In 1943, at Ridgewell airbase, the aircrews of the 381st Bomb Group prepared to board their planes. The mission for the day was to target the ball-bearing factory in Schweinfurt, located in the Munich area. Meanwhile, other units were assigned to attack the aircraft factories in RFegenburg, which is situated in Southern Germany near the Alps.
Since the objectives were too far for a regular return flight, the planes would continue flying straight towards North Africa after completing their bombing run. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a heavy bomber with four engines, had been developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps. It was known for its speed and high-flying capabilities, making it a prominent aircraft in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. In fact, it dropped more bombs than any other plane during the war.
The pilot in this picture was attired similarly.
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