Col Curtis E. LeMay congratulates a 305th Bombardment Wing (BW) B-17F crew at their Chelveston, Northamptonshire, base on June 2, 1943 after they claimed several Fw 190 fighters destroyed before they were themselves shot down and rescued from the sea. LeMay commanded the wing during its transfer from Muroc (later Edwards AFB, California) to Britain to take part in the first Eighth Air Force B-17 bombing missions of World War II. During that time he devised the “combat box formation” for the Eighth Air Force, making full use of the bombers’ defensive armament. He was very aware of the inevitable cost of strategic cost of strategic bombing against well-defended German targets throughout the war. In April 1944 alone the Eighth Air Force lost a staggering 409 bombers, and the 305th BW lost 154 aircraft during its tour. (Imperial War Museums FRE 4378)
Photo and caption featured in Osprey X-Planes 7 North American XB-70 Valkyrie by Peter E. Davies
