According to the “Holy Texts” it’s impossible flying an airplane with a propeller in this conditions. But, clearly, neither the pilot nor the plane had read the “Flight’s Bible” and plane and pilot returned to home. Story: this P-47D Thunderbolt of USAAF’s 64th Fighter Squadron “Black Scorpions”, 57th Fighter Group while on a mission to Milan, 1945, struck the ground during a low level strafing run. Despite the bent props and crushed chin, the pilot nursed the Jug 150 miles home to Grosseto. Victor Sierra

Return impossible?

The P-47 Thunderbolt (Republic P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt s/n 44-210549) flown by Lt. Richard Sulzbach of the USAAF’s 364th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force, after his return at Pisa Air Base, Tuscany, Italy, April 1,1945. Lt. Sulzbach had a little run-in with some trees while on a strafing run over Italy. He was able to fly the plane in this conditions 120 miles back to base and land safely. Testimony of pilot’s skill and of P-47s toughness. Victor Sierra

A tough bird

Interior of an USAAF’s Douglas C-47 air ambulance flying between Catania, Sicily, to the General Hospital in Tunis. US Army nurse, Miss Mary Smith, is taking particulars from the patient during the flight. These men had started their journey at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) at Foggia, Apulia, Southern Italy, before the flight to Sicily and Tunisia. 10 December 1943. Victor Sierra