Last verified 2026-08-09 against the gazetteer Compendium. Airframes move — confirm on museum pages before travel.
Where to see the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in the UK
The gazetteer records 2 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress airframes (including cockpit sections and replicas where noted) across 2 UK collections, in 2 regions: London & Around, East of England.
| Museum | City | Region | Airframes recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| IWM Duxford | Cambridge | East of England | Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 231983 |
| Royal Air Force Museum London | London | London & Around | Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-83868 |
The short story
Daylight, formation, frostbite at 25,000 feet — the Eighth Air Force’s long way to Berlin, flown from East Anglian fields that still host the type. Thirteen guns, ten men, and the stubborn habit of coming home full of holes. Duxford’s Sally B is Europe’s only airworthy Fortress; Hendon holds another.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in brief
| Type | Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (G) |
|---|---|
| First flight | 1935 |
| Era | Second World War |
| Number built | 12,731 |
| Top speed | 287 mph |
| UK museums holding one | 2 |
| Airframes recorded in this survey | 2 |
Serials are the gazetteer's survey snapshot of what each collection records on charge — restorations move between workshops and reserve hangars, so check the museum page for opening times and current display status before travelling. Every type across all 118 museums is indexed in the Compendium.