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The American Air Museum's archive records the stories of the men and women of the US Army Air Forces who served in Britain and Europe during the Second World War.
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Explore research guides![Bomber crews of the 385th Bomb Group return to base following a mission, they walk past a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30251) nicknamed "Piccadilly Queen". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291750.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIR FORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive against continues against enemy continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great format](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380099.jpg.webp?itok=FQF3qJSi)
![Personnel of the 388th Bomb Group walk past a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30625) nicknamed "Joho's Jokers", on their return to base after a mission. Image stamped on reverse: 'News Chronicle.' [stamp], 'Tapsell.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 4 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291415.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from the 1,000 [a censor has amended this to say 'Largest'] plane US day raid on Germany. Some of the air crews leaving the aerodrome with a Flying Fortress in the backgro](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380279.jpg.webp?itok=dS43ApSu)
![General Henry H Arnold, chief of the United States Army Air Forces, meets Captain Roland Scott of the 322nd Bomb Group during a visit to the 2nd General Hospital (Churchill Hospital). Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.'[stamp], 'Passed as censored 10 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '283246.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"General Arnold Visits Churchill Hospital." General Henry H Arnold, Cheif of US Army Air Forces visited the 2nd General Hospital (Churchill Hospital) to see wounded airmen of t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379988.jpg.webp?itok=bYRQfJES)
![Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, a pilot of the 401st Bomb Group and cousin of the US War Secretary Henry Stimson, with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37770) nicknamed "Flak Rat". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296488.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US WAR SECRETARY'S COUSIN PILOTS FLYING FORTRESSES OVER EUROPE. Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, Greenwich, Connecticut, cousin of US War Secretary Henry Stimson is pilot of](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380531.jpg.webp?itok=y1SADypL)
![Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, a pilot of the 401st Bomb Group and cousin of the US War Secretary Henry Stimson, with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37770) nicknamed "Flak Rat". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296490.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US WAR SECRETARY'S COUSIN PILOTS FLYING FORTRESSES OVER EUROPE. Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, Greenwich, Connecticut, cousin of US War Secretary Henry Stimson is pilot of](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380538.jpg.webp?itok=ZO67bXZC)
![A photographic officer of the 390th Bomb Group passes printed combat photos to a driver to deliver to Headquarters. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281026.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PHOTO MEN SERVE WITH FLYING FORTRESSES. When it comes to bombing, pictures tell the story. Skilled photographers serving with the U.S. 8th Air Force Flying Fortress Group are trained to get the pictures, process them and send p](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380450.jpg.webp?itok=dKlSQy3h)
![A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, Sout](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380541.jpg.webp?itok=4UUEH53V)
![Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380540.jpg.webp?itok=gfgwISMe)
![A flight of B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group flies over a smoking Nazi airdrome at Leeuwarden, Holland. Image stamped on reverse: 'Confidential until re-classified by censor.' [stamp], 'Reviewed and passed as censored Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '45094.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Pro-HQ-44-308 USAAF Official Photo distributed thru OWI. A Ninth Air Force Marauder station, England- Six Marauders of the Ninth Air Force are shown here winging home after pounding the Nazi airdrome at Leeuwarde](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380272.jpg.webp?itok=uUUwL8T7)
![Personnel of the 386th Bomb Group play cards inside a Nissen Hut. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed as censored 30 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285965.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICA'S "RED DEVIL" [a censor has omitted 'Red Devil']FLYERS. USP/2247-13. Where there is an American Air Force unit there is apt to be a poker game. Here is a friendly game going on in "Sack Shack." Officers from other huts are cordially invited to join in, especially is there is a prospec](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380203.jpg.webp?itok=hbg6APZb)
![Personnel of the 386th Bomb Group leave the mission room after a briefing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 30 Sept 1943.' [stamp] and '285792.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'America's "Red Devil" [a censor has omitted 'Red Devil'] Flyers. USP/2247-20. Briefing is over and the early morning sun casts long shadows as the crew leave the briefing room for their ships. It is serious business and all are keenly alert.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380202.jpg.webp?itok=p7C-e3be)
![Ground crewman: Technical Sergeant Carl Pate and Staff Sergeant Hugo A. Hywari of the 386th Bomb Group work on the engine of a B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse:'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 30 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285969.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse:'AMERICA'S "RED DEVIL" [a censor has omitted 'Red Devil'] FLYERS. USP/2247-17. T/Sgt Carl Pate, Marietta, Georgia Crew Chief of "Winnie", gives a word of instruction on one of the might Pratt and Whitney engines whic](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380208.jpg.webp?itok=L-1UAryc)
![Staff Sergeant Chester Gavre of the 386th Bomb Group erects a base sign with Private Joseph F Mattaliano and "Flak" his dog. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.'[stamp], 'Passed for publication 30 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285955.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''AMERICA'S "RED DEVIL" [a censor has omitted 'Red Devil'] FLYERS. USP/2247-3. Men of Colonel Maitland's Group have a very high morale and like to inject a little fun into the routine of army life. Here S/Sgt Chester Gavre of Green](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380210.jpg.webp?itok=jCtT5I4S)
![Ground personnel of the 386th Bomb Group connect bombs to a hoist, in order to load them into a B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279554.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. the B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together to deliv](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380207.jpg.webp?itok=zCl1g7sk)
![Ground personnel of the 386th Bomb Group load the bomb bay of a B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279556.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. the B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together to deliver heavy blows against German Ai](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380206.jpg.webp?itok=duoN7WIm)
![Two engineers of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group remove cameras from an F-5 Lightning. Image stamped on reverse: 'Esten Illustrated.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273532.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380961.jpg.webp?itok=_SoQL28U)
![An operations officer of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group checks the assignments board. Image stamped on reverse: 'Esten Illustrated.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Jul 1943.' [stamp- crossed out by censor], 'Not to be published.' [stamp] and '273526.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Esten (Illus). Modern Cyclops of the USAAF. OPS 12: The operations officer checks the assignments board for the day. 8.7.43'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380962.jpg.webp?itok=cVfc3XPN)
![An airman of the 305th Bomb Group admired the nose art of a B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30422) nicknamed "Any Time Annie." On reverse: O.W.I. London, Keystone Press Agency and 'Sacred' [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407740.jpg.webp?itok=sSlnE58y)
