Boeing B-17s of the 96th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group (Heavy) at this time headquartered at Amendola, Foggia Airfield Complex, Italy, en route to a target of Ploesti’s area, the Romana Americana Refinery, Rumania, 10 June 1944. Above, one of the escort fighters P-38J "Lightning" of the 1st Fighter Group based at Salsola Airfield (Foggia Satellite #3), Foggia Airfield Complex. The 2nd were one of six Bomb Groups of the 5th Bomb Wing, USAAF’s 15th Air Force. Victor Sierra

En route to Ploesti

Enola Gay Tibbets with husband, Paul Warfield Tibbets Senior, parents of Colonel (later Brig. General) Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr, who piloted B-29 bomber "Enola Gay" to drop the first atomic bomb, "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, 6 August, 1945.

Tibbets Jr. had being headed for a career as a surgeon, but changed his mind in favour of enlisting in the US Army Air Force.  His previous education, and his training as a pilot through private lessons, allowed him to enter training programmes to fly bombers.  

When Tibbets Jr abandoned his premed studies in favour of taking to the air, his father expressed the view that he was crazy to do it, and virtually cut him off for a time.  His mother, however, approved of his choice and encouraged him to follow his dream.  Her son expressed his gratitude by having her name painted on the nose of his history-making B-29.

BTW (if any mods are reading), my access to the Forum has fallen victim to a local Netnanny at my normal post of posting, and I have also had unaccountable difficulties in logging in to the photos section.  I have reason to believe that these circumstances may be connected.  If the mods can cast any light on this (preferably in a response to this post), I would be grateful.  Best regards, JR.

Enola Gay.

Official caption: "1943-04-13. New Guinea. Lockheed Lightnings (P38) in flight. (Negative by N. Brown)."  An Australian photographer captures two USAAF Lightnings doing a low-level beat-up of the airfield.  Note the single fuel tank. TBF