B-17 Origins
Supportive industrial biography R.J.Serling, Legend & Legacy, the Story of Boeing and its People, St.Martin's Press,1992,P.34: "before WW2 B-17 was considered to be primarily a defensive weapon; its future role in strategic bombing...wasn't clearly defined yet." P.29: It was designed to 1934 Army Spec 98-1800 (1 ton warload, 2,000 miles, >200 mph) envisaging an order for 20. US' tiny post-Depression Army was for garrison duty in the island chains to its territories (colonies) of Panama Zone and Philippines. Funding for more awaited events of May,1940.