Corporal Boyd B. Cooper, from Roger Springs, Tennessee, and Private Charles L. Striegel from Bethany, Oklahoma, both ground crew of the 93rd Bomb Group, prepare to fit an engine to a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-24147) nicknamed "The Duchess". Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 4 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '283881.' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Liberator's Travelling Circus - 'Travelling Circus' has become the nickname of the American Liberators on shuttle service. One day they may start from N. African bases, strike at objectives in Northern Italy and land in Britain. Another day they may bomb Germany and fly to Sicily to refuel. A great striking power is combined with high mobility. |The Liberators have to their credit such daring operations as the Ploesti oil field raid or Wiener Neustadt raid. This series of pictures shows the life of the 'Travelling Circus', its Liberator bombers, flying men, ground crews, preparing and conducting operations - always swift, in force and containing elements of surprise for the enemy. Keystone photo shows: Cpl. Boyd B. Cooper, of Roger Springs, Tenn, and Pte. Charles L. Striegel, of Bethany, Okla, work on a Liberator engine which has had sand from the desert ground into its very innards. Sand found its way into everything. It is almost a miracle that ground crews performed in the desert in putting the Liberators in the sky day after day.'