Welcome to the Hangar Thirteen Foundation’s library page!

Since it is our mission to rebuild the most high-fidelity Boeing B-17F possible, we have endeavored to reference primary sources as much as possible.  And in keeping with that goal, we strongly feel that these sources should be publicly available so that all can see for themselves.  While some of the documents hosted here were found online, a great many were scanned and cleaned at great effort by Hangar Thirteen volunteers.  Valuable documents, many quite rare, have been donated or temporarily loaned so that they could be scanned and shared with the world.

We do not require payment to download any of the documents below.  We simply ask that visitors who use our library consider donating to Hangar Thirteen to show your appreciation in scanning these records for the sake of posterity.

Keep the show on the road!


01-20EF-2: (Excerpt – Paint Colors) Army Model B-17F – Erection and Maintenance (15 September 1943)

03-45B-1: Operation, Service and Overhaul Instructions with Parts Catalog for Fire Extinguisher Type A-2

03-45C-2: Handbook of Instructions with Parts Catalog for A-17 Portable Fire Extinguisher

07-1-1: Aircraft Camouflage – Markings and Insignia

08-10-94: Handbook of Maintenance Instructions for Radio Set SCR-578

08-10-112: Handbook of Maintenance Instructions for BC-348J, N, and Q

08-10-133: Handbook of Instructions for Operation of SCR-595 Aircraft Radio Receiving Equipment

08-30APN2-92: Handbook of Operating Instructions for Radar Set AN/ARN-9 LORAN

9-225: Technical Manual Browning Machine Gun Caliber 50, AN-M2 Aircraft, Basic

9-1980: Bombs for Aircraft

11B41-2-2-1: Operation, Service, and Overhaul Instructions for Bombsight Type M-9

11-5-38: Handbook of Instructions with Parts Catalog for Type A-2 Bomb Rack Release

11-10-25: Handbook of Instructions with Parts Catalog for E-11 and E-13 Adapters

11-35A-1: Handbook of Operation and Service Instructions for Caliber .50 Automatic Computing Sights – Types K-3 and K-4

11-45-1: Parts Catalog for Type A-2 Sperry Lower Ball Turret

11-45C-1: Preliminary Handbook of Instructions for the Sperry Machine Gun Turrets (.50 Caliber), Pt. 1 – Upper Turret

11-45C-5: Handbook of Operation and Service Instructions for Upper Deck Turrets – Types A-1, A-1A, and A-1B

11-45G-1: Handbook of Instructions for Lower Ball Turrets – Types A-2, A-2A, and A-13 

11-60AA-1: Handbook of Operation and Service Instructions for Automatic Pilot Type C-1

11-60AA-2: Handbook of Overhaul Instructions for Automatic Pilot Type C-1

11-60AA-9: Preliminary Instruction Manual for Formation Stick use with C-1 Autopilot

14-231: Sperry Service & Overhaul Manual for .50 Caliber Machine Gun Turrets, Pt. 1 – Upper Local Turret

16-40SCR274-5: Handbook of Maintenance Instructions for Radio Set SCR-274

16-40SCR522-2: Handbook of Operating Instructions for Radio Set SCR-522

25M-10-44: Boeing B-17 Pilot Training Manual

30-100A-1: Instrument Flying – Basic and Advanced

30-100C-1: Instrument Flying – Instrument Trainer

30-100D-1: Instrument Flying – Technique in Weather

51-19: Installation and Operation Instructions for Gyro Stabilized Flux Gate Compass System

Air Forces Manual No. 7: High Altitude Precision Bombing

Airborne Radio Equipment Handbook

Aviation Ordnance Supply Catalog

B-1 & C-1 Automatic Pilot Preflight and Operational Procedure

Berry Bros: Specifications to Aircraft Finishing

Briggs Lower Ball Turret: Models A-2, A-2A, A-13

D-2887: Boeing Aircraft Company Soundproofing Distribution Specifications 

Familiarization Manual – Model B-17F Bombardment Airplane – Operation

FGC – Caliber .50, M2 Browning Machine Gun – How the Gun Works

FGE – Caliber .50, M2 Browning Machine Gun – Proper Headspacing

Graphic Survey of Radio and Radar Equipment Used by the Army Air Forces, Pt. 1 – Countermeasures

Graphic Survey of Radio and Radar Equipment Used by the Army Air Forces, Pt. 2 – Communications

Graphic Survey of Radio and Radar Equipment Used by the Army Air Forces, Pt. 3 – Radio Navigation

Graphic Survey of Radio and Radar Equipment Used by the Army Air Forces, Pt. 4 – Radar Navigation

Graphic Survey of Radio and Radar Equipment Used by the Army Air Forces, Pt. 5 – R/C and Television

Index of Army Aeronautical Equipment, Vol. 3 – Sec. 1 – Oxygen

Index of Army Aeronautical Equipment, Vol. 3 – Sec. 2 – Miscellaneous

Index of Army Aeronautical Equipment, Vol. 5 – Armament

Index of Army Aeronautical Equipment, Vol. 6 – Instruments

Information File – Bombardiers 

Information File – Gunners

Information File – Navigators

Information File – Pilots

Information File – Radar Operators

Information File – Radio Operators

Instructions for Reels RL-41 and RL-42 and Reel Control Box BC-461

Patent 120215: Posture Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (4 December 1939)

Patent 120375: Posture Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (30 November 1939)

Patent 123259: Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (21 April 1940)

Patent 2054557: Adjustable Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (6 May 1935)

Patent 2191848: Seat Cover – Roy A. Cramer et al. (31 October 1939)

Patent 2192070: Seat Cover – Roy A. Cramer et al. (31 October 1939)

Patent 2195241: Posture Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (22 November 1937)

Patent 2233694: Chair Seat and Bumper Guard – Roy A. Cramer et al. (22 January 1940)

Patent 2286468: Posture Chair – Roy A. Cramer et al. (1 May 1939)

Patent 2434653: Power-Operated Aircraft Gun Turret – Carl G. Holschuh et al. (24 October 1941)

Patent 2477264: Flexible Feed Chute – Charles B. Pearson et al. (13 May 1944)

Pilot’s Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Robert Wehner’s Guide to Cramer Posture Chairs

Roger Freeman – “The Remaking of Memphis Belle” (After The Battle 69)

Standard Nomenclature List for Browning M2

Standard Nomenclature List for Browning M3

Target Germany: The USAAF’s Official Story of the VIII Bomber Command’s First Year over Europe