B-17 Bomber Formations in WWII

Historic images showing Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses in flight formations, engaging in bombing missions over Europe during World War II.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 15Th Air Force Leave The Smoldering Oil Refinery At Moosbierbaum, Austria, On Aug. 28, 1944.

Fortresses Ride Again -- A Formation Of The 381St Bomb Group Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses En Route To Bomb Nazi Installations In Europe.

One of the Lockheed P-38 Lightnings that escorted these Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th AAF over Bleckhammer, Germany, on 7 July 1944 was hit by flak. With its prop feathered, it returned to its base under the protection of the heavy

Two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 381St Bomb Group, En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations In Europe, Are Only Part Of The Attacking Formation. Far In The Distance, Appearing As Tiny Specks In The Sky, Other Fortresses Roar Toward The Target.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Winged Their Way Towards The Target Of The Day - The Nazi Airfield At Chateaudun, France, 28 March 1944, As The 8Th Air Force Bombers Continued To Blast Ever Operational Enemy Factory, Oil Refinery, An

Bombing

North American B-25 Mitchells of the 9th Air force en route to bomb Nazi ground installations in direct support of the ground forces.

More than thirty bursts of flak from German anti-aircraft guns can be seen in this photo of part of a formation of North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers of the Northwest African Air Forces which had just dropped their bombs with telling effect

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 15Th Air Force Leave The Smoldering Oil Refinery At Moosbierbaum, Austria, On Aug. 28, 1944.

ELSTERWERDA BOMBED: A flight of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th A.F. are shown en route to Elsterwerda, Czechoslovakia, target for 19 April 1945.

Raid on Marienburg by Boeing B-17.

A North American B-25 'Mitchell' Bomber Of The 341St Bombardment Group, 11 Bombardment Squadron, 14Th Air Force, Is Silhouetted Over Its Smoking Target At Hanshow, China, After Dropping Its Bombs There On November 24, 1943.

A cluster of bombs drops from one of two Martin B-26's as Marauders of the Ninth Air Force continue their pounding of German transportation facilities in France and the low countries.

Bombing of Dijon, France by Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses.

formation of North American P-51 Mustang fighter planes over France.

Formations Of Douglas A-26S Attached To The 386Th Bomb Group Enroute To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Germany On 20 April 1945.

COLOGNE, GERMANY-Release line for U.S. 2,000 lb H.E. glide bombs is approximately 20 miles from target.

While far below a convoy of United Nations ships steam toward England, a group of 9th AF Martin B-26 Marauder's head for Europe to further pound Hitler's crumbling defense system.

formation of Boeing B-17 "Flying ofrtresses" of the 381st Bomb Group en route to bomb enemy installations somewhere in Europe.

Protective Fighters Drop Their Belly Tanks To Get Extra Range. Stripped For Action, These Bell P-39S Scissor Protectively Over Bomber Formations Striking Japanese Air Fields As Part If The Neutralizing Pattern To Seize Munda, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isla

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on way to bomb Neuss, Germany.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Enroute To Their Target For The Day - Viterbo Airdrome, Italy - On 29 July 1943.

Beoing B-17 Flying ofrtresses of the 15th Air force make their way toward their base amidst numerous flak bursts after attacking the Schwechat oil refinery at Vienna, Austria on Sept. 10, 1944.

High Above A Carpet Of Clouds, Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Heads For Its Bomb Run Over Frankfurt, Germany, 20 March 1944. Heavies Of The 8Th Af Struck Deeper And Deeper Into Nazi Territory Paralyzing Supply Lines And Vital Indus

Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" over Schweinfurt, Germany.

Formation Of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group Drone Steadily Through The Sky Towards Their Target - An Enemy Installation In Augsburg, Germany - During A Raid On 25 Feb 1944.

Flak Bursts Perilously Close To Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations In Europe.

Douglas C-47, Towing Two Cg-4 Gliders, Takes Off On A Practice Mission From A 9Th Troop Carrier Command Base Somewhere In France. 12 March 1945.

