It was amazing how much punishment the B17 could take and still remain in the air. Have a look in Google Images using 'B17 battle damage'.
I will be in LA (for a day before heading to Denver) in May and am hoping to visit the Lyon Air Museum, in Santa Ana, if I can possibly find the time, where they have a B17G "Puddy Duddy". Alternatively, if I miss out in LA, whilst in Cleveland in June, I will try to get to the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton instead, to see the "Memphis Belle" and two other B17 versions. Unfortunately, I only have two weeks in the US this trip, due to work commitments, so my time is limited. If not this trip, definitely next year on my way to Stellafane 2015.
I went to the Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Centre (an annex of the Smithsonian) last year, whilst in Washington, and was hoping to see the B17 there, but they didn't have one.
I was so hoping to see one that trip. Mind you, what they did have was absolutely amazing. They did have the B29 Super Fortress, the Enola Gay. I was quite surprised by how large it is, as it dwarfed everything around it.
Cheers Pete