8th Af B17 Square J Over Germany 43 851

In this unusual shot a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the 8th Bomber Command is shown winging steadily over a small German town en route to Brunswick. The target for the day was the Waggum main assembly plant of the Luftwaffe's Me110 twin engined fighters. According to photo interpretation the plant was almost completely wiped out by explosives and incendiaries. This was only one of three important targets hit by a strong force of 8th Air Force bombers and long range fighters on January 11, 1943 and resulted in a gigantic air battle with German fighters. Sixty bombers failed to return to bases in England and at least 152 Hun fighters were known to be destroyed.

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8th Af B17 Square J Over Germany 43 851

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