Editing Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (section)

=== Luftwaffe-captured B-17s ===
[[File:B17 kg200.jpg|thumb|Captured B-17F-27-BO in ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' markings, the USAAF-named "Wulfe-Hound", ''41-24585'', of the 360th BS/303rd BG, was downed on 12 December 1942 near [[Leeuwarden]], [[Netherlands]], while on a raid on [[Rouen]], [[France]]. The first Flying Fortress to fall intact into German hands, it was operated by [[Kampfgeschwader 200|''Kampfgeschwader'' 200]] from March 1944.<ref>Thomas, Geoffrey J., and Ketley, Barry, "KG 200 – The Luftwaffe's Most Secret Unit", Hikoku Publications Ltd., Crowborough, East Sussex, UK, 2003, {{ISBN|1-902109-33-3}}, pp. 57–58, 66.</ref>]]

During World War II approximately 40 B-17s were captured and refurbished by Germany after crash-landing or being forced down, with about a dozen put back into the air. Given German ''[[Balkenkreuz]]'' national markings on their wings and fuselage sides, and [[swastika]] tail fin–flashes, the captured B-17s were used to determine the B-17's vulnerabilities and to train German interceptor pilots in attack tactics.<ref name="WoF p89" /> Others, with the cover designations Dornier Do 200 and Do 288, were used as long-range transports by the [[Kampfgeschwader 200|''Kampfgeschwader'' 200]] special duties unit, carrying out agent drops and supplying secret airstrips in the Middle East and North Africa. They were chosen specifically for these missions as being more suitable for this role than other available German aircraft; they never attempted to deceive the Allies and always wore full ''Luftwaffe'' markings.<ref name="Donald Am p23" /><ref name="Wixley p30" /> One B-17 of KG200, bearing the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s KG 200 ''Geschwaderkennung'' (combat wing code) markings ''A3+FB'', was interned by Spain when it landed at [[Valencia]] airfield, {{Nowrap|27 June}} 1944, remaining there for the rest of the war.<ref name="Northstar" /> It has been alleged that some B-17s kept their Allied markings and were used by the ''Luftwaffe'' in attempts to infiltrate B-17 bombing formations and report on their positions and altitudes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Aluminum Castles: WWII from a gunner's view|last=Richardson|first=Wilbur|publisher=Cantemos|date=26 May 2012|pages=29–30|quote=We also reported seeing a B17 flying at a safe distance from the formation. This mystery fortress shadowed the formation inbound from the Rhine river and we were informed others had seen it back across Belgium on the way out. A fortress manned by the enemy created an unsettling feeling in all of us.}}</ref> According to these allegations, the practice was initially successful, but Army Air Forces combat aircrews quickly developed and established standard procedures to first warn off, and then fire upon any "stranger" trying to join a group's formation.<ref name="Northstar" />