This tragic photo shows the aftermath of a friendly fire incident during an attack on gun positions at Royan, France, Ā April 14,1945.Ā During the bomb run, a Group of B-17ās and a B-24ās ended up over the same space when the higher B-17s dropped their fragmentation bombs. Five B-24ās of the 567th Bomb Squadron were hit resulting in 3 damaged and 2 destroyed as shown here. Ā The B-24 to the left of screen is "Stand By" (s/n 42-50774) from the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF.Ā 3 of her crew were KIA, 2 were captured and 4 made it back to England. MACR 14173 Ā The B-24 to the right of screen is "The Bigast Bird" (s/n 42-51233) from the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. The aircraft broke in half resulting in 8 of her crew were KIA. Miraculously Ā and 2 managed to escape the stricken aircraft and were taken as POW. MACR 13906 Ā The last 2 images show the huge contrast between then and now with hundreds of beachgoers relaxing in the sun, under the view of a graffiti decorated bunker (top right of centre) which was one shown covered in smoke in the first image. . š www.iloveahangar.com . #aircraft #airforce #airshow #avgeek #aviation #aviationdaily #aviationgeek #aviationhistory #aviationlovers #aviationphotos #avnerd #ww2aviation #instaaviation #militaryaviation #militaryaviationphotography #b24liberator #oldairplanes #pilot #planepics #b24liberator #b17flyingfortress #usaaf #vintageaircraft #warbird #warbirds #raf #ww2aircraft #ww2airplanes https://www.instagram.com/p/CXvaTh5P_5k/?utm_medium=tumblr
