The Untold Secret: German Officers Couldn't Believe What They Found Inside A Captured B-17

This documentary explores the remarkable story of how a captured American B-17 Flying Fortress bomber nicknamed Wolf Hound transformed Luftwaffe understanding of Allied air power during World War 2. When Lieutenant Paul Flickinger crash-landed B-17F serial number 41-24585 in occupied France on December 12, 1942, German forces captured the first intact American heavy bomber to fall into their hands. Test pilot Hans-Werner Lerche and German engineers at Rechlin Experimental Airfield conducted exhaustive analysis from December 1942 through March 1943, discovering defensive capabilities unlike anything they had encountered. The bomber's 9 Browning M2 .50-caliber machine guns created interlocking fields of fire that could throw 160 heavy bullets into the surrounding airspace every second, with combat box formations multiplying this firepower to create walls of 500-700 machine guns that made attacks psychologically overwhelming. German tactical analysis revealed that only frontal attacks offered survival chances, leading Hauptmann Egon Mayer to pioneer head-on attack tactics, yet the mathematics remained brutal with pilots needing approximately 1,000 cannon rounds to guarantee a kill while carrying only 500-600 rounds total. Beyond tactical discoveries, German engineers recognized that every design aspect reflected American mass-production philosophy fundamentally different from German manufacturing, with Boeing, Douglas, and Vega ultimately building 12,731 B-17s compared to Germany's 1,100 four-engine He 177 bombers across the entire war. Wolf Hound later served with Kampfgeschwader 200 conducting clandestine operations until its destruction during an Allied bombing raid on April 10, 1945. This video provides a comprehensive overview of both perspectives during World War 2, offering viewers an insightful examination of the events, ideologies, and key figures that shaped this pivotal period in history. Through a balanced presentation, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities involved, acknowledging the diverse experiences and narratives that emerged during the conflict. This content is intended for educational purposes only and explores the multifaceted aspects of World War 2 without supporting any extremist ideologies or inappropriate content. All images used in this video are for educational purposes only and are used under fair use policy for educational use only. #ww2 #history #b17 #flyingfortress #luftwaffe #worldwar2 #aviationhistory #militaryhistory #worldwartwo #wwii #bomber #aircraft #documentary #educational #historydocumentary #warhistory #aviation #airforce #usaaf #germanluftwaffe #1940s