By August 1944, the Allied forces had achieved considerable air superiority over Europe. Most of the missions in August marked an intense period of strategic bombing against facilities supplying Nazi Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products. A significant target in this campaign was the oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania.
Finding the details about this mission is no easy task. Magdeburg was a target of choice because of its airplane factory and its synthetic oil refinery.
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