P-47D fighter planes of the 19th Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 7th Air Force take off from the East Field airbase, located on the island of Saipan.

P-47D fighter planes

American Consolidated B-24 bombers (Liberator) of the 464th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, attack the railway marshalling yards at Heiligenstadt, near Vienna, Austria.

Aerial bombardment

The B-32 was the last US heavy bomber to go into action during World War II, aircraft of this type flying a score or so of sorties before Japan surrendered. It was designed to the same specification as the Boeing B-29, considerably more development being necessary for the B-32. Pressurisation and remote control of the gun turrets were abandoned and the twin-ruddered B-24-type tail was replaced by a very large single fin and rudder on the B-32. The first of three prototypes flew on 7 September 1942. A total of 114 were built, powered by 1,639kW Wright R-3350-23 engines driving Curtiss Electric reversible-pitch four-blade propellers. Armament comprised ten 12.7mm machine-guns and up to 9,000kg of bombs. 

