Did you know at least one World War II bomber was bombed… in the air?
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Miss Donna Mae II a split second after losing her stabilizer to “friendly bombing”
(Photo: U.S. Army Air Forces)
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Allied air raids late in World War II could involve hundreds of heavy bombers flying on a single mission, leading to crowded skies and the question of how aerial collisions could be best avoided. The combat box was an elaborate three-dimensional formation that arranged a dozen, or even several dozen, bombers in a way that maximized their ability to cover each other with their machine guns, while minimized the chances of colliding.
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A cavity magnetron tube, the technology that made better radar (and microwave ovens) possible
(Photo: John Cummings / Wikipedia)
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Nevertheless, accidents happened. Air turbulence, evasive maneuvers against German fighters or flak fire, or plain simple fatigue and inattention could cause a plane to drift out of formation and into harm’s way. The B-17 Flying Fortress named Miss Donna Mae II was perhaps the most unfortunate of such errant planes. She drifted out of position while right above the target during a bombing run above Berlin on May 19, 1944. A bomb from the Trudy, another B-17 flying above Miss Donna Mae II hit the latter’s port stabilizer in mid-fall, ripping it clean off, sending the accidental victim into an uncontrolled spin and a crash that killed the entire crew.
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Smart people attend the D-Day ceremonies this year!
Save 15% with the ABMC promotion
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In the Normandy American Cemetery
(Photo: Kort Waddell)
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Smart people attend the 79th anniversary D-Day ceremonies. If you prefer to enjoy the same experience like on the 80th anniversary in 2024 but with smaller crowds and with more space on the bus, this is the ideal choice for you. Even this year you will have the chance to meet veterans and reenactors bringing history to life on the beaches of Normandy. On top of that, you can benefit from our current ABMC promotion to get a 15% discount from the list price of this year’s 12-day D-Day Anniversary Tour. Compared with the list price of our 11-Day 80th Anniversary D-Day Tour in 2024, you can save more than 3,000 if you book the 2023 tour now.
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) pays a pivotal role in keeping alive the memory of American service members who paid the ultimate price for their country. In one week, on March 4, 2023, we are going to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of this important federal agency. On the occasion of the upcoming centennial anniversary, we are offering all our tours (excluding our four 80th anniversary D-Day tours in 2024) with a 15% discount if you pay in full until March 4, 2023. Note that this offer applies only in case of new bookings, and it cannot be combined with other special promotions. If you have any questions related to this promotion or our tours, feel free to contact our travel consultants.
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