A Great Resource for B-17 Enthusiasts and Aviation Historians
Welcome to the website for Aero Vintage Books, offering books and resources for aviation enthusiasts and historians since 1995. This website specializes in two things: the history of the post-World War II B-17 and the few existing survivors. The B-17 remains central in the history of the air war over Europe during World War II, but the saga it carried forward after 1945 is also a big part of the story about the famous Flying Fortress. Aero Vintage Books offers THE best source of information about the Post-War B-17 and the B-17 Survivors in the 288 page book Final Cut offered for sale on this website.
Also offered on this site: the largest single source of information about a distinguished and historical aviation company, Tallmantz Aviation and the two Hollywood pilots that created it, Paul Mantz and Frank Tallman.
And, if you plumb into the depths of this website, you will find a few other goodies: some information about civil B-25 Mitchells, the large and historic CAA/FAA aircraft fleet, and a detailed story of building a Van’s RV-8 airplane. All good stuff…please stick around and see what is here.
Latest News
2024 B-17 Spring and Summer Tours Announced
As the spring and summer flying and airshow season gets underway, it’s nice to see all three of the actively flying B-17s in the U.S.
Eight Myths About the B-17
Myth #1: There was a prototype XB-17 Boeing built a prototype four-engine bomber to meet Army specification 98-201 dated July 18, 1934, and Boeing designated
Filming the TV Series “12 O’Clock High” at Chino Airport, 1964-1966
(This post is edited and updated from a post that originally appeared in May 2022) The ABC Television series 12 O’Clock High was produced and
An Obscure, Clandestine(?) B-17G: 42-102642
This is a short story about another obscure B-17. It is short because little is known about why and how this airplane, B-17G s/n 42-102642,