U.S. Army Air Forces

The Flying Fortress Designer Error: 400 early B-17s crashed on landing because the controls for the Wing Flaps and Landing Gear looked the same And were positioned close to each other.

The Flying Fortress Designer Error: 400 early B-17s crashed on landing because the controls for the Wing Flaps and Landing Gear looked the same And were positioned close to each other.

The Flying Fortress is one of the most famous airplanes ever built, but before the aircraft could form the backbone… Read More

2 weeks ago

The story of Owen J. Baggett, the B-24 Copilot who shot down Japanese Zero with his Colt .45 while hanging from his open parachute after he bailed out from his stricken Liberator

At just the right moment, Owen J. Baggett drew his service pistol, a Colt .45, and fired four shots, hitting… Read More

3 weeks ago

B-17F “Hell’s Angels” was the first bomber to complete 25 missions in the European Theater. But B-17F “Memphis Belle” was the first to complete 25 missions and RETURN to the US. Here’s why.

On May 13, 1943 the B-17F “Hell’s Angels” returned successfully from its 25th mission. A week later, on May 19,… Read More

3 weeks ago

This B-17 was hit by an 88mm shell, remained in formation and gave the chance to those who survived to bail out safely. The story of the headless Flying Fortress.

As seen from the right waist of an accompanying B-17, this 463rd Bomb Group Flying Fortress received direct hit… Read More

2 months ago

The story of Bill Overstreet’s P-51B Berlin Express, the Mustang that flew under the Eiffel Tower in hot pursuit of Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109

The P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” achieved legendary status in an epic World War II dogfight in Paris in 1944, piloted… Read More

2 months ago

That time America’s Top Ace Richard Bong flew under the Golden Gate Bridge and buzzed downtown San Francisco Area flying his P-38 Lightning

In 1942 young P-38 pilot flew his fighter under the Golden Gate Bridge and, just in case no one… Read More

3 months ago

The story of the crew of badly damaged American B-17 that was saved by a Luftwaffe Bf 109 pilot that escorted the crippled bomber over the North Sea

There, alongside the defenseless B-17, German ace Franz Stigler decided to break the cycle of violence, to spare the bomber… Read More

6 months ago

A detailed account of the restoration of B-26 Marauder ‘Flak-Bait’, the Only US warplane to Survive 200 Bombing Missions during World War II

During the restoration process, number of interesting discoveries have been made on B-26 Marauder ‘Flak-Bait’ airframe. When World War… Read More

6 months ago

6 Killed After Commemorative Air Force P-63 and B-17 “Texas Raiders” Vintage Aircraft Collide at Wings Over Dallas Air Show

Six people were killed after the P-63 and the B-17 “Texas Raiders” belonging to Commemorative Air Force collided and crashed… Read More

7 months ago

Horrific video shows B-17G Texas Raiders suffering mid air collision with P-63 Kingcobra during Dallas Air Show

The P-63 hit the B-17 "Texas Raiders" from the left side, severing the tail. The two aircraft then fell down,… Read More

7 months ago

Did you know the “extreme blending” of the futuristic XP-67 has been used in B-1 and B-2 bombers for their low observability properties? How the World War II prototype interceptor Moonbat influenced frontline types.

The XP-67 Moonbat may not have gone into production, but it did have two lasting effects on future aircraft in… Read More

7 months ago

The Greatest Escape (that never happened) — the popular story of how Lt. Carr stole an Fw 190 to fly back to his unit seems too good to be true, and that’s because it isn’t.

The Greatest Escape – Did Lt. Carr really steal German fighter plane and fly it back to his own… Read More

8 months ago

Remembering Donald C. Spalinger, the P-47 pilot shot down by German flak while diving on the gun positions in the hope of distract them from targeting B-25 bomber formation

The P-47s from the 66th Squadron, 57th Fighter Wing, escorted the B-25 bombers. When enemy fighters failed to appear, the… Read More

9 months ago

Boeing B-17E aircraft were the first component of Cactus Air Force. Here are all the challenges faced to supply the Flying Fortress bombers that reached South Pacific.

Supplying the B-17 Flying Fortress squadrons in South Pacific added whole dimension of challenge. Cactus Air Force refers to… Read More

9 months ago

That time USAAF Piper L-4H Grasshopper crew shot down a German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch by means of their Colt. 45 Pistols

‘We had the advantage of altitude and dove blasting away with our Colt. 45s trying to force the German plane… Read More

10 months ago

B-17G “Wee Willie” down: the story behind the dramatic photo of the Flying Fortress with one wing blown off, plummeting to its doom

B-17G Flying Fortress “Wee Willie” had completed 127 missions and was destroyed on its 128th. The main picture in this… Read More

10 months ago

Did you know 414 B-29s were lost bombing Japan? For every Superfortress lost to the enemy, almost two were lost to accidents and crashes.

B-29s were primarily used in the Pacific theater during World War II. As many as 1,000 Superfortresses at time… Read More

10 months ago
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