487th Bomb Group
by Pat Speirs
Title
487th Bomb Group
Artist
Pat Speirs
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Art Print
Description
B17 Series
487th Bomb Group
The 487th was based at Lavenham, Suffolk, throughout the 8th Air Force period of operations in the European theatre during WW2. Initially equipped with B24 the group soon transferred to the B17 and adopted the colourful livery as shown in the print, confirmed by contemporary colour photographs. Seen here at the final stage of the approach to the target as the aircraft turn on to the attack heading - the formation perhaps slightly loose as the crews struggle with heavily laden aircraft - remember most pilots had only a few hundred hours experience. A section of the escorting P47 - Thunderbolts - keeps a watchful eye from their high perch.
The 487 th , comprising three Squadrons, operated from Apr 1944 to Apr 1945 flying 185 missions and suffering the loss of 57 aircraft from combat and accident causes.
Uploaded
September 14th, 2012
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