The B-17 Flying Fortress was supposed to be a war-winning weapon, however, by the end of 1943, the American Eighth Air Force flying them was at breaking point.
German flak and fighters shot down B-17s in their hundreds, as the US strategic bombing doctrine came face to face with the realities of aerial warfare; something had to change.
Just one year later, the Eighth Air Force were masters in the air over Europe, having dealt a killing blow to the German Luftwaffe. So how did they do it? IWM Curator Dr Hattie Hearn looks at the changes in leadership, tactics and technology that transformed the air war over Nazi-occupied Europe.
Story written by IWM staff and copyright of Imperial War Museums (© IWM). The copyright in the images belongs to IWM as well as other third parties. Neither the stories nor the images contained may be reproduced or licenced without IWM’s permission. IWM Licensing
