Us Official Photographs

500-pounders Are Lifted by Hand by Ordnance Crew from Bomb Trailer

500-pounders are lifted by hand by Ordnance crew from bomb trailer to be placed onto cradle where fins are attached. A hand trailer is then slipped under the cradle and wheeled to Consolidated B-24 bomb-bay. The bomb service truck with bomb trailer attached returns to bomb revetment and back to waiting planes for finning and fusing...and repeat. These operations are usually accomplished in the early hours of the morning under trying conditions. Particularly now with the stepped up offensive and increased flying personnel, the job of these ground men becomes doubly difficult.