Beginning in June 1934, Boeing began work on its Model 299 in response to an Army request for a multi-engine bomber. The prototype flew a little over a year later at Boeing Field on July 28, 1935. From these beginnings, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous variants to become arguably one of the finest aircraft of WWII. 12,731 B-17's were eventually built with US Army aircraft serial numbers. The US Navy and the Royal Air Force also operated Fortresses with their own numbering system. The B-17G Fortress variant pictured here carries the "Fuddy Duddy" paint scheme to honor an 8th Air Force B-17G flying with the 708th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bomb Group. The original "Fuddy Duddy" was lost on December 30, 1994 in a mid-air collision over Mannheim, Germany. The pictured aircraft was built under contract by Douglas Aircraft in 1944 and was assigned to the Pacific Theater where it served as a VIP transport for General Dwight Eisenhower in 1946 and General Douglas MacArthur in the 1950's. This white matted black and white print of the B-17G Flying Fortress "Fuddy Duddy" is from a Warpaint, LLC original photograph. It is printed on Kodak Endura Metallic paper with a pearlescent finish for a distinctive and long lasting (100 years of home display per Kodak) image. This paper is tear and curl resistant and the film and laminate layers within the paper produce a striking, three dimensional, lasting image on an ultra-bright background. You will be amazed at the effect this paper creates! The print is also available in color on the same Kodak Endura Metallic paper (see our Color photography section) and in 5"x7" or 8"x10" sizes. Custom sizes are available on request. Please note that because each print is shipped already matted, the 5"x7" print will actually fit an 8"x10" frame and the 8"x10" print will actually fit an 11"x14" frame. To protect your print, each is matted and enclosed in a plastic photographic envelope before being packaged for shipping. THE WATERMARK SHOWN IN THE IMAGE WILL NOT BE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU RECEIVE AND IS MERELY THERE TO PROTECT OUR ARTISTIC WORK FOR INTERNET DISPLAY.