On "D-Day" Douglas C-47 Troop carrying planes of the 9th AF, towing gliders loaded with airborne infantry are on the way to the French coast to participate in the initial assault behind enemy lines, while down below naval units make their way toward

Bursts Of Deadly Flak Explode Around A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group, En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations In Europe. The Flak Appears As Innocent Puffs Of Smoke, But Each Burst Showers Approximately 1400 Jagged Pieces Of Metal At

Formations Of Douglas A-26S Attached To The 386Th Bomb Group Enroute To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Germany On 20 April 1945.

A Formation Of Marianas Islands Based Boeing B-29'S Fly High Above The Pacific. Capable Of Carrying A Larger Bomb Load Farther Than Any Other Plane In World War Ii, The "Superfortresses"' Brought The War To The Japaneseanese Homeland.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators Drop Their Bombs During A Mission Over Ingolstadt, Germany. 1 March 1945.

Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses"Of The 381St Bomb Group Encounter Flak Opposition As They Wing Their Way Toward The Target, Somewhere In Europe. 5 February 1945.

Combat Wings assemble before sunrise (Boeing B-17s).

Engine smoking, this Boeing B-17 has been hit by Nazi Fighter.

On the morning of 19 February 1945, twenty-five Consolidated B-24's of the 494th Bomb Group based on Angaur Island in the Carolines, took off for a cooperation raid on the Licanan Airdrome in the Southern part of Mindanao, Philippine Islands.

A formation of powerful P-51 Mustangs of the 9th AF, headed for another devastating blow to Nazi-held objectives behind the front lines. FRANCE

Mission Accomplished!! Leaving Nazi Installations Burning Furiously, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Start The Long Journey Back To England, 25 Feb. 1944. Heavy Bombers Of The 8Th Air force Continually Blasted Every Operational Enemy Facto

Bombs Away! This photo shows one of the lethal "eggs" released from a North American B-25 of the 14th Air force during a raid on the dock and warehouse area at Haiphong, French Indo China. 9 August 1942.

Consolidated B-24s of the 13th AAF strike out for home after hitting Balikpapan, N.E.I., in coordinated raid by heavies, Mitchells and Lightnings on this gutted Borneo target that still produces Japanese oil. Tanks set afire in 150-plane strike by "Jungle

A Formation Of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 2Nd Bomb Division, 8Th Air Force, Enroute To Bomb Nazi Installations Somewhere In Europe, 24 November 1944. 446Th Bomb Group.

On the morning of 20 December 1944, 24 Consolidated B-24 bombers of the 494th Bomb Group located on Angaur Island in the Palaus took off for a raid on targets in the vicinity of Legaspi Airdrome near Legaspi central on Southern Luzon. This photo

"Somewhere over France" this twin-engine B-26 Marauder medium bomber caught a direct hit from a Nazi flak battery and lost an entire engine. Despite nearly 2500 lbs. of lost weight the crippled bomber stayed aloft until all crew members had bailed

As the tempo of the battle is increased so is aerial bombing intensified. A Martin B-26 Silver Streak Marauder of the 9th Air Force over Torigni, France which lies behind the battle lines. It was an important Road intersection. The destruction of

North Africa-Lockheed F-5A photo reconnaissance plane on a mission over enemy territory in North Africa.

U.S. 8th AF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses head for their own corner. .. Their base in England, after delivering a heavy body blow to German transport at the Kitzingen marshalling yards in Germany, in the second round of the all-out Allied Air

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 381St Bomb Group En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe.

Comparison Of A Captured Japaneseanese "Zero" (Right) And A Republic P-47 Flying Over An Airfield Somewhere In China. 2 February 1943.

His pass is over-this German fighter has made the classic nose attack on a formation of Boeing B-17s and is scot-free. One of the reasons for the chin turret is to take care of this head-on diving attack, shown by the dotted curve.

A formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force wing their way over the Balkans on their way to bomb Sofia, Bulgaria on 10 Jan 44.

