A Great Resource for B-17 Enthusiasts and Aviation Historians
Welcome to the website for Aero Vintage Books, offering books and resources for aviation enthusiasts and historians since 1995. This website specializes in two things: the history of the post-World War II B-17 and the few existing survivors. The B-17 remains central in the history of the air war over Europe during World War II, but the saga it carried forward after 1945 is also a big part of the story about the famous Flying Fortress. Aero Vintage Books offers THE best source of information about the Post-War B-17 and the B-17 Survivors in the 288 page book Final Cut offered for sale on this website.
Also offered on this site: the largest single source of information about a distinguished and historical aviation company, Tallmantz Aviation and the two Hollywood pilots that created it, Paul Mantz and Frank Tallman.
And, if you plumb into the depths of this website, you will find a few other goodies: some information about civil B-25 Mitchells, the large and historic CAA/FAA aircraft fleet, and a detailed story of building a Van’s RV-8 airplane. All good stuff…please stick around and see what is here.
Latest News
Filming the TV Series “12 O’Clock High” at Chino Airport, 1964-1966
(This post is edited and updated from a post that originally appeared in May 2022) The ABC Television series 12 O’Clock High was produced and
An Obscure, Clandestine(?) B-17G: 42-102642
This is a short story about another obscure B-17. It is short because little is known about why and how this airplane, B-17G s/n 42-102642,
Rattlesnakes and Idled Bombers: Post-War Pyote Army Air Field and its B-17s
Anyone who has spent time looking at the post-war trail left by the B-17 Flying Fortress knows about Pyote Army Air Field. The remote west
Flying B-17G “Sally B” with the RAF Lancaster
(The following was written by Training Captain Peter Kuypers with the B-17 Preservation Group that operates B-17G 44-85784, otherwise and better known as the “Sally