2 replies to this topic

[RickFlack]

The "first" WWII Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (H) to fly combat missions in Europe (Aug'42 with the 8th AAF) and then in North Africa (Nov'42 with the 12th AAF) was the 97th with its four Bomb Squadrons (340th, 341st, 342nd and 414th).  Consequently, this posting is for those history buffs interested in viewing never before seen photos and related documents regarding this unique period in our Aviation Military history.

 

These details are found in a book I authored regarding my father's life primarily focused on his military flying career.  The electronic version of this book is freely available via the internet as a downloadable PDF file.  Being a PDF file, you will note I reference herein and elsewhere both "Book" page numbers and the associated "PDF" page numbers for quick access to a given page(s).

 

To begin reading about this posting's subject matter (First B-17 Combat Bombardment Group to Europe & North Africa), it is recommended you start on Book page number 429 (PDF page number 505), which is at the end of Chapter 6, and read through Chapter 10.  To download a copy of this book, perform the following steps:

 

1. Begin by referring to the following Facebook link: https://facebook.com...02118180261150/.

2. Once there, following the instructions for the latest posting (November 15, 2018 as of this post), which states:

    Click on the following OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document:

    https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zR9C37ApPzg788u

 

Note it will take several minutes to download and save a copy of this book to your PC as the size of the PDF file is 242,152KB due to all the "images" that have been scanned in high-resolution and inserted into the book for detailed zooming.  Once the PDF has been downloaded and saved to your PC, open with an Adobe reader product of your choice.  If you have any problems or questions, please contact me for assistance at [email protected].

[RickFlack]

I have made important updates as a result of my continued research and refinement of the Operation BOLERO Atlantic Ocean crossing during June/July 1942, which was a WWII military historical first, filled with many challenges and includes in-depth stories from those who made the treacherous crossing.  The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the November 17, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above):

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zWFSUnP84OvmG3F

[RickFlack]

I have added two new full-page photos to my book.  In addition, I updated text pertaining to the 22-Feb-43 (Mission #62) and 23-Feb-43 (Mission #64), which was the successful bombing of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's Fifth Panzer Troop Concentrations located in Kasserine Pass, Tunisia.  Rudy and his 414th Bomb Squadron were the Fortresses that successfully bombed their assigned target on 22-Feb-43, in spite of the cloud cover; and were the key Fortresses that successfully bombed the same target the next day on 23-Feb-43.

 

These attacks by the 97th were the start of a series of blows by the Allied air forces that were to tip the balance in the struggle and force the retreat of the Axis armies.  Marshall Rommel, whose forces bore the brunt of theses blows reported, "In every battle to come the strength of the Anglo-American air force was to be the deciding factor."

 

The details of these updates are summarized in the following Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook...02118180261150/

 

Once there, follow the instructions for the December 6, 2018 posting, which states: Click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link and "Save As" a copy of this book to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this document (see related details in original posting above):

 

https://1drv.ms/b/s!...zpZ4TAwtxEuM6Jc