In 1934, just four years before I was born, Boeing was a struggling sea plane company. But this year, they built  a prototype four engine bomber for the U.S. Army. It was officially called the B-17.

It was so well armed for its time with five 30-caliber machine guns, that a reporter dubbed it “the flying fortress” and the nickname stuck.

Then World War II came, the first mass produced Fortress, flew into combat carrying 4,200 pounds of bombs and saw its number of machine guns increased to nine.

However, they were vulnerable to head on attacks from the German air force. As a result, Boeing introduced a stepped-up B-17, with a “chin turret” that carried another machine gun just below the nose of the plane. The final B-17G model, helped win the war for the allies as it now carried 13 machine guns and could carry 8,000 pounds of bombs.

I had a friend, Cliff Rankin of Spokane who was one of these B-17 pilots and he had a total of 35 missions dropping bombs on Germany. Fortunately he returned home safely and became a dentist. He passed away a couple of years ago at 98 years of age. A wonderful man.

In remembering past history, he would say, “Well, you remember Roger”, but on one occasion, I replied, “no Cliff, I wasn’t born yet."

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran, serving in the 1st Infantry Division, and is business owner in Priest River.