Production. B-17F heavy bombers. In the transport nose of this new B-17F heavy bomber is housed the deadliest bombsight in the world. The plane is just about ready to make its maiden flight from the Long Beach, California, plant of Douglas Aircraft Company. Better known as the "Flying Fortress," the B-17F is a later model of the B-17, which distinguished itself in action in the South Pacific, over Germany and elsewhere. It is a long range, high altitude, heavy bomber with a crew of seven to nine men and with armament sufficient to defend itself on daylight missions