Photos

The B-17 is the bomber that ultimately smashed the ability of the Axis Powers to wage war some sixty years ago. 12,726 B-17s were built by 1945 -- 50 are left in the world and 12 are still airworthy. This is taken from the Bombadier's seat of 'Nine-O-Nine,' where the only thing standing between him and black clouds of flak and swarming Nazi fighters was a piece of plexiglas. This is, of course, one of those last 12.

'Nine-o-Nine' came to Bassingbourn Airfield on 24 February 1944 and left the airfield for America on 8 June 1945 having flown a record 140 missions without turning back for mechanical reasons. This was a record for the 8th Air Force.

Originally a color image, turned to 'damaged' sepia black and white in Photoshop - I do this a lot with my vintage aircraft images to give them a much more historical feel.