Posted By Keith on August 16, 2005 at 22:03:03:
ON AUGUST 17, 1943, 146 B-17's were dispatched to Regensburg,Germany--Allied strategic bombing reached central parts of the Third Reich, and the Messerschmitt Central Plant at Regensburg, Germany, was Bombed. Every important building in the complex was damaged; the surviving allied aircraft continued on to various bases in North Africa. The B-17's landed at a number of different fields other than those scheduled due to battle damage and being critically low on gas. The wing was under constant attack from Antwerp to 30 minutes after leaving the target area. The wing was successful in fooling the Germans by flying on to Africa rather than doubling back through Germany to return to England.