# B-17 and B-24 Bombers did the B stand for Boeing or Bomber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689 "2007-05-11T14:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/21 "2007-05-12T04:57:37Z")
I once read a fascinating book that gave **every** B designation ever assigned, from the original B-1 (a canvas-winged biplane) up to the XB-70 Valkerie. Some of the B numbers were production models, some experimental, some varients of existing bombers, some proposed designs and a few of the later numbers were actually assigned to ballistic missiles. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/22 "2007-05-12T05:15:09Z")
> [@](#): > > K = Ferret 😕 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/23 "2007-05-12T06:54:14Z")
Ferret was the name given to aircraft that used radar or other sophisticated electronic devices to “ferret out” targets and identify them in ways that other aircraft could bomb them. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/24 "2007-05-12T15:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=PBear42] Interesting thread. My favorite “huh?” is PG = Powered Glider. Huh? [/QUOTE] They’re also called “motor gliders” - the engine is used for self-launching and, if required, return to base, but is shut off for soaring. On some, the engine even folds away into the fuselage to reduce drag. Lockheed built B-17’s too. Ford actually made more B-24’s than Consolidated, at one point even cranking out 1 per hour at its Willow Run, MI plant. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/25 "2007-05-12T15:10:17Z")
[Motor glider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_glider) > [@](#): > > MOTOR GLIDER: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight without thrust from the means of propulsion. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689/26 "2007-05-12T15:58:27Z")
Regarding the inclusion of the manufacturer in the model number, the USAAF did provide a code, but unlike the USN/USMC codes, it was a subcode that only showed up in the official paperwork that followed a plane, rather than being part of the actual model number. As noted, above, when the Navy’s Chance-Vought F4U ( **F** ighter **4** th model **U** = Chance Vought) was bulit under license by Goodyear, it “became” an FG ( **F** ighter (first model is assumed and not indicated) **G** = Goodyear) and the second fighter built by Goodyear was the F2G. In the USAAC/USAAF, the manufacturer’s code was a two-character code at the end of the sequence. Thus P-47D-25-RE indicated a **P** ursuit aircraft, **47** th airframe type, model **D** , variant **25** , built by **Re** public while a P-47D-27-CU was **P** ursuit aircraft, **47** th airframe type, model **D** , variant **27** , built by **Cu** rtis. Short of having a plane’s paperwork in hand, the two models could have been indistinguishable and both would have simply been identified as P-47D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-17-and-b-24-bombers-did-the-b-stand-for-boeing-or-bomber/403689.md?page=1)