American (Lockheed P-38H) Lightning fighter planes in flight, shortly after take-off to attack targets in the south of occupied France. Spring 1944.

Lockheed P-38H

 B-17 on a raid over Budapest takes an 88mm hit in the nose. The bombardier and navigator were killed instantly. The back section of the plane filled with dense smoke and the five men in that section bailed out. The pilot and co-pilot kept it flying for about ten minutes without instruments before the sub zero temps and the fear of stalling convinced the three remaining crew to bail out. All eight airmen were captured.

One tough bomber!

The machine gunners of the US B-17 bomber fired the M2 (Ma Deuce) .50 cal machine gun via open ports in the fuselage. Temperatures could reach minus 50 Celsius hence the heavy leather coveralls. Once over 10,000 feet oxygen masks were required. The Ma Deuce was devastating against enemy fighters.

Colorized by T.Sorba