The US 15th Air Force sent 500 sorties to Bucharest and Ploesti. The war had reached the point where the Western Allies air attacks were now directly assisting the Soviet offensive in the east.
So stated a Casper City Councilman about extending an additional $400,000 to SkyWest Delta to anchor the flight to Salt Lake City from Casper for at least a while.
I'm glad they did. I don't know if it stinks, but losing the flight certainly would.
The United States Army Air Service launched its around the world flying expedition from Seattle, Washington, although as previously noted, it could be argued the party had commenced several days prior by flying to Seattle.
The B-17 "Knock Out Dropper" flew its 75th mission, the first American bomber to reach that mark. It would have had multiple crews in reaching that goal.
The only example of the Northrup XP-56, the first one having been destroyed in a crash, was photographed in anticipation of its first flight the following day.
Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet (s/n 42-38353) on the ground at Muroc Army Air Field, California, March 22, 1944.
The weird aircraft was not a success.
Last prior edition:
The first large scale daylight bombing raid on Berlin occured. The raid, remembered as Black Monday, involved 814 bombers and 944 fighters from bases in southern England. 69 bombers were lost.
P-51 pilot Donald Blakeslee would fly the first such aircraft over the city. An early American fighter pilot, he first joined the RCAF in 1941, he served in the USAF until 1965 and passed away in 2008 at age 80.
For those watching Masters of the Air, it is depicted in Episode 7.
