I remember quite vividly going into the National Museum of The US Air Force for the first time. A very special day, May 17th 2018. I was taken aback by the gigantic hangar. Since it was the grand opening of the restored Memphis Belle exhibit, there were a lot of people. My first impression upon seeing the B-17
… And a controversy. The Sperry ball turret, was a key defensive feature of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber during World War II. Here are some important aspects of the ball turret: Location: The ball turret was positioned on the underside of the B-17’s fuselage, near the waist of the aircraft. Design: It was a spherical,
This is a report by Cynthia Canty on Bill Rosnyai. Bill enrolled when he was 18 in Detroit. Listen to this great American Hero who said he couldn’t imagine an 18-year-old today getting in a plane like the B-17 today. He found Masters of The Air’s aerial combat realistic and painful. Thank you for your service Bill
On December 2, 1936, the first Boeing YB-17 bomber, U.S. Army Air Corps serial number 36-149, made its maiden flight. This followed the crash of the original Boeing Model 299 prototype on October 30, 1935. Despite this setback, the Army had ordered 13 YB-17s for service testing, designated Y1B-17 and serial numbers 36-149 through 36-161. Prior to first flight,
On December 6th 1942, a significant B-17 bombing mission targeted El Aouina Airfield during World War II. The mission involved B-17 Flying Fortress bombers escorted by P-38s. The objective was to strike strategic targets and disrupt enemy operations. The mission aimed to degrade enemy facilities and hinder their military capabilities. El Aouina Airfield was a strategic target, and
Berlin was bombed 363 times during World War 2. On October 18, 1944, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) conducted a major bombing raid on Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. This raid is considered one of the biggest wartime raids on Hitler’s capital. During the mission, a large armada of American bombers encountered German flak (anti-aircraft fire), which
On october 14, 1943 a massive bombing mission took place that would have a lasting impact on future missions during World War 2. This mission, known as the “Second Raid on Schweinfurt” or “Black Thursday,” is considered one of the most devastating and costly air battles of World War II for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Schweinfurt was
On October 9, 1942, the 1st Bomb Wing of the United States’ Eighth Air Force conducted a bombing mission against the steel and engineering works at Lille, France. Codenamed “Mission 18”, it set several precedents for future airborne campaigns and marked a vital turning point for the American Armed Forces. The impetus for the mission was the strategic need to
In October 1942, the United States Eight Air Force, part of the United States Army Air Forces, was relatively new to the European theatre of World War II, having been activated earlier that year in February. At this early stage of its involvement, the Eighth Air Force was primarily focused on building up its forces, running practice missions, and preparing