Role of the USAAF
The USAAF’s Eighth Air Force bombers began their first operations in August 1942. They decided to bomb in daylight, complementing RAF night-time raids, but laying themselves open to attack by Germany’s fast fighters. They sustained very heavy losses but eventually gained the upper hand once new long-range petrol tanks enabled USAAF Mustang fighters to escort the bombers all the way to the target and beat off German fighter attacks. The Mustang proved superior to the Luftwaffe Me109 and Fw190 fighters and played a major role in the final suppression of the German Air Force.
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An
American Invasion |
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"It was an incredible sight as one after another the B-17s came in"... |
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