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  • Roads, Rails and Bridges

    For the next two months, AAF heavy bombers from England and Italy struck repeatedly at strategic targets deep in enemy territory. In addition, Italian-based fighters and bombers attacked shipping, railroads and highways to paralyze the German transportation network, thereby easing the task of Allied

  • Fighters and Flak

    Bombing operations in March 1944 marked another turning point in the air war over Europe, for the Luftwaffe lost the advantage it had maintained so successfully since the fall of 1943. It still retained the capability for striking back at AAF bomber formations in force but was able to do so only

  • Target Berlin

    Berlin, the capital of Germany, was selected as a prime target for the AAF, not only for its industrial importance, but because it was believed the Luftwaffe would react in force to defend it, suffering heavy losses in the process. The first attack was made on March 4, 1944, but only 29 bombers

  • Feb. 20-25, 1944: "The Big Week"

    During "The Big Week," 3,300 bombers were dispatched from England and 500 from Italy, with 137 of the former and 89 of the latter being lost. Also, 28 AAF fighters were shot down by the enemy (by both flak and interceptors) in desperate defense of the hinterland.The number of U.S. personnel killed,

  • Industry Crippled

    In January 1944 the AAF was ready to begin its onslaught to destroy the German aircraft industry, thereby paving the way for later bombings of other strategic targets without suffering heavy losses to Luftwaffe interceptors.Poor weather in England prevented concentrated operations until Feb. 20,

  • Escort from Italy

    After the Allies had consolidated their battle lines across southern Italy, both heavy and medium bombers, along with light bombers and fighters, continued to attack tactical targets. In addition, the heavy bombers were able to continue strikes against strategic targets in the Balkans, northern

  • Italy Invaded

    While the AAF was bombing Germany from England, the Allies invaded Italy. The AAF and RAF hammered airfields, bridges, railroad yards and sea ports through Sept. 2 to weaken the enemy. In the process, Axis air forces in southern Italy were significantly reduced. The first landing was made on the toe

  • Medium Bombers

    AAF B-26 medium bombers in England became operational in the spring of 1943. Not having the long range of the B-17 and B-24, B-26s were used almost exclusively for missions to Holland, Belgium and northwestern France where they bombed airfields, transportation and lines of communication. Originally,

  • “My Gal Sal”

    On June 27, 1942, the pilot of a B-17E named "My Gal Sal" was forced to make a belly-landing on the Greenland icecap during a flight from the United States to England. He made an excellent landing with the only damage to the plane being bent propeller blades.Once the downed plane had been located,

  • Saga of B-17 PN9E

    The most remarkable Arctic rescue of World War II involved B-17 PN9E, which was reported missing somewhere in southeastern Greenland on Nov. 9, 1942. An air search was launched and on Nov. 24, the plane finally was discovered by Col. Bernt Balchen 40 miles inland from the Greenland coast. Thus began