There were numerous threats to the rugged Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress,” the main heavy bomber of the Eighth Air Force during WWII. German anti-aircraft fire, or flak, was one of those deadly threats. The other more feared threat was the German Luftwaffe. In 1943, the Luftwaffe was at peak strength against American bombers. The pilots flying the German ME-109s and FW-190s were professionals—the best in the world. Listen to the American B-17 crewmen describe their survival when their B-17s were shot down.