Word: escorted
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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When the first Spits and Thunderbolts started their escort work last spring, trigger-itchy gunners of Forts and Liberators warned them that it was hard to distinguish between friend & foe in an air battle. Some friendly fighters were shot down before fighters learned never to point their noses at bombers, as attacking Nazis do. Some bomber men had to be taught better recognition and understanding of fighter tactics...
...typical escort mission Cummings' crew chiefs readied their Thunderbolts before dawn. Then the muddy-floored briefing room filled with leather-jacketed pilots. They listened to Wild Bill's parting advice on the flight plan and tactics, took off. The crew chiefs gathered around the loudspeaker to "sweat out" their pilots and planes...
Before U.S. long-range fighters got to the European theater, R.A.F. Spitfiremen did most of the escort work, and handily, but their range was limited. The Forts and Liberators got help only at the start and end of missions...
...Thunderbolts and Lightnings changed that-for most missions, bombers now have pursuit escort...
Last week the Admiralty reported that five U-boats were sunk, three crippled by Allied warships and planes in a two-day battle. A pack of 20 subs had attacked two adjacent convoys. Land-based U.S. planes from Iceland, British and Canadian planes from England, escort-carrier planes teamed with British destroyers and frigates. After the eighth submarine was hit, the enemy kept their distance. "Ninety nine percent" of the merchantmen got through safely. Not a British warship was scratched. The British lost three planes...