Author Topic: Assembling : THE MIGHTY EIGHTH (Read 287 times)

Mickey1992 · « **on:** January 14, 2008, 09:40:39 AM »

Interesting article at michaelyon-online.com about assembling the bomber and fighter groups every morning to make their runs.

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/news-flash-the-mighty-eighth.htm

"Of all the stories that have been written, and movies that have been shown, about the 8th Air Force, very little attention has been given to what was involved in assembling 1200 B-17’s and B-24’s each day, to get them in formation to carry out a strike against Germany."

Sundowner · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2008, 10:30:05 AM »

Thanks for the post, Mickey.

Astounding!

to “The Mighty Eighth”

Regards,
Sun

"The combined strength of the fighters and bombers brought the total number of aircraft participating in a mission to approximately two thousand."

"When you consider the way our Air Traffic Control system operates today, and all the facilities at their disposal to guide each individual airplane through the sky to ensure its safety, it’s almost unbelievable that we were able to do what we did. To think of launching hundreds of airplanes, in a small airspace, many times in total darkness, loaded with bombs, with complete radio silence, and no control from the ground, and do it successfully day after day, with young air crews, with minimum experience, is absolutely mind boggling."

Shuffler · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2008, 10:53:56 AM »

Good read

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2008, 11:58:53 AM »

Outstanding article, thanks much.

FBplmmr · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2008, 03:22:06 PM »

When I was a kid, my Dad would tell me of looking up and seeing over a thousand bombers overhead heading for Germany. As he said 'From one end of the sky to the other"