Tag Archives: B17

In between this year’s constant rains, on a spectacular blue fall day, I flew in a B-17. It meant a lot to me. My father flew them 74 years ago. He was one of thousands of American GI’s who were stationed at Polebrook, England’s 351st Bomber Division. The B-17’s would conduct daily bombings of Germany. My Dad called it “the milk run” — and they were on the 23rd mission when he was shot down on a bombing run of Ludwigshafen, Germany — 430 miles away. His Bomber Group served as “Tail End Charlie” for the 1,000 + Bombers. They were to fly “high” at 29,000 feet. In youth we … Continue reading →