The Brits ignored American advice on how to use the B-17. Admittedly, the
B-17C was not ready for the big leagues.

Could that be why they ignored the advice?

Perhaps.

I'll suggest that there was -no way- given the British experience in WWI that
they were going to the heavy daylight bomber route in WWI. And I don't blame
them a bit for that.

I think after all that 'Henry V'/'over the top' stuff in WWI, the Brits were
bound and determined to try a litte brain power the second time through.
B-17's were not going to help them that much in that particular endeavor.

Walt