What is an MB-17G?

[Sabrejet]

Supposedly a flying bomb (post-WW2) but aside from NOT being Aphrodite B-17s, what exactly were MB-17Gs?

[tomprobert]

MB-17Gs served as mother ships/launchers for early guided missiles. As a result, they were some of the last B-17s in active service, serving up until the late 1950s. They were used for the development of Felix, Razon and Tarzan guided gliding bombs/missiles. 
 

I think one survives State-side in a museum but off hand can’t remember which - it’s been converted back to stock WWII condition, however. 

Edited April 24, 2022 by tomprobert
Typos

[Sabrejet]

6 minutes ago, MARU5137 said:

Half way down, read....

 

B-17G Flying Fortress - Air Mobility Command Museum
https://amcmuseum.org/at-the-museum/aircraft/b-17g-flying-fortress/

 

https://1000aircraftphotos.com/MilitaryProp/8501.htm

 

 

 

Yes I saw these - not much further info however.

[Sabrejet]

7 minutes ago, tomprobert said:

MB-17Gs served as mother ships/launchers for early guided missiles. As a result, they were some of the last B-17s in active service, serving up until the late 1950s. They were used for the development of Felix, Razon and Tarzan guided gliding bombs/missiles. 
 

I think one survives State-side in a museum JVT off hand can’t remember which - it’s been converted back to stock WWII condition, however. 

 

Tom,

 

This makes sense: thanks for the info. However I can confirm that no MB-17Gs existed after 1953. Some were redesignated as QB-17Gs following conversion to drone configuration while others became TB-17Gs, presumably less the weapons carriage items. The last B-17s in service were QB-17N drones and DB-17P directors; earlier conversions had been designated QB-17G or DB-17G and then given the designations QB-17L and DB-17P circa 1955 (there were no newly-converted DB-17s after this date, and newly-converted QB-17s post-1955 were designated QB-17N)).

 

And now I know that the MB-17s were fully independent of the QB-17s.