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WWII in color: Rare photos from 1942 show Flying Fortress
MailOnLine ^ | 03/19/13 | Snejana Farberov

Posted on 03/19/2013 5:44:56 PM PDT by Doogle

Millions of poignant black-and-white photos have come out of the World War Two era, but it is not often that scenes from the deadliest conflict in human history can be seen in living color.

In 1942, LIFE Magazine sent Margaret Bourke-White, one of its four original staff photographers and the first female photojournalist accredited to cover WWII, to take pictures of the VIII Bomber Command, commonly known as the Eighth Air Force or The Mighty 8th.

The photographs, executed in brilliant hues that make them look almost like oil paintings, put on full display the massive American B-24s and B-17s - or Flying Fortresses - that rained terror on Nazi-control cities often in tandem with the Royal Air Force.

In the early stages of the war, the Eighth Air Force and the bombers under its command were praised for the 'fantastic accuracy' of the attacks.

But as the conflict dragged on, the Flying Fortresses and their crews would face heavy loses, the most dramatic of which came in October 1943 when 60 bombers were destroyed and 600 pilots perished in a single raid in Germany.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: aerospace; eighthairforce; godsgravesglyphs; margaretbourkewhite; mighty8th; photo; viiibombercommand; worldwareleven; wwii
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...the photos are excellent for the era. Enjoy
1 posted on 03/19/2013 5:44:56 PM PDT by Doogle
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To: Chode

ping


2 posted on 03/19/2013 5:45:14 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle

Stunning images.


3 posted on 03/19/2013 5:50:41 PM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: Doogle
slopping editing....losses were 60 planes, 600 aircrew, NOT 600 pilots.."
4 posted on 03/19/2013 5:51:10 PM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three or more are a Congress".. John Adams)
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To: ken5050

I caught that right away too...


5 posted on 03/19/2013 5:51:54 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle

Outstanding photos. Thanks!


6 posted on 03/19/2013 5:53:56 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Doogle

That was when the were Army, they were in the blood and guts business then.


7 posted on 03/19/2013 5:54:24 PM PDT by ansel12 (" I would not be in the United States Senate if it wasnÂ’t for Sarah Palin " Cruz said.)
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To: Doogle

Amazing quality, almost as if they were taken today!


8 posted on 03/19/2013 5:55:21 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: TADSLOS
There are amazingly accurate records of the 8th USAAF available on-line..logs of every mission flown, and the results, including losses.

It would take a research assistant probably 15 minutes to find out what ultimately happened to every plane in the first 6 pictures in the story, and would have made a good article memorable.

9 posted on 03/19/2013 5:56:03 PM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three or more are a Congress".. John Adams)
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To: Doogle

Very cool.


10 posted on 03/19/2013 5:57:06 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Doogle

-——Eighth Air Force or The Mighty 8th.-——

I just got back from a vacation in South Carolina and the Mighty 8 th has a museum near Hilton Head....

They are reconditioning a Flying Fortess there...pretty cool place...

10 guys get into a bomber... Fly at sub zero temps... For hours at a time....Drop six - thousand pounds bombs over Germany all the while talking heavy flak....

Turn around go home.... If you make it....


11 posted on 03/19/2013 6:04:29 PM PDT by JZoback
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To: Doogle

Will always cherish my B-17 ride in 2007.

Another check on my bucket list.


12 posted on 03/19/2013 6:08:20 PM PDT by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
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To: Doogle

My dad spent nearly 4 years in England during the war. He flew C-47s. Shot down twice...first time was on D-Day..after he had dropped his paratroops..Bailed out, spent 3 days in the woods, until our troops caught up to him. He always said he would have been really pissed to have gotten killed by his own side..Second time was during Market Garden..he was able to crash land the plane in British held territory..


13 posted on 03/19/2013 6:09:20 PM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three or more are a Congress".. John Adams)
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To: JZoback

....had the opportunity to tour the bomber Nine-O-Nine this past summer when it was here local...did the tour. (climbed around inside)...and IT WAS TIGHT..*LOL*. Didn’t do the ride thing, but the tour was worth it. If you get the chance.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2kq28awJ-M


14 posted on 03/19/2013 6:13:54 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle
Gotta love that 'nose art!'


15 posted on 03/19/2013 6:14:27 PM PDT by 45semi (A police state is always preceded by a nanny state...)
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To: ken5050

here’s one...

http://www.91stbombgroup.com/crewphotos/91crewstart.html


16 posted on 03/19/2013 6:18:04 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle

Am I the only one that sees the humor of the photo holding a Rolliflex - made in Germany - while standing on a B-17 getting ready to go and bomb...Germany?


17 posted on 03/19/2013 6:21:54 PM PDT by ASOC (What are you doing now that Mexico has become OUR Chechnya?)
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To: Doogle

Am I the only one that sees the humor of the photo holding a Rolliflex - made in Germany - while standing on a B-17 getting ready to go and bomb...Germany?


18 posted on 03/19/2013 6:22:01 PM PDT by ASOC (What are you doing now that Mexico has become OUR Chechnya?)
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To: ASOC

purchased probably before....*smiles*


19 posted on 03/19/2013 6:23:32 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Doogle

Great pics. Thanks.


20 posted on 03/19/2013 6:23:48 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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