Us Official Photographs

Fortresses to Berlin

CLOUD HOPPING TO BERLIN: With breaks in the cloud banks below them affording only momentary glimpses of the earth, these Fortresses of the U.S. Army Air Forces wing their way to Berlin to take part in a history-making attack. The American heavy bombers, escorted by long-range fighters, unloaded tons of bombs on the Nazi capital in one of the greatest daylight aerial attacks of the war. Three Fortresses silver-like without the usual olive drab paint, are flying with the formation. New bombers save 50 to 100 pounds of weight by being left unpainted, which results in an increase of 5 to 10 miles per hour in their speed.