancaster scrapped and Avro to build Halifax etc,only a very quick mod programme by Chadwick saved the a/c,istr mostly chucking out any equipment which was not absolutely necessary - thereby bringing the basic weight down and improving the already impressive load carrying capabilities of the Lanc.
I think the Boeing
PR team convinced most people that the B17 won the war.
However...given the choice of B17/B24 to fly...I would go along with B17....because (allegedly) it was akin to flying a 4 engine Cub