Boeing B-17 airplanes of the 8th AAF toward Germany to bomb target.

A pillar of smoke reaches the height of these Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of MAAF after they had dropped their bombs on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania on 28 July 44. Numerous flak bursts can be seen in the back ground, as the enemy

Tactical Air Force Martin B-26 Marauder crews in the Mediterranean Theatre call the last plane in formation "Tail End Charlie" because he brings up the end. Being "Tail End Charlie" however, doesn't lessen the striking power of this bridge busting

Caen, France.

FRANCE-An unusual photograph of American flown Martin B-26 Marauders of the First Tactical Air force winging their way enroute to their target in Germany. Glistening in the early morning sun, these fast medium-bombers add another target to their

This Focke-Wulf 190 is taking its final plunge to earth after being hit by fire from the Thunderbolt flown by Maj. Walter G. Beckham, De Funiak Springs, Fla. This action occurred on 11 Nov 1943. On 8 Feb 1944, Maj. Beckham shot down two more Nazi

The dangers of close formation flying sometime take their toll of U.S. Army 8th Air Force heavy bombers as witnessed by this collision when Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses attacked Stuttgart, Germany, 12/9/44. In this photo a damaged Fortress limps

Boeing B-17 "Flying ofrtresses" of the 8th Air force take off from an Air Base in England on a bombing mission in Germany.

Formation Of Douglas A-20S Attached To The 410Th Bomb Group, Enroute To A Mission Over Enemy Territory In Europe.

These Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bombers Of The 15Th Af Leave The Munich Reim Airdrome Covered With Smoke After Bombing It On March 24, 1945. Heavies Of The 15Th Af Keep The Luftwaffe Ineffective By Smashing At His Airdromes.

Mission #2-St. Omer-ofrt Rouge, France-Flak bursting around Martin B-26's over France.

France - An Overdoes Of These Fire Bombs On 15 April 1945 Hasten The End Of Nazi Resistance At Royan (B-24S Dropping Fire Bombs).

More Bad News For Hitler! This Consolidated B-24 Liberator Of The 93Rd Bomb Group, Hardwick, England, Takes Off For Another Mission Over Enemy Territoyr. April 1943.

England - Consolidated B-24 Liberator Airplane.

Bombing Of Oil Refineries At Moosbierbaum, Austria By Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses"On 28 August 1944. One Of The "Fortresses" Is Shown Leaving The Target. Smoke Screen Partially Cover The City And Surrounding Area.

Soaring over the mountainous terrain of Italy above the Fifth Army battle line, B-25 Mitchell Bombers of the 12th AAF are on their way to hit communication centers behind the German lines. The Mitchells are siding our ground troops by cutting off the

Bombing Of Ferrara, Italy, By Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 15Th Air Force, On 5 June 1944. Some Of The Liberators Shown Over The Smoking Target.

A flight of six Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses makes its bombing run over a cloud-covered target in Germany. Their only guide for a bomb release point is the streak of white smoke left by the "marker" bomb, which has been dropped into the clouds by

Anefo photo collection. North American B-25 Mitchell. August 9, 1947

Japaneseanese Destroyer-Escort 'Frigate' Under Attack By North American B-25S Of The Air Apaches Group Off Indo-China Coast. March 29, 1945. 345Th Bomb Group.

Winging Majestically Towards Strategic Targets, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Present A Picture Of Ethereal Beauty Against The Background Of Billowy Clouds. This Remarkable Photo Was Taken From The Tail Gunner'S Po

Formation of 94th Bomb Group Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" en route to bomb the German Communications center of Munster on Armistice Day 1943.

Japan's Drive...A group of "wild eagles" of the Japanese Army wings its way toward Loyang, one of the most important positions in the region for the Chiang's Army. May 20, 1941. (Photo by The Domie News Photos Service).

These heavy bombers of the 8th Air force head out over a solid bank of cloud to bomb targets in the heart of Germany. 498th Bomb Group.

