75 years ago

**BobP** · 08-15-2017 14:22

http://www.historynet.com/yankee-doodle-goes-town.htm

Received this today. Good story about the first B-17 raid.

**gully_raker** · 08-15-2017 17:37

Great story Bob!
Thanks for posting.

**Setarius** · 08-15-2017 18:57

Excellent story. Glad you shared it.

**Teaticket** · 08-15-2017 19:24

A somewhat easy start. This beginning did not give the Americans any idea what they were getting into.

**NewFlyBoy** · 08-15-2017 20:15

A little over 40 years ago the fellow in the next cubicle over from me at work was a waist gunner on a B-17 in the ETO. He was shot down over Germany on his last mission before being rotated home to become a trainer. He spent 1 1/2 years as a POW. Oh the stories he told. The guy in the cubicle in front of mine was a Pearl Harbor survivor. Lunchtime conversations were pretty darn interesting.

**Naharaht** · 08-15-2017 20:49

That was a good story, Bob. Thank you for posting the link.

**csadn** · 08-16-2017 15:12

Originally Posted by Teaticket

A somewhat easy start. This beginning did not give the Americans any idea what they were getting into.

Mainly because no one had ever done a proper test of "fighters vs. unescorted bombers". Had Claire Chennault had his way, there would have been such tests -- and the result would have been the immediate termination of most "strategic bombing" contracts and training, and everyone moving to the DH98 design concept (minimal crew; no defensive weapons; most payload one can fit inside; highest possible top speed; attacks delivered from treetop level).