Photography

THE SEATTLE TIMES ARCHIVE

Instructors from the Boeing Aircraft Company, wearing white, stand to form a white V among the ranks of 1,400 soldiers assembled at the Boeing Flying Fortress School at Ellis Avenue and East Marginal Way in Seattle.

The Boeing (B-17) Flying Fortress School was presented the "Efficiency Banner" by the Army Airforce Technical Training Command yesterday. P.G. Johnson, Boeing Aircraft Company president, pledged the delivery of many more Boeing bombers to the fighting forces of the United Nations.

In presenting the banner to Johnson, Brig. Gen. Early E. Duncan said the Army Airforce Technical Training Command produced 450,000 trained aircraft men last year, including bombardiers, mechanics, radio men and 50,00 pilots.~ The Seattle Times, May 21, 1943

Richard Williams, former reporter for The Seattle Times, is credited with coining the name "Flying Fortress" when a prototype to the B-17, was unveiled by Boeing in 1935. The aircraft company saw value in the name and trademarked it.

Postcards from the past is an occasional feature, highlighting images from The Seattle Times historical archive.

For more postcards from the past and links to other posts, visit the gallery