Overview

B-17, Queen of the Skies is a solitaire board wargame originally published by On Target Games in 1981, later republished by Avalon Hill in 1983. The game simulates the experience of a B-17F Flying Fortress bomber crew flying missions over Europe during World War II, covering the 8th Air Force bombing campaign from November 1942 to May 1943. Players chart their crew through a series of 25 missions, rolling dice on various tables to determine encounters, combat results, damage, and whether the crew survives to complete their tour of duty.

Components

• Mission maps and target lists
• Crew record sheets
• Multiple charts and tables (fighter approach, combat, damage, flak, landing)
• Dice (D6 and D10)
• B-17 silhouette diagram showing crew positions and gun arcs
• Counter sheet with markers
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. Select or randomly determine a target for the mission using the mission table.
2. Fill in the crew record sheet with the names and positions of your 10 crew members: Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Bombardier, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Radio Operator, Ball Turret Gunner, Right Waist Gunner, Left Waist Gunner, and Tail Gunner.
3. Note the starting mission number and consult the tables for the route, weather, and fighter opposition levels.

Turn Structure

Each mission follows a structured sequence:

1. Mission Assignment

• Determine the target city and distance.
• Check weather conditions.

2. Outbound Flight

• Roll for each zone the bomber passes through.
• Determine if enemy fighters are encountered and from which direction.
• Resolve fighter attacks (direction, number of fighters, approach angle).
• Roll for bomber defensive fire from the appropriate gun position.
• Roll for damage to the B-17 and crew injuries.

3. Target Run

• Resolve flak (anti-aircraft fire) over the target.
• Determine bomb accuracy.
• Roll for damage from flak.

4. Return Flight

• Similar to outbound flight: roll for fighter encounters in each zone.
• Resolve any additional combats.

5. Landing

• If the B-17 has sustained damage, roll for landing complications.
• Check for wounded crew treatment.
• Record mission results.

Actions

• Defensive Fire: When attacked by fighters, roll for hits from the gunner whose arc covers the attacking fighter’s approach direction.
• Evasive Action: The pilot may attempt evasive maneuvers (at the cost of formation position).
• Bomb Release: Over the target, the bombardier rolls for accuracy.
• Bail Out / Ditching: If the B-17 is critically damaged, the crew may bail out or attempt a crash landing.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Campaign Victory: Complete 25 missions with at least some crew members surviving.

Mission Success: Successfully drop bombs on the target and return to base.

Crew medals and promotions can be tracked across missions for additional narrative engagement. Individual crew members who shoot down fighters earn credit toward becoming aces.

The game is primarily a narrative experience; there is no point-based scoring system. Success is measured by crew survival and mission completion.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Crew casualties: Individual crew members can be killed, wounded (light or serious), or rendered unconscious. Other crew may need to take over their duties.
• Fighter approach directions: Fighters attack from specific clock positions (12 o’clock high, 3 o’clock level, 6 o’clock low, etc.), each covered by different gun positions.
• Formation position: Being knocked out of formation makes the B-17 more vulnerable to fighter attacks.
• Fuel and engine damage: Losing engines affects speed and ability to maintain formation. Losing too many engines forces the bomber to abort or ditch.
• Flak intensity: Varies by target. Major targets like Berlin have heavy flak.
• Weather: Affects navigation, bombing accuracy, and fighter activity.
• Historically based: The game’s tables are calibrated to historical loss rates and mission profiles of the 8th Air Force.

Player Reference

Crew positions and gun arcs: | Position | Gun Arc | |———-|———| | Bombardier | Chin turret (forward) | | Engineer | Top turret (overhead) | | Radio Operator | Dorsal hatch gun | | Ball Turret Gunner | Belly turret (below) | | Left Waist Gunner | Left side | | Right Waist Gunner | Right side | | Tail Gunner | Rear |

Mission sequence: Assignment -> Outbound (zone by zone) -> Target Run (flak + bombing) -> Return (zone by zone) -> Landing

Campaign: 25 missions to complete a tour of duty