Sergeant Richard Cleary and Sergeant Julius Rhodes of the 55th Fighter Group wipe snow from a P-51 Mustang to begin preparations for an escort mission over German supply lines in the Ardennes salient, Belgium, January 1945. Printed caption attached to print: PNA EA 39147. Ground crew checks U.S. fighter plane. Two ground crewmen disregard cold and snow to complete adjustments on this P-51 Mustang, about to take off with a fighter group escorting American bombers on a mission over German supply lines in the Ardennes salient, Belgium. Working on the plane are Sergeant Richard Cleary, crew chief, and Sergeant Julius Rhodes. Official figures show that since the beginning of operations August 17, 1942, to January 13, 1945, the Eighth U.S. Air Force has destroyed a total of 10,518 enemy planes. U.S. Strategic Air Force Photo PRO-HQ-45-28. Serviced by London OWI to list B-1. Certified as passed by SHAEF censor.'