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Rating: 
Summary: Four engine bombers over Europe
Review: Cadin takes the B-17 from the design of Model 2 to the use of the surviving bombers after World War II. He is an anthor who writes comfortably of the technical and the military aspects of the plane. He takes the reader through the pain of a crash of a prototype and the pain of men struggling to bring home a wounded bird carrying wounded comrads. He is the master of aviation writers, and displays it in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: The forte of WWII bombers
Review: Excellent compilation of legends and facts surrounding the most famous bomber of WWII. Caidin's love of aviation, particularly the history of warbirds, clearly influenced this book. From the opening tale of a haunted bomber landing at an English airbase, to the tragic accident during the plane's development and testing stage and beyond, Caidin faithfully and fittingly pays tribute to the men, and this marvelous machine, who fought for victory in the skies over Europe.
Rating:
Summary: I've been RE-reading this book for almost 20 years...
Review: I found Flying Forts at age 12 in my parents' bookcase. In the years since, I have read and re-read this book so often, I had to buy a used copy as mine disintegrated. This might seem a bit much, but here is the truth: The power and masterful language with which Caidin paints the Fort's history portrays not so much the story of a machine as a profile in human spirit. The men who designed, built, flew, and especially fought in the B-17 are profiled here in a remarkable alternation of big-picture history and the individual tales of a crew or a mission. Reading Flying Forts at that young age was the first I learned of WW II. I can say without doubt that my appreciation for the dignity, heroism and tragedy of that mighty conflict, were all first engendered in me as a child by this one book. As an adult,I can trace my pilot's license, my aviation library and my deep love of history directly to the day that I first read Flying Forts. If you read only the prologue and the epilogue, this book is worth whatever it costs. If you ever had an interest in history, airplanes or flying, find a copy, and keep it forever.
Rating: 
Summary: A Veritable Handbook on the Flying Fortress
Review: Martin Caidin's "Flying Forts" is an engrossing tale of the history of one of the great flying machines of World War II. Caidin traces the history of the Fort from its original design and construction through its many modifications. If you are interested in the history of research, development and production of an aircraft, then this book is up your alley. The story of the Flying Fortress in WWII doesn't start till page 163. Caidin follows the plane through the war years, and ends by taking us on a ride in a vintage fortress. This is a good book, but has several drawbacks that could be remedied if the book ever goes into print again. First, it needs an index. There is no way to find specific information without one. Second, addition of a small selection of photographs would be nice, although perhaps not feasible from a cost standpoint. The edition I have is filled with pen drawings that depict all the major aircraft of the war, which is a plus. This book is hard to find. I picked mine up at a thrift store for a dime. But it is worth the search and I recommend it to die-hard Flying Fortress fans.
Rating:
Summary: A Veritable Handbook on the Flying Fortress
Review: Martin Caidin's "Flying Forts" is an engrossing tale of the history of one of the great flying machines of World War II. Caidin traces the history of the Fort from its original design and construction through its many modifications. If you are interested in the history of research, development and production of an aircraft, then this book is up your alley. The story of the Flying Fortress in WWII doesn't start till page 163. Caidin follows the plane through the war years, and ends by taking us on a ride in a vintage fortress. This is a good book, but has several drawbacks that could be remedied if the book ever goes into print again. First, it needs an index. There is no way to find specific information without one. Second, addition of a small selection of photographs would be nice, although perhaps not feasible from a cost standpoint. The edition I have is filled with pen drawings that depict all the major aircraft of the war, which is a plus. This book is hard to find. I picked mine up at a thrift store for a dime. But it is worth the search and I recommend it to die-hard Flying Fortress fans.
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