B-17

[ bee-sev-uhn-teen ]

noun

, U.S. Military.

, plural B-17's.

1. a heavy bomber with four radial piston engines, widely used over Europe and the Mediterranean by the U.S. Air Force in World War II.

Word History and Origins

Origin of B-17¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Last Sunday’s column about the rough landing of a radio-controlled B-17 during a 1948 air show at the District’s Bolling Air Force Base raised a few questions, one in particular.

From Washington Post

They calmed down when Cronkite informed them his ass had been over the Channel and back in a B-17.

From The Daily Beast

The B-17 bombers, however, were heavily armed and could defend themselves fairly well.

From Project Gutenberg

Freddy snorted, and glanced out the port at the broad expanse of sun-flooded Indian Ocean beneath the wings of the B-17.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, the B-36 is much more complicated to build than the B-17, and far more expensive.

From Project Gutenberg

We used to think that the B-17 was a huge plane, and the blockbuster it carried a huge load.

From Project Gutenberg

Alfred Jocque was in the bunk next to me and he was the bombadier on a B-17 that was shot down.

From Project Gutenberg