Martin B-26 Marauder of the 387th Bomb Group.

Mission #2-St. Omer-ofrt Rouge, France-Flak bursting around B-26's (Martin) over France.

Photo collection Service army contacts Indonesia. DLC Recordings military aviation. Mitchell B-25 bomber air. January 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Drops Its 'Greetings To Hitler' - A Cluster Of High Explosives On The Target At Brunswick, Germany, 15 March 1944.

A column of black smoke rises from the target area, the Florisdorf Railyards and oil storage facilities near Vienna, Austria, on 8 July 1944, as heavy bombers of the 15th Air force laid a neat pattern of bombs, scoring hits on the west portion of the

NEW GUINEA STRAFING & COMBAT

With the Benedictine monastery at Cassino smoking beneath, a B-25 Mitchell of the famed "Invader" group of the 12th AAF flies homeward after blasting the Germans from the stronghold in front of the 5th Army.

First Tactical Air Force Martin B-26 Marauders pass beside an explosive column of smoke rising almost 10,000 feet above a German ammunition and suspected V-2 storage site which they attacked at Siegelsbach, 18 miles southeast of Heidelberg. Many

North American B-25 "Mitchells" of the 12th Air Force in formation over Corsica.

Incendiaries And High Explosives Left The Bettenhausen Ordnance Depot At Kassel, About 110 Miles Northwest Of Cologne, Burning Fiercely After The Us 8Th Air force Bomber Attack Of 2 Oct. 44. Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Over Smoking Target. Germany.

Two Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Part Of The 381St Bomb Group Formation, Roar Toward Their Objective - An Enemy Installation Somewhere In Europe.

The nose of this North American B-25 Mitchell of the 1st Tactical Air Force was sheared off by an 88 mm shell from a German anti-aircraft gun in Northern Italy, killing the bombardier and navigator. The pilot brought the plane back over its home base

Two Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey's XXth Bomber Command are visible through the nose of a third Superofrt as the giant bombers begin a bombing run over the important railway yards and repair shops utilized by the Japaneseanese

An Amoit L43M Bomber, fighter reconnaissance plane, comes in for a landing at one of the North African flying fields. This was one of the types of planes in popular use by the French Air Force in North Africa. Headquarters 12th Fighter Command.

C-47 Air Transport of 6th Troop Carrier Squadron based at Ward's Drome near Port Moresby, New Guinea wings its way toward Wau, protected by fighter escort below. April 1943.

Leaving a blaze of vapor trails in their wake, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force Fly high as they make their way to blast another enemy target. ITALY.

A Douglas C-47 Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Drop Supplies Over Bastogne, Belgium. 23 Dec. 1944.

This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 15Th Air Force Leaves The Smoldering Szob Railroad Bridge, N. Budapest, Hungary On Sept. 20, 1944. An Oncoming Wave Of Forts Can Be Seen In The Left Hand Corner Of The Photo.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Air Force, Are Shown Over The Patchwork Landscape Of France Enroute To Their Target Of The Day - Tours. 5 January 1944. Altitude 20,300 Feet.

North Africa-North American B-25 bombers in flight.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th AF fly through a curtain of intense anti-aircraft fire, to smash at a Hun target deep in enemy territory. GERMANY.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aviation day military aviation at Kemajoran airport. Fly show. Catalina air boats. March 9, 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

Aircraft, Burma, India &Troops &Paratroops

A Formation Of Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 2Nd Bomb Division, Wing Their Way Over The English Channel En Route To The Target Area Somewhere In Europe. 24 November 1944.

A Dense Cloud Of Smoke Trails Behind A North American P-51 "Mustang" As It Roars Down A Runway For A Take-Off; Other "Mustangs" Are Parked Alongside The Runway At Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. July 1945. 506Th Fighter Group, 458Th Squadron

North American B-25 Mitchell Medium Bombers of the Tactical Bomber Air Force leaving the target after dropping their bombs on the enemy gun positions on the Fifth Army front near Cassino. Bombs can be seen exploding in the distance.

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